Rare liver defect diagnosis leads to lifesaving surgery

Darren Bass found a stray kitten shivering outside his Spokane, Washington, home on a cold October night in 2024. Concerned the tiny, sickly-looking animal would not survive outdoors, he brought her inside with no intention of keeping her. However, Spot ended up becoming his permanent companion.

Initial veterinary visits addressed vaccinations and an upper respiratory infection, and Spot's symptoms seemed to improve—temporarily. Over the following months, her condition worsened, and repeated trips to veterinary and urgent care clinics failed to turn up an explanation.

A distinctive clue

The breakthrough came from Whitney Nelson, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), from the Pet Emergency Clinic and Referral Center in Spokane. After reviewing Spot's history and symptoms, including poor growth, weight loss, appetite changes, and neurological problems, Nelson suspected a portosystemic shunt, a rare congenital liver defect in which blood bypasses the liver instead of being filtered by it. One detail supported her suspicion, Spot's distinctive copper-colored eyes, a trait sometimes associated with the condition in cats.¹

An ultrasound confirmed Nelson's diagnosis, and Spot was referred to WSU's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for specialized surgical care under Boel Fransson, DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA.

Surgery and outlook

To correct the shunt, the surgical team placed a cellophane band around the abnormal blood vessel. The band is designed to gradually close the vessel over time, redirecting blood flow through the liver as intended.

“If the vessel fully attenuates, the goal is for them to live a normal lifespan with good quality of life,” Fransson said.¹ “If they’re young and otherwise healthy, our experience is cats can do quite well with surgery.”

Spot's surgery was successful, and she is now gaining weight, growing stronger, and adjusting well to life with her new diagnosis behind her.

“Without surgery, they said she probably would have lived only a few more years. But now she’s doing great, and I’m excited to see how much she continues to improve,” Bass said.¹

A difficult year made easier

Bass said the timing of Spot's illness coincided with one of the hardest periods of his life.

“At the time, I was struggling to find employment and wasn’t sure if I was going to be homeless. I kind of look at it as divine intervention,” he said.

WSU's Veterinary Teaching Hospital Good Samaritan Fund helped Bass manage the costs of Spot's treatment, easing a financial burden that might otherwise have put her surgery out of reach.

“I am so very grateful for the Good Samaritan Fund for helping with the costs of Spot’s surgery,” Bass said. “My hope is I can someday repay the kindness shown to me and Spot by helping someone else in the future.”

Reference

Rokyta D. Spokane cat's rare diagnosis leads to lifesaving care at WSU. WSU Insider. College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University. August 17, 2026. Accessed August 17, 2026. https://news.wsu.edu/news/2026/08/17/spokane-cats-rare-diagnosis-leads-to-lifesaving-care-at-wsu/