Not sure what to do (possible liver shunt) - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 08:32 AM

I am not sure what I need to do about my 6 month Yorkie Paisley. I took her in last week to get spayed and got a call regarding her blood levels being elevated. My vet recommending putting off the spay and doing a bile acid test. She had the bile acid test done and the results were high. I don't have the exact number for the pre, my vet just said it was "slightly elevated" and the post was 200.

My vet recommended me seeing a specialist here in Texas to get a diagnosis. My vet has spoken to the specialist and they want Paisley to come in for a syntigraphy ultrasound. Does that sound right? This is suppose to diagnosis if she has a liver shunt and if so if she will need surgery or be able to be managed by diet and meds.

Does this sound like the next step to take? I am not sure what I need to do, and do not want to do any unnecessary tests on Paisley. I do not want her to be unnecessarily fasted and poked if she does not need to be. And I do not want to spend my money on a test that will not help with diagnosing her, when I can save that money for another test or procedure that will.

I would appreciate any input anyone could give me. And I almost forgot, Paisley appears to be a healthy puppy. She is a good eater, has lots of energy and seems normal.

Thanks so much!

TLC · 05-08-2008, 08:46 AM

Post of 200 - is definatly in the range of LS - but it could also be MVD, as there are cases of very high posts being MVD.

I would def. see a specialist regarding this.

My Roxy had a post of 100.9 - also heading into LS range. We went to a Specialist and did other blood and urine tests to see if anyhing else showed up that would indicate liver problems. All tests came back fine. We also did an U/S - which showed that her liver was normal shape and normal size, no shunt was seen, but know that a U/S is not a 100% guarentee. But I would discuss that with the Specialist.

After many, many BATs on Roxy and with a change of diet (homemade, low protein) and supplements, we have brought her post number down into the 60s. Since we haven't done the liver biopsy, her specialist does feel that she has MVD, but we wouldn't know for sure unless we did the biopsy.

Keep us posted.

bchgirl · 05-08-2008, 08:51 AM

The post range should have been under 20.

Ultrasounds aren't always reliable for determining liver shunt. Ask your vet to perform a protein c test. That will determine whether she has a shunt and/or mvd.

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 08:56 AM

I really appreciate you taking time to read my post. I am worried and nervous for my little Paisley.

Could you tell me what a protein c test is? And why would my vet not recommend this first?
Thanks.

TLC · 05-08-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvasquez

I really appreciate you taking time to read my post. I am worried and nervous for my little Paisley.

Could you tell me what a protein c test is? And why would my vet not recommend this first?
Thanks.

I think they like to do an U/S so they can see if they see anything, but it's not 100% guarantee.

bchgirl · 05-08-2008, 09:10 AM

The protein C is a bloodtest.

This page has a lot of liver shunt and mvd information on it. You'll notice it refers to Biewer Yorkshire Terriers...

Liver_Shunt

drawlins27 · 05-08-2008, 09:16 AM

A post of 200 is a lot more than just slightly elevated! I would definitely get the scintigraphy done asap. This is a nuclear scan, not an ultrasound. It will tell if a shunt is present or not.

RONLYNN · 05-08-2008, 09:21 AM

Teddi had a liver shunt and people on here told me to join this group:
Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support
they were WONDERFUL....they have so much information and can help you with everything!!! Everyone on there has been through what you are going through and they are so supportive and full of information. Teddi had her surgery in December and she is completely recovered but I wouldn't have known what to do without joining that group!

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 09:59 AM

Ronlynn-
Thank you so much for that link. I am waiting on my request to join. I am so glad to hear about Tedi! I am hoping for the best with Paisley.

Yorkieluv · 05-08-2008, 10:00 AM

Please join the group that Ronlynn posted. They will help you with everything. Their FILES section is full of wonderful information which you can print up and take to your vet including the Protein C test information.
The next step, in my opinion, would be the Protein C test or the scintigraphy. With numbers that elevated, it may very well be a liver shunt.
How much does your baby weigh?
Has your dog gotten into anything that it wasn't supposed to?

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

Please join the group that Ronlynn posted. They will help you with everything. Their FILES section is full of wonderful information which you can print up and take to your vet including the Protein C test information.
The next step, in my opinion, would be the Protein C test or the scintigraphy. With numbers that elevated, it may very well be a liver shunt.
How much does your baby weigh?
Has your dog gotten into anything that it wasn't supposed to?

I have just joined that group and going to do some reading on there. Thank you so much!

Paisley is 6 months old and is 5.2 pounds. She is a good eater and eats 4 small meals a day. I do not give her any treats. I will give her pieces of her food (Exclusive) if I am going to treat her, but she is praise rather than food motivated.

And I watch her like a hawk! When I can not watch her she is in her crate. There really isn't anything she has gotten into. For the last month or so she has been wanting to eat the grass and weeds outside so I bring her back in the house when she starts this.

My vet asked me to keep a log of any questionable behavior. But to be honest I have not seen anything. She acts like a normal puppy!

drawlins27 · 05-08-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvasquez

And I watch her like a hawk! When I can not watch her she is in her crate. There really isn't anything she has gotten into. For the last month or so she has been wanting to eat the grass and weeds outside so I bring her back in the house when she starts this.

My vet asked me to keep a log of any questionable behavior. But to be honest I have not seen anything. She acts like a normal puppy!

Have you sprayed any weed killer or pesticide on the grass that she could have ingested?

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawlins27

Have you sprayed any weed killer or pesticide on the grass that she could have ingested?

No, I have not because of my dogs.

Yorkieluv · 05-08-2008, 11:58 AM

May I ask what kind of food she eats?

cvasquez · 05-08-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

May I ask what kind of food she eats?

She eats Exclusive chicken and rice puppy formula. I treat her with her food, so that is all she gets.

On another note. Less than 24 hours before her bile acid test my vet gave her two vaccinations. I was concerned if this would interfere with the results. My vet said no. I was and am not so sure that is the case. But have spoken to several vets today that have had the same answer.

05-08-2008, 08:32 AM	#1
cvasquez Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: justin tx Posts: 76	Not sure what to do (possible liver shunt) I am not sure what I need to do about my 6 month Yorkie Paisley. I took her in last week to get spayed and got a call regarding her blood levels being elevated. My vet recommending putting off the spay and doing a bile acid test. She had the bile acid test done and the results were high. I don't have the exact number for the pre, my vet just said it was "slightly elevated" and the post was 200. My vet recommended me seeing a specialist here in Texas to get a diagnosis. My vet has spoken to the specialist and they want Paisley to come in for a syntigraphy ultrasound. Does that sound right? This is suppose to diagnosis if she has a liver shunt and if so if she will need surgery or be able to be managed by diet and meds. Does this sound like the next step to take? I am not sure what I need to do, and do not want to do any unnecessary tests on Paisley. I do not want her to be unnecessarily fasted and poked if she does not need to be. And I do not want to spend my money on a test that will not help with diagnosing her, when I can save that money for another test or procedure that will. I would appreciate any input anyone could give me. And I almost forgot, Paisley appears to be a healthy puppy. She is a good eater, has lots of energy and seems normal. Thanks so much! __________________ Christina

05-08-2008, 08:46 AM	#2
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 3,598	Post of 200 - is definatly in the range of LS - but it could also be MVD, as there are cases of very high posts being MVD. I would def. see a specialist regarding this. My Roxy had a post of 100.9 - also heading into LS range. We went to a Specialist and did other blood and urine tests to see if anyhing else showed up that would indicate liver problems. All tests came back fine. We also did an U/S - which showed that her liver was normal shape and normal size, no shunt was seen, but know that a U/S is not a 100% guarentee. But I would discuss that with the Specialist. After many, many BATs on Roxy and with a change of diet (homemade, low protein) and supplements, we have brought her post number down into the 60s. Since we haven't done the liver biopsy, her specialist does feel that she has MVD, but we wouldn't know for sure unless we did the biopsy. Keep us posted. __________________ Nicole *"You Won't Change the World by Saving One Animal..BUT...You Will Change the World for that One"* Last edited by TLC; 05-08-2008 at 08:47 AM.

05-08-2008, 08:51 AM	#3
bchgirl Three plus me!! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 8,864	The post range should have been under 20. Ultrasounds aren't always reliable for determining liver shunt. Ask your vet to perform a protein c test. That will determine whether she has a shunt and/or mvd. __________________ Deb, Ramsey, Reese, Reggie & Trace who watches over us Ramsey 's Bailey

05-08-2008, 08:56 AM	#4
cvasquez Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: justin tx Posts: 76	I really appreciate you taking time to read my post. I am worried and nervous for my little Paisley. Could you tell me what a protein c test is? And why would my vet not recommend this first? Thanks. __________________ Christina

05-08-2008, 09:10 AM	#6
bchgirl Three plus me!! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 8,864	The protein C is a bloodtest. This page has a lot of liver shunt and mvd information on it. You'll notice it refers to Biewer Yorkshire Terriers... Liver_Shunt __________________ Deb, Ramsey, Reese, Reggie & Trace who watches over us Ramsey 's Bailey

05-08-2008, 09:16 AM	#7
drawlins27 Mommy's Lil' Miracle Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mufreesboro, TN Posts: 996	A post of 200 is a lot more than just slightly elevated! I would definitely get the scintigraphy done asap. This is a nuclear scan, not an ultrasound. It will tell if a shunt is present or not. __________________ I LOVE my little Furbutts!

05-08-2008, 09:21 AM	#8
RONLYNN Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 981	Teddi had a liver shunt and people on here told me to join this group: Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support they were WONDERFUL....they have so much information and can help you with everything!!! Everyone on there has been through what you are going through and they are so supportive and full of information. Teddi had her surgery in December and she is completely recovered but I wouldn't have known what to do without joining that group! __________________ Ronda & Teddi PPU - Petite Pups United Member The PINK Club Member **

05-08-2008, 09:59 AM	#9
cvasquez Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: justin tx Posts: 76	Ronlynn- Thank you so much for that link. I am waiting on my request to join. I am so glad to hear about Tedi! I am hoping for the best with Paisley. __________________ Christina

05-08-2008, 10:00 AM	#10
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,499	Please join the group that Ronlynn posted. They will help you with everything. Their FILES section is full of wonderful information which you can print up and take to your vet including the Protein C test information. The next step, in my opinion, would be the Protein C test or the scintigraphy. With numbers that elevated, it may very well be a liver shunt. How much does your baby weigh? Has your dog gotten into anything that it wasn't supposed to? __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

05-08-2008, 11:58 AM	#14
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,499	May I ask what kind of food she eats? __________________ Miko 's his Mommy