Can anyone tell me if their Yorkie has ever had this - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Hurlygirl001 · 07-17-2008, 07:42 AM

Hello all I am new to this forum.

I have a Yorkie named Brutus who is about 6 months old. He only weighs 3lbs.
Yesterday he started acting weird, stiffed legged, gums turning greyish, and he just lays there. He is drooling and then he justs pees himself. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their puppy? I thought it might be the heat that is causing this. I took him to the vet and they drew blood but didn't seemed to concerned, said it could be seizures or liver??
I searched on here and saw lots of posts, but not with all these symptoms.
I have another Yorkie named Blossom & she is full grown at 3lbs and has never had any of these issues.

Any advice would be great!

Thank You so much
Nes

mkawczak · 07-17-2008, 07:49 AM

He could be hypoglycemic. Give him karo syrup and water. Please call your vet. I'm not an expert,but the gum color change is a sign of something sugar related!!! Please someone else post for this guy...I'm not sure ...Good Luck

bchgirl · 07-17-2008, 07:49 AM

Sounds like he had a seizure. Seizures are not a disease...they are a symptom. Seizures are a symptom of liver shunt among other things. A bile acid test would determine whether it's related to liver function.

Morkie4 · 07-17-2008, 07:51 AM

I wouldn't waste any time in getting him to the vet for some tests. Sounds like a seizure to me also. There may be something only blood work will reveal.

Ellie May · 07-17-2008, 07:57 AM

He needs to be tested for liver shunt.
Gray gums is an emergency.

If they weren't concerned, could you go to a different vet?

Hurlygirl001 · 07-17-2008, 08:27 AM

I took him to the vet yesterday that I have been taking all my dogs to for years. I do not know what a liver shunt is? Is that something they test for? He was acting normal last night and today, eating and drinking like always.

Ellie May · 07-17-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurlygirl001

I took him to the vet yesterday that I have been taking all my dogs to for years. I do not know what a liver shunt is? Is that something they test for? He was acting normal last night and today, eating and drinking like always.

Since the vet said it could be a liver issue, they should've checked for a shunt. The first step is to run a bile acid test. The dog is fasted for 12 hours (although the new protocol says this part isn't necessary but most vets don't know it yet), then blood is drawn. The dog is fed and then blood is drawn 2 hours later. This is sent to a lab. Normal number are usually 10 and under pre-fast and 15 and under post-fast. With a shunt the numbers are often over 100. With microvascular dysplasia they can be lower (anyway from maybe even normal to below 100 but sometimes they go above 100 also).

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ
Microvascular dysplasia is small shunting throughout the liver that is inoperable.

If it isn't this and the vet thinks it was a seizure, then other testing may need to be done.

Yorkieluv · 07-17-2008, 09:04 AM

What did the bloodwork reveal? Did they do a blood panel and a bile acid test specifically. I would highly suggest a bile acid test.
Liver shunt is congenital...They are born with it and symptoms are typically seen by age 1, but in many cases are seen later in life. Symptoms include drooling, blank stares, dark urine, head pressing after meals, hypoglycemia, seizures, etc.

Hurlygirl001 · 07-17-2008, 06:40 PM

We got the blood work back and they said it was low sodium levels.
Said it seems as if he was dehydrated?! and to give him salt and it will raise the levels.

Wylie's Mom · 07-17-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurlygirl001

We got the blood work back and they said it was low sodium levels.
Said it seems as if he was dehydrated?! and to give him salt and it will raise the levels.

Uhhhhh....seriously? The vet told you to give him SALT for dehydration? Even thought "water follows salt" - medical advice in the event of dehydration is never to "give salt". While salt can help retain more water, that is really *not* the point during a dehydration event. SO, the correct advice, in my humble nursing opinion, would be to give water.

My next advice would be to find a NEW vet, asap (I think, anyways). I would keep a very, very close eye on this baby bc I truly think there may be more going on here - as others have already mentioned. If it were me, I'd probably get a liver shunt (bile acid test) test immediately.

I'm glad you found Yorkie Talk - bc you'll find a lot of support here.

bchgirl · 07-17-2008, 08:06 PM

When a vet determines an animal is dehydrated...rehydrating fluids through an iv. A vet can determine whether an animal is dehydrated soley by an examination.

I highly suggest you get another opinion...

YorkieChick1 · 07-17-2008, 08:12 PM

These same symptoms are also those of GME, Granulomatous Meningioencephalitis. It is an autoimmune brain disease. If he is tested for liver shunt and he still has seizures and the other symptoms, you might have to have an MRI and a spinal tap done.

tiger63 · 07-18-2008, 12:31 AM

I can assure you that your baby will not be here if he does not receive an IV
to help him correct so they can discover the real problem. Yorks are very subject to hydration imbalance and can trigger the seisures

My boy Harry was saved by another vet because the first one did not really
know what he was dealing with!

Don't waste anymore time, you have little more to fool around with!

Please let us know.

tractorqueen · 07-18-2008, 12:43 AM

my thoughts and prayers are with you.
A blood test for a portal shunt and with the results of it a ultra sound that is what Bella had to go thru wheen she was about 10 weeks old,But her's turnes out to be blood sugar levels were low and when she does not eat right they drop and she has some of the symptoms you are talking about here.
I know it is costly ,but sometimes it is all we can do.
Believe me you have great support here on this site
These folks are the best

roxies_mom · 07-18-2008, 02:21 PM

First let me say I hope your puppy feels better. My question is: with the heat outside right now, to make sure to keep our babies hydrated is there a water for our precious pups that has electrolytes in it? Like pedialite or can they drink small amounts of gatoraid? This thread just made me wonder about that. I always keep tons of fresh water down but it's so hot right now it wouldn't take much for these little ones to over heat. Roxie is in most of the time but now and then she decides to rip around the yard when we go out.

07-17-2008, 07:42 AM	#1
Hurlygirl001 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 4	Can anyone tell me if their Yorkie has ever had this Hello all I am new to this forum. I have a Yorkie named Brutus who is about 6 months old. He only weighs 3lbs. Yesterday he started acting weird, stiffed legged, gums turning greyish, and he just lays there. He is drooling and then he justs pees himself. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their puppy? I thought it might be the heat that is causing this. I took him to the vet and they drew blood but didn't seemed to concerned, said it could be seizures or liver?? I searched on here and saw lots of posts, but not with all these symptoms. I have another Yorkie named Blossom & she is full grown at 3lbs and has never had any of these issues. Any advice would be great! Thank You so much Nes

07-17-2008, 07:49 AM	#2
mkawczak Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 693 Blog Entries: 3	CAll the vet He could be hypoglycemic. Give him karo syrup and water. Please call your vet. I'm not an expert,but the gum color change is a sign of something sugar related!!! Please someone else post for this guy...I'm not sure ...Good Luck __________________ N.Y. 'S FINESTPONGO,AIDEN,HARLEY, KI-KI ,GARFIELD ,MINI-ME

07-17-2008, 07:49 AM	#3
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 11,171	Sounds like he had a seizure. Seizures are not a disease...they are a symptom. Seizures are a symptom of liver shunt among other things. A bile acid test would determine whether it's related to liver function. __________________ Deb, Ramsey, Reese, Reggie & Trace who watches over us Ramsey 's Bailey

07-17-2008, 07:51 AM	#4
Morkie4 Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,218	I wouldn't waste any time in getting him to the vet for some tests. Sounds like a seizure to me also. There may be something only blood work will reveal. __________________ CAROL ~ KALLIE ~ TOBY ~ BRANDY ~ BUFFY Proud member of Maltesetalk and Yorkietalk

07-17-2008, 07:57 AM	#5
Ellie May YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 6,475	He needs to be tested for liver shunt. Gray gums is an emergency. If they weren't concerned, could you go to a different vet? __________________ Crystal and Ellie May

07-17-2008, 08:27 AM	#6
Hurlygirl001 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 4	I took him to the vet yesterday that I have been taking all my dogs to for years. I do not know what a liver shunt is? Is that something they test for? He was acting normal last night and today, eating and drinking like always.

07-17-2008, 09:04 AM	#8
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,021	What did the bloodwork reveal? Did they do a blood panel and a bile acid test specifically. I would highly suggest a bile acid test. Liver shunt is congenital...They are born with it and symptoms are typically seen by age 1, but in many cases are seen later in life. Symptoms include drooling, blank stares, dark urine, head pressing after meals, hypoglycemia, seizures, etc. __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

07-17-2008, 06:40 PM	#9
Hurlygirl001 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 4	We got the blood work back and they said it was low sodium levels. Said it seems as if he was dehydrated?! and to give him salt and it will raise the levels.

07-17-2008, 08:06 PM	#11
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 11,171	When a vet determines an animal is dehydrated...rehydrating fluids through an iv. A vet can determine whether an animal is dehydrated soley by an examination. I highly suggest you get another opinion... __________________ Deb, Ramsey, Reese, Reggie & Trace who watches over us Ramsey 's Bailey

07-17-2008, 08:12 PM	#12
YorkieChick1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 1,870	These same symptoms are also those of GME, Granulomatous Meningioencephalitis. It is an autoimmune brain disease. If he is tested for liver shunt and he still has seizures and the other symptoms, you might have to have an MRI and a spinal tap done. __________________ Nanci 's her furbabies!! http://www.dogster.com/dogs/434890 Brooke Mindy BooBoo And My Chichis: Baby & Bitsy There's nothing that brightens my day more than a puppy kiss!

07-18-2008, 12:31 AM	#13
tiger63 Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walker, LA Posts: 15	De Hydrated Baby I can assure you that your baby will not be here if he does not receive an IV to help him correct so they can discover the real problem. Yorks are very subject to hydration imbalance and can trigger the seisures My boy Harry was saved by another vet because the first one did not really know what he was dealing with! Don't waste anymore time, you have little more to fool around with! Please let us know.

07-18-2008, 12:43 AM	#14
tractorqueen Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Randleman,NC USA Posts: 55	my thoughts and prayers are with you. A blood test for a portal shunt and with the results of it a ultra sound that is what Bella had to go thru wheen she was about 10 weeks old,But her's turnes out to be blood sugar levels were low and when she does not eat right they drop and she has some of the symptoms you are talking about here. I know it is costly ,but sometimes it is all we can do. Believe me you have great support here on this site These folks are the best

07-18-2008, 02:21 PM	#15
roxies_mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central illinois Posts: 228	First let me say I hope your puppy feels better. My question is: with the heat outside right now, to make sure to keep our babies hydrated is there a water for our precious pups that has electrolytes in it? Like pedialite or can they drink small amounts of gatoraid? This thread just made me wonder about that. I always keep tons of fresh water down but it's so hot right now it wouldn't take much for these little ones to over heat. Roxie is in most of the time but now and then she decides to rip around the yard when we go out. Last edited by roxies_mom; 07-18-2008 at 02:22 PM.