Help-my 9 Yr Old Liver Failure!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

quinnsmom · 08-29-2008, 03:17 PM

HELP, My 9 year old precious boy went to the vet today and she told me she thinks he might have liver failure. His tummy is the size of a grapefruit. It has been this way for about 8 days, started smaller and grew, at first I thought he might be clogged, so I put him on a "diarrhea" diet, gave him things I know give him the runs, he pooped himself silly, got his fanny washed so much he just about walked in the house backwards! So when I took him in today, she drained off 9 ounces of fluid from his abdomen, and is running a blood test to make sure it is liver failure. He will stay the weekend with her, she has always been the most caring person/vet...but does anyone out there have any thing to tell me about my situation,, I can barely see from my tear-swollen eyes..he is my baby, and my other little girl yorkie, 11 months old is lost without her bubba!! We are sitting her waiting on someone on YT to help us!!!! Prayers are appreciated...

Yorkieluv · 08-29-2008, 03:30 PM

I'm so sorry

First off, find out how the blood work goes...Usually in liver failure, Bilirubin is very high, Albumin is low, etc.
Does your baby look like he has jaundice? That's another sign...The accumulation of fluid in his belly is called ascites and is consistent with liver disease...
Has your boy been losing weight or lost his appetite?
My yorkie has liver disease, and we have him on a vegetarian diet, lactulose, milk thistle and denosyl (to help protect his liver), etc. We also feed him small frequent meals to help lighten the load on the liver...
Liver Disease Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Prayers for your baby boy!!

quinnsmom · 08-29-2008, 04:00 PM

no, he was eating what ever I put in front of him to make him poo, he is an eatter, he was not lossing weight, we was not jaundace, just got a big tummy over the last 8-10 days, I thought at first he was just really gaining more weight because he had been on a gaining streak because of our new puppy (added last Dec.) we put her puppy food out of his reach 6 weeks ago and put him on the low cal version of Royal Canine..he is a very docile yorkie so he has always been around 7 lbs, he was up to 8-8 1/2 so I was trying to cut it back to head off joint problems, never dreamed of liver problems, where did this come from!!!?? how old is your yorkie? and what food?
thank you sooo much for your time I am going crazy, but Sassy, the baby girl is on my chest while I type to you,,,.

Yorkieluv · 08-29-2008, 05:51 PM

He probably was heavier due to the ascites...I hope your baby will be okay. There are several vegetarian diets out there including Natural Balance Vegetarian, Avoderm Vegetarian, Petguard Organics Adult Dry Food, etc. These are all appropriate for healthy dogs, so even if your dog does not turn out to have liver disease, they are fine to feed on a continuous basis.
I homecook for my yorkie. Once you get the bloodwork results, you can contact a canine nutritionist to formulate a diet for your baby.
My yorkie is only 4 yrs old...He was born with his liver condition...

rrosenberry · 08-29-2008, 06:54 PM

I don't have any advise, But I can pray for him. Keep us posted.

quinnsmom · 09-01-2008, 02:57 PM

Well it's Labor Day morning and the Vet called, the numbers are bad, his abd. is filling up again with fluid, he took his med well, of course he is such a good eater, she said he was allot more comfortable without all the excess fluid and hopped around and ate his food with the med in it, I told her her was a foodie. such a good boy! So I guess we will just have to see how long I have left with him, my heart is broken!

9 1/2 years is not old, I have no idea how this could have happened, please be careful about those flea and tick liquid drops you put on the little babies backs, those can cause liver damage, Raid and other pest poisons also....BE SOO CAREFUL!!! LITTLE YORKIES LICK EVERYTHING, I never used any of that stuff, so who knows, I will bring him home and love him, keep him comfortable, but I will not keep him here for me if he is in pain or discomfort...
thank you so much for your prayers and responses, it has kept me sane!!!
this site is so great!!!

Yorkieluv · 09-01-2008, 08:14 PM

Your vet didn't give you any hope at all? They didn't suggest any supplements?
Milk thistle and denosyl could possibly help your baby...
MILK THISTLE
The following info is from the above website:

"This amazing herb is used to treat diabetes, liver failure, and IBD.

Milk thistle can be purchased in powder, capsule, and liquid extract form...

Silymarin, which is itself a combination of several other active compounds, has been extensively studied around the world, and has been shown to be safe and effective in treating a variety of liver diseases and other conditions. It specifically protects the liver against toxins (including some drugs and heavy metals), activates protein synthesis, and stimulates growth of new liver cells to replace those that are dead or damaged. Milk thistle also has strong antioxidant (destroys oxygen free radicals) and anti-inflammatory actions."

Mom to Hot Rod · 09-01-2008, 09:23 PM

I don't have any knowledge to offer but I will keep your little one in my prayers for good outcome.

Jokerman · 09-01-2008, 09:36 PM

Oh, I am so sorry to read this. No advice either but will send up prayers for you and your baby. I sure hope he'll be okay.

quinnsmom · 09-03-2008, 10:24 PM

We are on Sam-E and Milk Thistle and a cooked diet of cod fish and veges to cleanse the liver. With this, hopefully his liver can revive and he can live a few more years, 9 is too young for a Yorkie! Be sure your yorkie is not on any of those liquid flea and tick prevents, they damage the liver. Use the pill form for heartworm, flea and tick. Go to your local tractor supply store and look for holistic pet food like call of the wild brand, it has no junk in it that damages organs, there are just a few other brands like Eagle...I cook, just get a cook book for dogs and cook once a week, its cheeper that the vet and the heart break

I will keep you all posted if anyone else has the problem..hopefully not....thanks again..and if needed I have that receipe,,its easy!!!..so is the other foods a I have cooked over the years..

F3RIKA · 09-04-2008, 03:21 PM

awww, poor baby i hope he's okay. i'll be praying! i had a similar situation and after a couple of days with medications and then good balance healthy diet things will go back to normal. good luck!

mscat · 09-04-2008, 07:35 PM

I am very sorry your baby is ill. i hope for the best and will pray for him.

LuluMaye · 10-17-2008, 04:36 PM

OMG did that bring back memories.. I went through the same thing with my 9 yr. old two years ago. Diet is very important. My baby was put on so many meds. he was diagnosed in November and at least 3 x a week I was at the vets office. He was on diueretics which helped some, Dennisol, Baytrill and I cant remember the other two. From November to February I stayed home and did not go anywhere so I could medicate and care for him. He got really ill at 2 am, rushed to emergency vet and had to put him to sleep. In fact the vet there practically yelled at me for letting him go on so long. I was and still to this day distraught over the whole thing. I trusted my vet at that time and did everything he told me to. The only thing I asked of him was not to let my baby suffer with pain- he did not deserve that. He let me down big time. I wish I had found this forum then it would have helped me alot.
Needless to say I have a new vet who genuinely cares for his animal patients and not the money.

Good Luck, you are in my prayers

bailey12 · 10-17-2008, 05:14 PM

Hi. My Zeus is 7 yo and was diagnosed with liver disease at 10 mos. He had ascites as his symptom as well. He is on Denosyl and a prescription diet and when first diagnosed milk thistle. He is doing really well. They gave him a diuretic initially to get rid of the fluid in his abdomen. juliet

08-29-2008, 03:17 PM	#1
quinnsmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 9	Help-my 9 Yr Old Liver Failure!! HELP, My 9 year old precious boy went to the vet today and she told me she thinks he might have liver failure. His tummy is the size of a grapefruit. It has been this way for about 8 days, started smaller and grew, at first I thought he might be clogged, so I put him on a "diarrhea" diet, gave him things I know give him the runs, he pooped himself silly, got his fanny washed so much he just about walked in the house backwards! So when I took him in today, she drained off 9 ounces of fluid from his abdomen, and is running a blood test to make sure it is liver failure. He will stay the weekend with her, she has always been the most caring person/vet...but does anyone out there have any thing to tell me about my situation,, I can barely see from my tear-swollen eyes..he is my baby, and my other little girl yorkie, 11 months old is lost without her bubba!! We are sitting her waiting on someone on YT to help us!!!! Prayers are appreciated...

08-29-2008, 03:30 PM	#2
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,021	I'm so sorry First off, find out how the blood work goes...Usually in liver failure, Bilirubin is very high, Albumin is low, etc. Does your baby look like he has jaundice? That's another sign...The accumulation of fluid in his belly is called ascites and is consistent with liver disease... Has your boy been losing weight or lost his appetite? My yorkie has liver disease, and we have him on a vegetarian diet, lactulose, milk thistle and denosyl (to help protect his liver), etc. We also feed him small frequent meals to help lighten the load on the liver... Liver Disease Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnosis Prayers for your baby boy!! __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

08-29-2008, 04:00 PM	#3
quinnsmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 9	thanks no, he was eating what ever I put in front of him to make him poo, he is an eatter, he was not lossing weight, we was not jaundace, just got a big tummy over the last 8-10 days, I thought at first he was just really gaining more weight because he had been on a gaining streak because of our new puppy (added last Dec.) we put her puppy food out of his reach 6 weeks ago and put him on the low cal version of Royal Canine..he is a very docile yorkie so he has always been around 7 lbs, he was up to 8-8 1/2 so I was trying to cut it back to head off joint problems, never dreamed of liver problems, where did this come from!!!?? how old is your yorkie? and what food? thank you sooo much for your time I am going crazy, but Sassy, the baby girl is on my chest while I type to you,,,.

08-29-2008, 05:51 PM	#4
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,021	He probably was heavier due to the ascites...I hope your baby will be okay. There are several vegetarian diets out there including Natural Balance Vegetarian, Avoderm Vegetarian, Petguard Organics Adult Dry Food, etc. These are all appropriate for healthy dogs, so even if your dog does not turn out to have liver disease, they are fine to feed on a continuous basis. I homecook for my yorkie. Once you get the bloodwork results, you can contact a canine nutritionist to formulate a diet for your baby. My yorkie is only 4 yrs old...He was born with his liver condition... __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

08-29-2008, 06:54 PM	#5
rrosenberry & Bailey & Bella Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,134	I don't have any advise, But I can pray for him. Keep us posted. __________________ Rhonda, Bailey and Bella "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~Anatole France~

09-01-2008, 02:57 PM	#6
quinnsmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 9	talked to vet - Monday Well it's Labor Day morning and the Vet called, the numbers are bad, his abd. is filling up again with fluid, he took his med well, of course he is such a good eater, she said he was allot more comfortable without all the excess fluid and hopped around and ate his food with the med in it, I told her her was a foodie. such a good boy! So I guess we will just have to see how long I have left with him, my heart is broken!9 1/2 years is not old, I have no idea how this could have happened, please be careful about those flea and tick liquid drops you put on the little babies backs, those can cause liver damage, Raid and other pest poisons also....BE SOO CAREFUL!!! LITTLE YORKIES LICK EVERYTHING, I never used any of that stuff, so who knows, I will bring him home and love him, keep him comfortable, but I will not keep him here for me if he is in pain or discomfort... thank you so much for your prayers and responses, it has kept me sane!!! this site is so great!!!

09-01-2008, 08:14 PM	#7
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,021	Your vet didn't give you any hope at all? They didn't suggest any supplements? Milk thistle and denosyl could possibly help your baby... MILK THISTLE The following info is from the above website: "This amazing herb is used to treat diabetes, liver failure, and IBD. Milk thistle can be purchased in powder, capsule, and liquid extract form... Silymarin, which is itself a combination of several other active compounds, has been extensively studied around the world, and has been shown to be safe and effective in treating a variety of liver diseases and other conditions. It specifically protects the liver against toxins (including some drugs and heavy metals), activates protein synthesis, and stimulates growth of new liver cells to replace those that are dead or damaged. Milk thistle also has strong antioxidant (destroys oxygen free radicals) and anti-inflammatory actions." __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

09-01-2008, 09:23 PM	#8
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 3,409	I don't have any knowledge to offer but I will keep your little one in my prayers for good outcome. __________________ Hot Rod Maggie May Always in my Zoe Proud member of the CrAzYcLuB ......"The Little Gentlemen's Club"

09-01-2008, 09:36 PM	#9
Jokerman Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: OK Posts: 79	Oh, I am so sorry to read this. No advice either but will send up prayers for you and your baby. I sure hope he'll be okay.

09-03-2008, 10:24 PM	#10
quinnsmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 9	thanks so much!! We are on Sam-E and Milk Thistle and a cooked diet of cod fish and veges to cleanse the liver. With this, hopefully his liver can revive and he can live a few more years, 9 is too young for a Yorkie! Be sure your yorkie is not on any of those liquid flea and tick prevents, they damage the liver. Use the pill form for heartworm, flea and tick. Go to your local tractor supply store and look for holistic pet food like call of the wild brand, it has no junk in it that damages organs, there are just a few other brands like Eagle...I cook, just get a cook book for dogs and cook once a week, its cheeper that the vet and the heart breakI will keep you all posted if anyone else has the problem..hopefully not....thanks again..and if needed I have that receipe,,its easy!!!..so is the other foods a I have cooked over the years..

09-04-2008, 03:21 PM	#11
F3RIKA Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: san francisco Posts: 33	awww, poor baby i hope he's okay. i'll be praying! i had a similar situation and after a couple of days with medications and then good balance healthy diet things will go back to normal. good luck!

09-04-2008, 07:35 PM	#12
mscat Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Avenal, California Posts: 1,825	I am very sorry your baby is ill. i hope for the best and will pray for him. __________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

10-17-2008, 04:36 PM	#13
LuluMaye Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 110	OMG did that bring back memories.. I went through the same thing with my 9 yr. old two years ago. Diet is very important. My baby was put on so many meds. he was diagnosed in November and at least 3 x a week I was at the vets office. He was on diueretics which helped some, Dennisol, Baytrill and I cant remember the other two. From November to February I stayed home and did not go anywhere so I could medicate and care for him. He got really ill at 2 am, rushed to emergency vet and had to put him to sleep. In fact the vet there practically yelled at me for letting him go on so long. I was and still to this day distraught over the whole thing. I trusted my vet at that time and did everything he told me to. The only thing I asked of him was not to let my baby suffer with pain- he did not deserve that. He let me down big time. I wish I had found this forum then it would have helped me alot. Needless to say I have a new vet who genuinely cares for his animal patients and not the money. Good Luck, you are in my prayers __________________ Lulu Belle, Bosley Beamer, & Baby Zoey's Mommy

10-17-2008, 05:14 PM	#14
bailey12 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 51	Hi. My Zeus is 7 yo and was diagnosed with liver disease at 10 mos. He had ascites as his symptom as well. He is on Denosyl and a prescription diet and when first diagnosed milk thistle. He is doing really well. They gave him a diuretic initially to get rid of the fluid in his abdomen. juliet