HELP! Sick Lopsided Walking Yorkie......

[peggynitro]

Hi, anyone have or had any experience with their Yorkie (under 1 year) walking lopsided, circles left, slightly drops her left ear, super sensative to touch, and she has double teeth right now so her tongue is out more and she is having troubles eating (we just went back to all soft fod with her)?

My Vet suspects fluid/tumor on the brain but her pupils are even. No fever and no worms (just tested for Raccoon Disease). We're treating for ear with antibiotics and an anti-imflammitory drug to try and help if there is some brain swelling or whatever. She just went on the drugs on Wednesday and only a "slight" improvement which might be from the fact that she can eat better with the soft foods. The 2nd Vet (today) that tested for worms thinks it's ears as well.

MRI here is $1600-$2200 and that's just to crazy to pay that if there is no help for her anyway. If anyone has any ideas PLEASE write and let me know (peggynitro@aol.com). Thanks Folks, Peggy

[WV~Yorkies]

Have they tested for Liver Shunt?

[bchgirl]

The symptoms you listed are highly indicative of liver shunt. You can read more about it here.

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

It is likely the protein count in her food that's the issue rather than soft vs kibble itself. Dogs with LS feel sick after eating high protein meals.

Liver shunt can be repaired and many dogs go on to lead healthy happy lives.

Wishing you the best.

[peggynitro]

Actually, no I haven't and thus far nobody has suggested it. Gotta remember that Vets really aren't "experienced" in specific breeds and this is why I thought I should come here. Might be wishing that I'd thought about coming here sooner than I have. Anyway........please tell me more about this Liver Shunt stuff. How do they test them and what is it? Thanks tons....PR in Iowa

[bchgirl]

Read the link I posted above. It'll give you in depth information.

A bile acid test is a blood test. After fasting blood is drawn and then the dog is fed and tested again. It tells you how well the liver is functioning. It does not tell you whether he has a shunt or not...it is just tells you whether more testing is required to determine if it's a shunt.

His symptoms are a definite match.

[livingdustmops]

I had a 4 year old Yorkie that in one day he started to do the same things your little one is doing and it proved to be his teeth. My vet removed all of them and within days his head came back to where it belonged. His infected teeth were causing the problem and infected his ears.

All is well now...

[peggynitro]

I just briefly read the article you linked me to regarding Liver Shunts and "sure"....anything's possible. It says though that they are small in stature (mine is only 3lb 13 oz) but it says they are often seen with poor muscle developement which isn't the case at all with this one. She's kinda "chubby" when she was feeling better and now that she's been ill, she's skinny thru the tummy but remains still more rotund in her chest.

It also mentions the circling and yes she does do that but it goes on to mention disorientation, unreponsiveness, staring into space which is NOT her but it also says "head pressing" and Yup, she's doing that now too. No seizures(yet) but she does have a more quiet demeanor. No diarrhea or vomiting. Not sure if she's blind as a result of this new head pressing that she does. The article also talks about the BUN and that Liver Shunt dogs have increases in their liver enxymes (AST, ALT). I did have her tested several months back (BUN) and I believe "normal" was something like 25 or 35 (I forget now) and hers was just 1 point "above" whatever that number was. Maybe it would be worth rechecking her BUN? I do have another 2lb 9 oz Shorkie that's not a year old with a BUN that is off the charts usually (170). She definately has bad kidneys as she drinks lots and pees almost clear. We love them and can't put them down (like Vet suggests) and as long as they aren't in any pain.....we just wait it out.

I just wish I could find someone that could do a CAT or MRI (which ever she needs) and not "rape me" for the charges.

Thanks again.....sorry if I've vented way to much here! Peggy

Originally Posted by bchgirl

The symptoms you listed are highly indicative of liver shunt. You can read more about it here.

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

It is likely the protein count in her food that's the issue rather than soft vs kibble itself. Dogs with LS feel sick after eating high protein meals.

Liver shunt can be repaired and many dogs go on to lead healthy happy lives.

Wishing you the best.

Wi

[peggynitro]

Her teeth (IMO) are definately suspect. I don't THINK she has any that are bad as far as decayed but she has so damn many of them (baby and adult) that she can barely eat. A person can figure too that at almost 1 year old, decay is possible but I'm wondering too if "over crowding" can effect things including her ear/ears.

Do you think that "sore teeth" might cause her to slightly drop her one ear like she does? The Vet thought the slight ear drop is sign of brain issues. I'd like to try as many of the simple solutions as I can and first before I decide whether or not to get into the deeper and more serious solutions. It's definately a mystery to me to say the least. PR

[bchgirl]

Dogs don't necessarily exhibit every symptom of any disease. Personally since the longer a shunt is left untreated, the more damage is done...I'd elect to have the bile acid test run. The cost is around 85.00

[peggynitro]

Any idea on cost to fix a Liver Shunt if that is what she ends up having? Do you think a shunt would be causing her to have a more barrel chest type figure (as compared to other normal Yorkies)? I definately can't rule out the possability of a LS even though she doesn't have each and every one of the symptoms. Seems (from reading) that many Yorkies can have this. PR

[peggynitro]

Great advice. My Vet is in on Saturdays (til noon) but I'm not sure that will give him time to get it done. I'm going to call and ask first thing in the AM though! Thanks again and "kiss kiss" to you for the help!!!! PR

[livingdustmops]

I can only tell you about my guy....he did not have double teeth nor did he have a smell coming from his mouth. His head was completely tilted and it happened over night....scared the P*** out of me. Yorkies are known for having poor teeth and having a dog with double row is not a good thing and those extra teeth have to come out no matter what.

What kind of vet are you going to?

I am also not saying this might not be LS either but I am not sure where you left it with your vet?

[bchgirl]

Any where from 2500 to 4000 depending on where you live. University of Tennessee performs this surgery at a greatly reduced price of around 1800.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by peggynitro

Any idea on cost to fix a Liver Shunt if that is what she ends up having? Do you think a shunt would be causing her to have a more barrel chest type figure (as compared to other normal Yorkies)? I definately can't rule out the possability of a LS even though she doesn't have each and every one of the symptoms. Seems (from reading) that many Yorkies can have this. PR

No, LS will not cause a barrel chest.

[dwerten]

sounds more neurological to me than liver shunt -- has your vet done any blood work as i would assume they did blood work to see if any values are off? If so was the ALT high at all - get a copy of blood work and post numbers that are high or low.