possible liver shunt????

[y0rkieL0ver]

last night i think Sirius had a siezure. i am still really shaken up and im soo scared for the worst. i think he may have a liver shunt. he did this weird thing where he stuck his tongue out and left it hangin out and then looked like he had the hiccups. after that he started barking and running around like a mad man. i picked him up to try and calm him down and he calmed down very quickly and lay in my lap for a few minutes and then look SUPER sleepy. i thought maybe he was hypoglycemic, so i gave him a little honey and he perked up pretty quickly. He then started to do what appeared to be trying to get something off his head and ive read that with the liver shunt they press their heads against thing so im really freaking out right now. im talking him to his vet tomorrow morning but in the meantime i am absolutely going crazy. ive been watching him like a hawk to see if he has another episode. has anyone had a yorkie with a liver shunt? i know there is a surgery that can be done...im just so scared he is going to die and it will be all my fault for getting him from his horrible breeder. if it is a liver shunt is that considered genetic? what will i do if i lose him? im so scared.

[PlatinumYorkies]

Originally Posted by y0rkieL0ver

last night i think Sirius had a siezure. i am still really shaken up and im soo scared for the worst. i think he may have a liver shunt. he did this weird thing where he stuck his tongue out and left it hangin out and then looked like he had the hiccups. after that he started barking and running around like a mad man. i picked him up to try and calm him down and he calmed down very quickly and lay in my lap for a few minutes and then look SUPER sleepy. i thought maybe he was hypoglycemic, so i gave him a little honey and he perked up pretty quickly. He then started to do what appeared to be trying to get something off his head and ive read that with the liver shunt they press their heads against thing so im really freaking out right now. im talking him to his vet tomorrow morning but in the meantime i am absolutely going crazy. ive been watching him like a hawk to see if he has another episode. has anyone had a yorkie with a liver shunt? i know there is a surgery that can be done...im just so scared he is going to die and it will be all my fault for getting him from his horrible breeder. if it is a liver shunt is that considered genetic? what will i do if i lose him? im so scared.

Please don't worry, or drive yourself crazy with the worse of your thought's. You will upset him, and make yourself nuts...Just wait, until the Vets... I hope he will be just fine!

[teri88]

Ok, don't panic! I know you must be so scared. We went through this with our Bandit, but didn't know what he was having the seizures. You are doing the right thing taking him to the vet. Take things one day at a time or you will be so overwhelmed you will scare yourself to death. Even if the news is bad-it is NOT YOUR FAULT! Yes, liver shunt is congenital, meaning they are born with it. As for genetic, I've seen arguments on both sides. A good breeder would never breed a dog again who produced a puppy with liver shunt. But, you are getting ahead of yourself, wait for the vet to tell you what is going on. We will all be here to help you deal with whatever the news is. I'm praying he's ok, though. good luck!

[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by teri88

Ok, don't panic! I know you must be so scared. We went through this with our Bandit, but didn't know what he was having the seizures. You are doing the right thing taking him to the vet. Take things one day at a time or you will be so overwhelmed you will scare yourself to death. Even if the news is bad-it is NOT YOUR FAULT! Yes, liver shunt is congenital, meaning they are born with it. As for genetic, I've seen arguments on both sides. A good breeder would never breed a dog again who produced a puppy with liver shunt. But, you are getting ahead of yourself, wait for the vet to tell you what is going on. We will all be here to help you deal with whatever the news is. I'm praying he's ok, though. good luck!

Let us know what happens, please!

[butterfly]

I am thinking of you and your pup. I don't really know anything about this condition, other than hearing about it. It is common?

[JCarlson2004]

I will be praying for you and your little sweetie. PLEASE keep us updated.

[y0rkieL0ver]

thanks guys, im just freaking out. im hoping im just making his symptoms fit the ones for the liver shunt- im just super worried about him and i hope everything goes well tomorrow. thanks again for everyones quick replies, you guys are the best<3<3

Teri- did bandit have a liver shunt? or just had seizures? i know he has passed, so im sorry to bring it up but i was just wondering how you handled the siezures.

[Yorkieluv]

We'll be praying for you and your baby. Ask the vet to do a bile acid test for peace of mind. This will indicate his liver enzyme levels, and it's not too expensive, approx. $50-$90 depending on your vet. Miko had this test done because I too had read so much about liver shunts in yorkies, that I just had to know...Unfortunately Miko does have a liver shunt, but that doesn't mean that your baby does. Wait to hear from the vet and try not to go nuts over this! Don't let him sense your stress; it could be nothing

[whispersmom2]

It is so hard not to think the worst whenwe love these guys so much. But, as upset as you can get, the puppy can be even more upset when he senses your frame of mind. Try to relax when you are with him--fall apart when he is not around if you must. I know how sad this is for you but you must stay calm and upbeat for your baby. It sounds as if you are describing a seizure but there are so many causes in these dos. The mannerisms with his head could be disorientation after a seizure..humans can do the same thing after seizures. Your vet might just do a blood panel today to rule out some other causes and postpone Bile acid studies til the results are back..You will probably have to put your baby on a special diet..There are many of us who are praying that you and your baby are fine and the diagnosis is not PSS or LS..let us know as soon as you can..

[brianjoy81]

I hope your baby is okay. Don't let yourself get worked up, or blame yourself because you think you got him from a bad breeder. Please keep us posted. Like you said, you might just be picking out each little thing that could be the liver shunt. I hope not!!!!

[yorkieusa]

Rini is right. They are very sensitive to your moods, so try to stay calm around your little one. We are all here for you. Remember that.

[Jaspermom]

Let us know as soon as you find out, OK? Give some puppy smooches to Sirius from Wosie and I!

[teri88]

Jackie,
The vet was sure Bandit had liver shunt, but he died before they did the testing and we didn't do an autopsy. Even if your baby gets bad news, they have special diets, and even surgery for it. There are other reasons for seizures and medications for that, too. Wait to hear what the vet says, and then do your homework! There is so much valuable information out there, and on YT, you'll get through this, don't worry!

[ladyt]

I said a prayer for your baby.

[y0rkieL0ver]

Thank you all again. Im just wondering if im doing him a diservice by waiting until tomorrow- should i go to an emergency vet? i will feel even worse if i wait and it causes him pain or causes him to die or something. im sorry if im over reacting and being a worry wart. my parents and my sister are watching him now because i HAD to come in to the office today and i couldnt bring him and of course i am even more worried now that hes not with me. my sister has been calling me to check in and he's seems to be his regular puppy self to her, but i feel like they may not pick up on him acting weird as i would. i prob just made no sense, im sorry. i am hoping i can leave here early and just be with him. ty for all the support and well wishes, i really appreciate it.
as for being calm, i was very calm when i was with him- giving him belly rubs and leg rubs which he loves and just speaking to him sweetly. i just get so upset when i think of it being something that could cause him to die or be in pain. its just so scary for me and i can only imagine how he must feel- so helpless and wanting me to make him better. i wish he could talk! lol and just tell me what is wrong.
im glad i was aware of all the yorkie problems that can arise because i felt like i knew what to do and right when he did his weird siezure thing i automatically thougt it was liver shunt or hypoglycemia. He is my baby, i will just feel so horrible if there is something terribly wrong with him. its very comforting to know that even if he does have a lover shunt, its not always fatal : / but i will try to stay positive and not jump the gun. i just wish the work day was over so i could be with him