Liver shunt - YorkieTalk.com Forums

4twisty · 07-15-2015, 08:47 PM

So I got my first yorkie in 1997 from a puppy mill. I worried so much about her health but she gave me 17 wonderful years. She had no problems until 2 days before she died. So grieving my loss I got an 8 month old yorkie from a breeder. She was getting rid of him because his testicles never dropped and he was going to be a stud for her. I took him to get him fixed and the vet called me and said she could not go through with the surgery because he has a liver shunt. So we changed his diet and put him on a supplement. His new results on bile acids came in today. They are better but still high. His vet says she can fix him and remove the testicles, but she recommends getting the liver surgery at the same time but she doesn't do it at her office. I think I am looking at least $5,000 or more that I can't afford - I have 3 kids too. Anybody have any experience with liver shunt?? He is the light of my life and I need advice!

lisaly · 07-15-2015, 09:58 PM

I'm very sorry your little boy is ill. I don't have any experience personally, but I've read of many pups who have done great with the surgery. This link is very comprehensive, and it explains the surgery. The cost of surgery there is less than many places, and Dr. Tobias is an expert on lover shunt. They may know of organizations that offer help for pups in need of the surgery. I would reach out to them.

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs...2013-09-26.pdf

BlueBelle · 07-16-2015, 06:24 AM

I have heard that the best place for liver shunt surgery is the University of Tennessee school of vet medicine. I would suggest checking into that location.

4twisty · 07-16-2015, 07:39 PM

This is my little guy. The vet is calling me tomorrow with an estimate for the surgery. I am thinking of making a go fund me page but I am so worried that I won't get enough to get my little guy better!

4twisty · 07-16-2015, 07:42 PM

Lisaly I will look into it. I just want my baby to be ok. Thanks for the information!

lilyorkiemilo · 07-16-2015, 10:05 PM

He is adorable....best of luck!!!

Tink04 · 07-17-2015, 08:53 AM

What a sweetie - best wishes!

Russpilot · 07-17-2015, 04:03 PM

Bella, our now 6 mo. old went through that surgery a month ago. We took her to the best in our state which was the University of Flordia. The person who did her surgery was known as "The Shunt Guru" and hopefully, worked her magic on our little girl. I will say that with proper diet and drug regimen, Bella is acting like a completely normal 6 month old Terrier puppy. We went yesterday for her one month post-op and things are looking just fine. She will probably be on a low protein diet for the rest of her life and might have to take something to help her clear her bloodstream of toxins. But that being said, the surgery, done by the Doctor who teaches other Drs. how to do this surgery cost a little over 3k. If you are seriously getting 5k estimates, I recommend finding a way to come here or Tenn to get it done.
Be heartened, this is something that can be beat.

4twisty · 07-17-2015, 04:29 PM

I am so glad your baby is doing good now! The vet called me today and for the liver shunt surgery, to neuter him, remove his testicles (they never dropped) and remove a baby tooth that never fell out is going to be about $2500. This does not include a $200 ultrasound to see where the shunt is, how big it is and if there is more than one. So, I am looking at about $3,000 in the end. I am going to set up a go fund me page this weekend and I hope I can find enough people to donate money to help me with the costs. He is like my baby and I am going to do what it takes to get this fixed for him - wish me luck!!

Russpilot · 07-17-2015, 05:04 PM

You will be amazed at the picture they will get with that CT scan! I was blown away when they showed me the shunt, and what they were going to do. 3K is a bunch of money, but I looked at it in an amortization kind of way. For the 10 years or so I just bought for my little girl (hopefully a conservative estimate), I figure it is a couple of pennies a day. Good luck, prayers for you and your handsome little guy!

Russpilot · 07-17-2015, 05:09 PM

Forgot to add that when we took as much protein out of her diet as we could, she started doing better immediately. Try feeding Cheerios, apples, mango, carrots and any other fruit/veg he seems interested in. I was honestly surprised when I saw all of the things Bella would eat and love.
Get a heptic or a liver specific food and treat with good clean non protein foods and it will help bunches. Also, you might ask your vet about getting on Lactulose. It helps them to get the impurities out of their bloodstream.

sophiesmominva · 07-17-2015, 05:50 PM

My 15 month old girl had shunt surgery 3 weeks ago and is doing great! Total cost including CT (she was also spayed at same time) was about $3400. The surgery saved her life. Luckily we did this before she started showing any cognitive symptoms and her liver biopsy was fine so no damage there from the shunt. In 2 weeks, we are having a bile acid test done and Vet said if numbers are down (down, not perfect); we can stop the Lactulose and then start introducing regular food in her diet.

For past 6 months she has been on Hills L/D food and Lactulose along with treats such as carrots, peas, oranges, cheerios. Ten days before her CT scan and surgery, she was on anti-seizure medicine.

For the poster who said after the surgery, dog would be on low protein diet for life -- this is NOT so. Dogs cannot stay on low protein diets for long. When the liver shunt is closed and bile acid numbers are "normal", you absolutely must start giving your dog protein. Also, a CT is necessary, not an ultrascan to confirm the shunt.

I have done a lot of research on liver shunts and if anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer.

4twisty · 07-17-2015, 07:11 PM

Thank you for the information! Philo will also be getting fixed at the same time. He is on Hills food and Denamarin. He hasn't showed any signs until tonight. After he ate he laid down and started twitching. When he tried to get up and walk, he could not walk straight. Scared me to death! I just grabbed him and held him. He seems to be ok now, but he needs this surgery soon. I set up a go fund me page - are we allowed to post a link to it on here. Every little bit will help!!

Singingtiger · 07-17-2015, 07:31 PM

My Cricket has had liver shunt surgery. She is now two years old and weighs about 8 lbs. her numbers never returned to normal though so she is on L/D dry food, but she is doing GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

sophiesmominva · 07-18-2015, 02:48 AM

4twisty -- can you ask your vet about giving Philo Lactulose? This helps with the toxins. Might want to also ask about anti-seizure medicine for him.

Singingtiger -- wonder why bile acid numbers did not return near normal after shunt surgery? When did you have your dog tested post surgery? My vet said that after shunt surgery, the numbers may not ever return to 'normal' but should go down considerably and be within the safe range. Did they do a liver biopsy? Could there be considerable damage to the liver from the shunt? What are the numbers and when did you have your dog tested last?

My dog is thin (as a result of the shunt) and she, like all dogs need a good protein diet --- I cannot imagine feeding her this low protein food the rest of her life.

Also the bile acid numbers take time to go down and return to normal or close to it, several months. When the shunt is closed, the liver starts to grow and this takes a little time.

Like other owners, my dog showed no clinical symptoms of a shunt but only when I went to get her spayed, the blood test indicated there was a problem and then we had the bile acid test done. The vet said he had never seen in his career numbers as high as hers. Still after 8 months (I had to save for surgery) of being on low protein diet and Lactulose, she showed no signs (other than being thin) of a shunt and was smart as a whip, full of energy, etc.

Unfortunately, I enrolled in insurance 2 weeks too late to have this covered but at least in the future if my baby has an issue, I have insurance to cover it. Never, ever will I buy a dog again without getting pet insurance right out of the gate. Some people say they can't afford the $40 a month pet insurance premium and I say to them "If you can't afford $40 a month, how are you going to afford $4000 to save your dog's life?"

07-15-2015, 08:47 PM	#1
4twisty Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 30	Liver shunt So I got my first yorkie in 1997 from a puppy mill. I worried so much about her health but she gave me 17 wonderful years. She had no problems until 2 days before she died. So grieving my loss I got an 8 month old yorkie from a breeder. She was getting rid of him because his testicles never dropped and he was going to be a stud for her. I took him to get him fixed and the vet called me and said she could not go through with the surgery because he has a liver shunt. So we changed his diet and put him on a supplement. His new results on bile acids came in today. They are better but still high. His vet says she can fix him and remove the testicles, but she recommends getting the liver surgery at the same time but she doesn't do it at her office. I think I am looking at least $5,000 or more that I can't afford - I have 3 kids too. Anybody have any experience with liver shunt?? He is the light of my life and I need advice!

07-15-2015, 09:58 PM	#2
lisaly Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 5,891	I'm very sorry your little boy is ill. I don't have any experience personally, but I've read of many pups who have done great with the surgery. This link is very comprehensive, and it explains the surgery. The cost of surgery there is less than many places, and Dr. Tobias is an expert on lover shunt. They may know of organizations that offer help for pups in need of the surgery. I would reach out to them. http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs...2013-09-26.pdf __________________ *Lisa and* Katie *Ashley 6/10,* *Gracie 2/04,* Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 .

07-16-2015, 06:24 AM	#3
BlueBelle Donating YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA Posts: 1,190	I have heard that the best place for liver shunt surgery is the University of Tennessee school of vet medicine. I would suggest checking into that location. __________________ "I do not at all understand the mystery of grace-only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us"-Anne Lamott

07-17-2015, 04:03 PM	#8
Russpilot Donating 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 881	Bella, our now 6 mo. old went through that surgery a month ago. We took her to the best in our state which was the University of Flordia. The person who did her surgery was known as "The Shunt Guru" and hopefully, worked her magic on our little girl. I will say that with proper diet and drug regimen, Bella is acting like a completely normal 6 month old Terrier puppy. We went yesterday for her one month post-op and things are looking just fine. She will probably be on a low protein diet for the rest of her life and might have to take something to help her clear her bloodstream of toxins. But that being said, the surgery, done by the Doctor who teaches other Drs. how to do this surgery cost a little over 3k. If you are seriously getting 5k estimates, I recommend finding a way to come here or Tenn to get it done. Be heartened, this is something that can be beat. __________________ Russ, Denise, Bella and Bailey .

07-17-2015, 04:29 PM	#9
4twisty Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 30	Thank you Russpilot I am so glad your baby is doing good now! The vet called me today and for the liver shunt surgery, to neuter him, remove his testicles (they never dropped) and remove a baby tooth that never fell out is going to be about $2500. This does not include a $200 ultrasound to see where the shunt is, how big it is and if there is more than one. So, I am looking at about $3,000 in the end. I am going to set up a go fund me page this weekend and I hope I can find enough people to donate money to help me with the costs. He is like my baby and I am going to do what it takes to get this fixed for him - wish me luck!!

07-16-2015, 07:42 PM	#5
4twisty Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 30	Lisaly I will look into it. I just want my baby to be ok. Thanks for the information!

07-16-2015, 10:05 PM	#6
lilyorkiemilo Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lancaster, ca Posts: 164	He is adorable....best of luck!!!

07-17-2015, 08:53 AM	#7
Tink04 YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Illinois Posts: 328 Blog Entries: 1	What a sweetie - best wishes!

07-17-2015, 05:04 PM	#10
Russpilot Donating 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 881	You will be amazed at the picture they will get with that CT scan! I was blown away when they showed me the shunt, and what they were going to do. 3K is a bunch of money, but I looked at it in an amortization kind of way. For the 10 years or so I just bought for my little girl (hopefully a conservative estimate), I figure it is a couple of pennies a day. Good luck, prayers for you and your handsome little guy! __________________ Russ, Denise, Bella and Bailey .

07-17-2015, 05:09 PM	#11
Russpilot Donating 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 881	Forgot to add that when we took as much protein out of her diet as we could, she started doing better immediately. Try feeding Cheerios, apples, mango, carrots and any other fruit/veg he seems interested in. I was honestly surprised when I saw all of the things Bella would eat and love. Get a heptic or a liver specific food and treat with good clean non protein foods and it will help bunches. Also, you might ask your vet about getting on Lactulose. It helps them to get the impurities out of their bloodstream. __________________ Russ, Denise, Bella and Bailey .

07-17-2015, 05:50 PM	#12
sophiesmominva Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 59	My 15 month old girl had shunt surgery 3 weeks ago and is doing great! Total cost including CT (she was also spayed at same time) was about $3400. The surgery saved her life. Luckily we did this before she started showing any cognitive symptoms and her liver biopsy was fine so no damage there from the shunt. In 2 weeks, we are having a bile acid test done and Vet said if numbers are down (down, not perfect); we can stop the Lactulose and then start introducing regular food in her diet. For past 6 months she has been on Hills L/D food and Lactulose along with treats such as carrots, peas, oranges, cheerios. Ten days before her CT scan and surgery, she was on anti-seizure medicine. For the poster who said after the surgery, dog would be on low protein diet for life -- this is NOT so. Dogs cannot stay on low protein diets for long. When the liver shunt is closed and bile acid numbers are "normal", you absolutely must start giving your dog protein. Also, a CT is necessary, not an ultrascan to confirm the shunt. I have done a lot of research on liver shunts and if anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer.

07-17-2015, 07:11 PM	#13
4twisty Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 30	Thank you for the information! Philo will also be getting fixed at the same time. He is on Hills food and Denamarin. He hasn't showed any signs until tonight. After he ate he laid down and started twitching. When he tried to get up and walk, he could not walk straight. Scared me to death! I just grabbed him and held him. He seems to be ok now, but he needs this surgery soon. I set up a go fund me page - are we allowed to post a link to it on here. Every little bit will help!!

07-17-2015, 07:31 PM	#14
Singingtiger Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 170	My Cricket has had liver shunt surgery. She is now two years old and weighs about 8 lbs. her numbers never returned to normal though so she is on L/D dry food, but she is doing GREAT!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Megan, mommy to Cricket

07-18-2015, 02:48 AM	#15
sophiesmominva Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 59	4twisty -- can you ask your vet about giving Philo Lactulose? This helps with the toxins. Might want to also ask about anti-seizure medicine for him. Singingtiger -- wonder why bile acid numbers did not return near normal after shunt surgery? When did you have your dog tested post surgery? My vet said that after shunt surgery, the numbers may not ever return to 'normal' but should go down considerably and be within the safe range. Did they do a liver biopsy? Could there be considerable damage to the liver from the shunt? What are the numbers and when did you have your dog tested last? My dog is thin (as a result of the shunt) and she, like all dogs need a good protein diet --- I cannot imagine feeding her this low protein food the rest of her life. Also the bile acid numbers take time to go down and return to normal or close to it, several months. When the shunt is closed, the liver starts to grow and this takes a little time. Like other owners, my dog showed no clinical symptoms of a shunt but only when I went to get her spayed, the blood test indicated there was a problem and then we had the bile acid test done. The vet said he had never seen in his career numbers as high as hers. Still after 8 months (I had to save for surgery) of being on low protein diet and Lactulose, she showed no signs (other than being thin) of a shunt and was smart as a whip, full of energy, etc. Unfortunately, I enrolled in insurance 2 weeks too late to have this covered but at least in the future if my baby has an issue, I have insurance to cover it. Never, ever will I buy a dog again without getting pet insurance right out of the gate. Some people say they can't afford the $40 a month pet insurance premium and I say to them "If you can't afford $40 a month, how are you going to afford $4000 to save your dog's life?"