newly diagnosed liver shunt puppy - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tdavis · 01-04-2007, 04:33 PM

Hi my name is Tammy, Bobo is my 5 month old yorkie, this past Monday he was diagnosed with a extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. He had been having these episodes where he was kind of out of it, couldn't stand up and was shaky. I thought it was just low blood sugar He had 2 episodes in 3 day and of course I posted about these episodes here and someone told me her yorkie had the same symptoms and had a liver shunt. I am a paranoid mother so as soon as I read that I watched him more than ever.
The breeder at first told me she had never had a puppy with liver problems in 15 years of breeding and I had to be doing something to make the puppy sick. I told her there was no one that could have done a better job than I had. Finally after a few heated conversations she has agreed to refund the purchase price of $800.00. At this point I have already spent $1000.00 on just testing and have to pay for this surgery now and there is not even any gaurantee that he will make through surgery. I would like to hear from you who have experienced this and if the pups developed siezures after surgery? or what other problems developed post surgery.
Thanks for listening.
Tammy

Chrissy0277 · 01-04-2007, 04:48 PM

Tammy go and join http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/
I feel like Im preaching about this group I post it so often for dogs who have LS and who suspect LS. They can point you in the right direction. University or Tenn is the best place to take your yorkie for surgery to fix the shunt.
Join that group and any question you have they can help you. Alot of LS knowledge on that group

tdavis · 01-04-2007, 04:53 PM

Yes thank you I did join. We are close to Univ of Florida, they say they do a lot of these surgeries. I do wish we were closer to Tennessee as they are about 500.00 cheaper for some reason.

peanut · 01-04-2007, 04:56 PM

Dr. Tabois is the best, but they have come along way with all the research so they should be good there...Prayers coming your way for you & your baby....

Patti · 01-04-2007, 06:11 PM

I am sorry to hear about your babies LS. Cali was diagnosed with a mild case of the inoperable shunt. I know several YT members babies have had the surgery and it was successful. Keeping you both in my prayers.

tdavis · 01-04-2007, 06:31 PM

Thank you all so much. It is good to know there is hope and are prayers out there for Bobo.

qtblondey1 · 01-05-2007, 04:10 PM

The same thing happened to me! Sebastian wasn't eating, shaking & throwing up! The vet did some blood work & said he has low blood sugar! I have a feeling its something more though! How do they test for this shunt?

jrsygal37 · 01-05-2007, 04:19 PM

Tammi. If you go on Puppymillrescue.com and email the administrator there she may be able to lead you to where they bring their pups with Livershunt. They have a specialist that I've heard a lot of good about. Also cornel University in NY and the University of PA have Livershunt specialists. What I can tell you is that our bella who is now three was bitten by a brown recluse spider. She went limp and we rushed her to the after hours emergency clinic. Because her liver enzymes were so elevated the vet initially thought it was liver shunt. Like you we spent over $1000 for testing and was lucky that it all turned out alright. What we were told was that the surgery runs about $5000.00 and that although Livershunt can come at any time the age is seems to appear is around 2 yrs old. I know this isn't much info. but I hope some of it helps you out and I hope your little one gets better. I know what we went through with our Bella. I was just crushed when we thought she had it. Elaine.

Dorianyorkie · 01-05-2007, 04:23 PM

Tammy, sorry to hear that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdavis

Hi my name is Tammy, Bobo is my 5 month old yorkie, this past Monday he was diagnosed with a extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. He had been having these episodes where he was kind of out of it, couldn't stand up and was shaky. I thought it was just low blood sugar He had 2 episodes in 3 day and of course I posted about these episodes here and someone told me her yorkie had the same symptoms and had a liver shunt. I am a paranoid mother so as soon as I read that I watched him more than ever.
The breeder at first told me she had never had a puppy with liver problems in 15 years of breeding and I had to be doing something to make the puppy sick. I told her there was no one that could have done a better job than I had. Finally after a few heated conversations she has agreed to refund the purchase price of $800.00. At this point I have already spent $1000.00 on just testing and have to pay for this surgery now and there is not even any gaurantee that he will make through surgery. I would like to hear from you who have experienced this and if the pups developed siezures after surgery? or what other problems developed post surgery.
Thanks for listening.
Tammy

Chrissy0277 · 01-05-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qtblondey1

The same thing happened to me! Sebastian wasn't eating, shaking & throwing up! The vet did some blood work & said he has low blood sugar! I have a feeling its something more though! How do they test for this shunt?

A bile acid test

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/faq.shtml

catser2002 · 01-06-2007, 09:09 PM

My sister had a miniture dachshund who had a severe liver shunt. She took him to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he went through surgery (or surgeries - I think he had 3 separate procedures). It was a long process and recovery and he was on a special diet for the rest of his life.

But, after all that he lived a long, happy life -- he was almost 15 when he died.

So dogs with the problem can live and thrive.

TigsAAI · 01-08-2007, 02:50 AM

Hello Tammy,

So sorry to hear your Bobo has Livershunt.
I am also close the University of Florida.
I must say I was happy with there services.

Also I did read that they got a grant and will
being doing case studies on Liver Shunt..
I wish know that I had saved what I read and where..

I think I noted that you joined the group that Chrissy
was telling you about. Ask for SusieQ's mom..
She had SusieQ's Liver shunt surgery done at Univ. of Fla.
I am sure she will be glad to talk to you...
Tell SusieQ hello for me.. I am one of her many fans..
Hope this is some help,
Nell

kandy313 · 01-08-2007, 03:33 AM

I'm going through the same thing right now with my Bizkit,he was having the same spells and was so sick during Christmas and new years,took him to the vet and they said his liver test were very high and he might have a liver shunt,so i take him back wednesday for the bile acid test. i just hope and pray its something else. i have been sick with worry and maybe spoiled him a little bit more sence then. there is a place i found one the net that helps with the cost of the surgery.

prettypuppypink · 01-08-2007, 04:00 AM

I pray for all of you babies. I went though this about 3 weeks ago with Mikki my Mi-Ki, bile acid test was normal. When he collapsed they were high normal. Now we wait to see if it happens again then do brain MRI. It makes me worry and I watch him like a hawk. It could have been hyperglycemia but I gave him honey on the way to the vet's. Later after fasting for the bile acid test his blood sugar levels were normal. He is past a year and never had an attack while I had him since 16 weeks old.

01-04-2007, 04:33 PM	#1
tdavis Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: florida Posts: 116	newly diagnosed liver shunt puppy Hi my name is Tammy, Bobo is my 5 month old yorkie, this past Monday he was diagnosed with a extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. He had been having these episodes where he was kind of out of it, couldn't stand up and was shaky. I thought it was just low blood sugar He had 2 episodes in 3 day and of course I posted about these episodes here and someone told me her yorkie had the same symptoms and had a liver shunt. I am a paranoid mother so as soon as I read that I watched him more than ever. The breeder at first told me she had never had a puppy with liver problems in 15 years of breeding and I had to be doing something to make the puppy sick. I told her there was no one that could have done a better job than I had. Finally after a few heated conversations she has agreed to refund the purchase price of $800.00. At this point I have already spent $1000.00 on just testing and have to pay for this surgery now and there is not even any gaurantee that he will make through surgery. I would like to hear from you who have experienced this and if the pups developed siezures after surgery? or what other problems developed post surgery. Thanks for listening. Tammy

01-04-2007, 04:48 PM	#2
Chrissy0277 Its all about the yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,451	Tammy go and join http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/ I feel like Im preaching about this group I post it so often for dogs who have LS and who suspect LS. They can point you in the right direction. University or Tenn is the best place to take your yorkie for surgery to fix the shunt. Join that group and any question you have they can help you. Alot of LS knowledge on that group __________________ CHRISSY Nikki Precious Lizzy Mimi , Lena Taboo

01-04-2007, 04:56 PM	#4
peanut Dogs Rule Cats Drool! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,895	Dr. Tabois is the best, but they have come along way with all the research so they should be good there...Prayers coming your way for you & your baby.... __________________ KIM

01-04-2007, 06:11 PM	#5
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I am sorry to hear about your babies LS. Cali was diagnosed with a mild case of the inoperable shunt. I know several YT members babies have had the surgery and it was successful. Keeping you both in my prayers. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

01-08-2007, 02:50 AM	#12
TigsAAI Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 19	Tammy Hello Tammy, So sorry to hear your Bobo has Livershunt. I am also close the University of Florida. I must say I was happy with there services. Also I did read that they got a grant and will being doing case studies on Liver Shunt.. I wish know that I had saved what I read and where.. I think I noted that you joined the group that Chrissy was telling you about. Ask for SusieQ's mom.. She had SusieQ's Liver shunt surgery done at Univ. of Fla. I am sure she will be glad to talk to you... Tell SusieQ hello for me.. I am one of her many fans.. Hope this is some help, Nell

01-04-2007, 04:53 PM	#3
tdavis Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: florida Posts: 116	Yes thank you I did join. We are close to Univ of Florida, they say they do a lot of these surgeries. I do wish we were closer to Tennessee as they are about 500.00 cheaper for some reason.

01-04-2007, 06:31 PM	#6
tdavis Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: florida Posts: 116	Thank you all so much. It is good to know there is hope and are prayers out there for Bobo.

01-05-2007, 04:10 PM	#7
qtblondey1 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA, San Jose/ San Diego Posts: 55	The same thing happened to me! Sebastian wasn't eating, shaking & throwing up! The vet did some blood work & said he has low blood sugar! I have a feeling its something more though! How do they test for this shunt?

01-05-2007, 04:19 PM	#8
jrsygal37 Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,370	Tammi. If you go on Puppymillrescue.com and email the administrator there she may be able to lead you to where they bring their pups with Livershunt. They have a specialist that I've heard a lot of good about. Also cornel University in NY and the University of PA have Livershunt specialists. What I can tell you is that our bella who is now three was bitten by a brown recluse spider. She went limp and we rushed her to the after hours emergency clinic. Because her liver enzymes were so elevated the vet initially thought it was liver shunt. Like you we spent over $1000 for testing and was lucky that it all turned out alright. What we were told was that the surgery runs about $5000.00 and that although Livershunt can come at any time the age is seems to appear is around 2 yrs old. I know this isn't much info. but I hope some of it helps you out and I hope your little one gets better. I know what we went through with our Bella. I was just crushed when we thought she had it. Elaine.

01-06-2007, 09:09 PM	#11
catser2002 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 186	My sister had a miniture dachshund who had a severe liver shunt. She took him to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he went through surgery (or surgeries - I think he had 3 separate procedures). It was a long process and recovery and he was on a special diet for the rest of his life. But, after all that he lived a long, happy life -- he was almost 15 when he died. So dogs with the problem can live and thrive.

01-08-2007, 03:33 AM	#13
kandy313 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: prestonsburg,ky Posts: 105	I'm going through the same thing right now with my Bizkit,he was having the same spells and was so sick during Christmas and new years,took him to the vet and they said his liver test were very high and he might have a liver shunt,so i take him back wednesday for the bile acid test. i just hope and pray its something else. i have been sick with worry and maybe spoiled him a little bit more sence then. there is a place i found one the net that helps with the cost of the surgery.

01-08-2007, 04:00 AM	#14
prettypuppypink Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 739	I pray for all of you babies. I went though this about 3 weeks ago with Mikki my Mi-Ki, bile acid test was normal. When he collapsed they were high normal. Now we wait to see if it happens again then do brain MRI. It makes me worry and I watch him like a hawk. It could have been hyperglycemia but I gave him honey on the way to the vet's. Later after fasting for the bile acid test his blood sugar levels were normal. He is past a year and never had an attack while I had him since 16 weeks old.