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09-12-2008, 11:49 AM | #1 |
Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,277
| Doctors think Gus has Microvascular Dysplasia Anyone with any advice? It would be greatly appreciated. I'm so upset and unsure about the next step. He had a bile acid test. It was 86.7. I've read about the ultrasound not always being accurate but that's what my vet wanted to do and I thought it couldn't hurt. If they found a shunt, we'd have the answer. The vet that did the ultrasound agreed about the accuracy but still feels it is probably not a shunt but MVD. There weren't any abnormalities found. Here is the diagnosis: A portosystemic shunt is not identified, and the hallmark signs of portosystemic shunt such as a small liver, urinary calculi and large kidneys are not seen. Microvascular dysplasia/portal vein hypoplasia is a possibility, alternatively a central nervous system lesion may be causing these signs. Recommendations: A possible next diagnostic step would be to obtain a liver biopsy under general anesthesia. At this time, with the patient completely still, a more thorough assessment of the portal vein may be possible. My regular vet told me she's never treated a dog with MVD, if that is what it turned out to be, and would either be working with a specialist or would refer me to one. I have yet to speak with her (ultrasound was yesterday) but want to ask about doing the Protein C test some of you have suggested before going back to the other doctor for the biopsy. If the Protein C test is done does that mean he won't need the biopsy? I'm not clear exactly what the test shows. Is this what you'd recommend? Anything else I should know or do? I'm learning about things such as milk thistle, denosyl, the different vitamins that might help and diet. We've only thought liver shunt for five days and now MVD for one so I have a lot to learn.
__________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW |
Welcome Guest! | |
09-12-2008, 11:56 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Gus will be fine. It's treated by diet and supplements. There are a couple of members here whose dogs' have mvd. Yorkieluv is one and I think Ellie May does too. You could send them pm's ...or wait a little while...I'm sure they'll see your thread and offer you some great advice.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com |
09-12-2008, 12:27 PM | #3 |
Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,277
| Thank you, I needed that. I'll learn more from my vet but I don't think she is going to know anything about the protein C test so I'm holding off on the call. Last I spoke with her, I got the impression this was worse than a shunt that could be repaired. So, for now I don't know what to think. I can't find much information about MVD, how it affects them or if they have a shorter life expectancy.
__________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW |
09-12-2008, 12:31 PM | #4 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| IMO a liver biopsy is REALLY invasive and I would not do it, unless they already were going in there for something else, like a spay or neuter. Roxy's first BAT was 100.9 - we did the U/S and CBC and Urinalaysis and Coagulation - everything was normal. She has had about 5 BAT within the last year ranging from 62 to 85 - So both my general Vet and Internal Medicine Specialist feel she has MVD. She show no signs of anything odd, so I am just treating her with a special diet and supplements. I will retest BAT yearly. |
09-12-2008, 12:33 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
The next step after a high bile acids test is a protein C test. Then, depending on the results, a scintigraphy might be recommended. Do you have a vet school near you? That would be your best place to take your Yorkie. I've attached some informative links for you: Hepatic Vascular Disorders - WSAVA 2006 Congress Portosystemic Shunts FAQ | |
09-12-2008, 12:34 PM | #6 | |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| Quote:
Yorkieluv and Ellie May are so good with words...they should be finding this thread soon | |
09-12-2008, 12:36 PM | #7 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| You are in New Jersey, so if you really wanted to you could get a refferal and actually get a visit with Dr. Center - she is at Cornell University (NY) |
09-12-2008, 12:39 PM | #8 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
Great advice! | |
09-12-2008, 12:49 PM | #9 | |
Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,277
| Quote:
Thank you both so much. I feel like I can breathe again.
__________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW Last edited by Itspuppyluv; 09-12-2008 at 12:51 PM. | |
09-12-2008, 01:00 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | My 3 year old Cali has very mild MVD. Her first Bile Acid was 0/91 and 2nd was 0/47 or close to. She was under the care if an specialist anyway since she had been sick for months, so she did a ultrasound which showed no external shunt and then when she was spayed they did the liver biopsy. The biopsy showed a very mild MVD, which required no treatment. I keep her protein intake as low as I can, just as a precaution. That was when she was 8 months old and now she turned 3 in June and has had no health issues associated with the MVD. She has bad allergies and grade 4 LP but she lives a normal life. So try not to panic it can be treated or may be so mild that nothing has to be done. I know it is so scary when you first here about it. I will keep your baby in my prayers.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
09-12-2008, 01:04 PM | #11 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Yes, go to Cornell. It could be a shunt with those numbers. It could be MVD. It could be something else altogether. If Gus is having neurologic symptoms, I would consider Protein C test and Scintography. What are his symptoms? In most cases, MVD can be managed by diet and supplements (or occasionally nothing at all depending on severity) and these dogs will live a normal life. It is not a death sentence. Symptoms needs to be brought under control if it is MVD though (like seizures, stones...). Last time Ellie's post bile acids were 106 but biopsy (only one sample was taken) showed no MVD. U/S showed no shunt but that is inconclusive. She doesn't really have neurologic symptoms though. Biopsy is usually not recommended unless the dog is already having surgery for something else. It is just too invasive.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 Last edited by Ellie May; 09-12-2008 at 01:06 PM. |
09-12-2008, 01:28 PM | #12 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA
Posts: 4,895
| You had great suggestions. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your baby.
__________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich." |
09-12-2008, 02:17 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| If you scroll down to page 10, there is an excellent flow chart describing how liver disease is diagnosed. Dr. Center was a member of this roundtable discussion. http://www.idexx.com/animalhealth/an...r0905final.pdf You are so fortunate to be close enough to take your Yorkie to Dr. Center herself. |
09-12-2008, 04:19 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 7,178
| What symptoms has your baby exhibited? Several of the symptoms often go unnoticed and are attributed to "not feeling well that day" or things like that. Is Gus a picky eater? Ever had UTIs? Lethargy or reactions after any vaccinations? Ever lethargic, even if it's only occassionally? Vomitting? Act funny 3 or more hours after eating? Did they do a urinalysis to check for crystals? Did you have him tested because you were concerned about symptoms he was exhibiting? The Protein C test won't necessarily tell you if your baby has MVD, but it will help decipher whether or not your baby may have a shunt.
__________________ Miko 's his Mommy |
09-13-2008, 02:28 PM | #15 |
Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,277
| He had a mild reaction after his rabies shot. He was 6 months old, he is almost four now. Since then, we get titers done so he has not had the shot since. He was lethargic, slight fever, wouldn’t eat and lost the hair permanently at the injection site. I think of him as a picky eater because he would rather starve than eat something he doesn’t like but with the foods he likes he eats very well. He is a good weight, never lethargic except after the rabies and one sick day. He has always been bouncing off the walls hyper, no UTIs. He only vomits bile if he has an empty stomach. They did do a urinalysis, no crystals. He has one symptom. He walks slowly around. Not in circles, just around the room. Like a video slowed down. He does it for 30 seconds to a minute or so. He is alert, if I call his name or move he stops. When someone has been there to see it they think he is playing. It looks as if he is stalking something. He does this for a minute and then is completely back to normal, even running around and playing seconds later. He doesn’t always do it after eating. He’s done it a couple of hours after a full night’s sleep before he’s eaten anything. When he does do it after eating it’s never hours later, it is minutes.
__________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW |
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