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MsDebi43 · 10-03-2005, 12:46 PM

Hi there, my name is Debbie and I have a new yorkie thats 8 wks. old. My first experience with the first little love of my life was from the same breeder and his name was gizmo. He was so special and very tiny. He weighed maybe one pound when I got him. But, seemed to be very healthy to me. I kept gizmo up until the first of August I took him to the vet on a routine check up and what was my healthy, happy dog was no longer. That evening he became listless and by the next day he began to lose his balance. I began my trips to the vet where they were pretty sure that it was the liver shunt thingy (of which I hadn't a clue about) so, I took him back home that day and ended up at an emergency animal hospital that nite. There was a doctor there that was frank with me, that I had a very sick dog and that the odds didn't look good for him. By this time, my gizmo was clinching his teeth and having seizures and I was besides myself. He gave my dog a shot of something and some antibiotics and somekind of special food and said take him home over the weekend and see if what he had given him and what I would give him would help him improve. Thats what I did.

I got one dose of antibiotics in him that day. He did lay on the couch with me that day. He seemed to be doing better. Suddenly, in the evening he aroused and began to play our little game of tug of war for about a minute
he ate a few bites of whatever. Then he went into his final seizure and it
was horrible. He died on his way to the hospital. I was devastated.

I was told to let the breeder know that gizmo had died, which I did. He said he would give me another puppy(although he wasn't happy about it) I said whenever he would be ready, which would be the last of September. It has been a long road and gizmo was a trooper and now I have this little guy thats so different. He is bigger, seems healthier, he's 3 lbs at 8 wks.

I guess the thing I want to know is, How likely is it that this first cousin of gizmos will have the same thing? The breeder said that they had never dealt with that before gizmo. At any rate, I'm sorry to write so long. I still am having trouble with a name, does anyone have any suggestions?

Love and Prayers,
MsDebi43

DolcesMommy · 10-03-2005, 01:21 PM

I am so sorry to hear about Gizmo. That would be heartbreaking. Your new puppy sounds healthy. Congrats!!!I love the name Rocco.

alaskayorkie · 10-03-2005, 01:24 PM

Welcome to YT. I'm so sorry to hear about poor Gizmo. I don't know enough about liver shunt to give you any information on the likelihood that a cousin of gizmo's would be a risk, but I'm sure there will be people here who can offer input. The new pup, though, seems to be a much better weight for that age. I wish you the best of luck with this one.

River · 10-03-2005, 01:36 PM

Welcome to YT! I'm sorry about Gizmo, hopefully your new one will do better for you. As far as liver shunts go, my Indiana just had surgery for one about a month ago. I was lucky. Indy is a bigger Yorkie with only 1 odd ball symptom, and we caught it right away before his liver was damaged. He was 6mos when diagnosed and seemed very healthy, gaining weight steadily, I never in a million years would have thought he was sick. I am told that liver shunts are hereditary so if I were you I would ask your vet to perform a bile acid test on him as soon as he is strong enough to do a 12 hour fast. It's about $75 to$85 and well worth the money! Good luck!

RowdysMom · 10-03-2005, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

Welcome to YT! I'm sorry about Gizmo, hopefully your new one will do better for you. As far as liver shunts go, my Indiana just had surgery for one about a month ago. I was lucky. Indy is a bigger Yorkie with only 1 odd ball symptom, and we caught it right away before his liver was damaged. He was 6mos when diagnosed and seemed very healthy, gaining weight steadily, I never in a million years would have thought he was sick. I am told that liver shunts are hereditary so if I were you I would ask your vet to perform a bile acid test on him as soon as he is strong enough to do a 12 hour fast. It's about $75 to$85 and well worth the money! Good luck!

What was the one oddball symptom???

Thorsmomma · 10-03-2005, 06:51 PM

Welsome to YT! I am so sorry to hear your devistating sorry about your precious Gizmo. I am glad that you are finally settled down with a healthier puppy now... Again welcome!

MeganS · 10-03-2005, 07:28 PM

I'm so sorry about Gizmo. losing a baby is never easy. welcome to YT, and good luck with your new one! we lost a baby similar to the way you lost yours in April. Liver shunt is hereditary, and is passed down through the lines. It is possible that your new baby is at risk, but he sounds healthy to me!!!

again, WELCOME TO YT!

Hamoth · 10-03-2005, 09:19 PM

Quote:

I still am having trouble with a name, does anyone have any suggestions?

What gender is your new puppy?

As for the liver shunt, the mode of inheritance is not currently known. While we know that it is hereditary in the breed, we don't understand yet if this is recessive or dominant trait or if one or more genes are involved.

ecucurlyq77 · 10-04-2005, 08:27 AM

max has a liver shunt and had surgery 4 months ago. he is doing great now! vets seem to think that liver shunt is gentic. i would definatly get your new little puppy a bile acid test to see if everything is ok. good luck!

sneri13 · 10-04-2005, 09:19 AM

Hi and welcome. So sorry for your poor little Gizmo.

chachi · 10-04-2005, 10:07 AM

Hello and welcome to YT.

River · 10-04-2005, 03:09 PM

To Rowdysmom: His odd ball symptom was squinting eyes. He looked like he was asleep on his feet, his eyes would roll down into his head like he was going to sleep. However, he wasn't sleepy! He would actually play like that. I did alot of reading on liver shunts when my vet suggested it, I thought she was way off base. I couldn't find one thing that said squinting eyes was a symptom. Turns out she wasn't off base at all. My surgeon said it was a central nervous system response to the toxics in his blood, could have been a precursor to a seizure, which is a symptom. No more squinting eyes since the surgery! He has alot more energy now too and is doin great!

RowdysMom · 10-04-2005, 04:25 PM

Thanks River! My Rowdy had some slight weakness in his back legs a few weeks back. We have wood floors and when he would first wake up, his back legs would sometimes slip out from under him. We checked with the vet his breeder uses and there are absolutely no problems with the breeder's dogs. She checked him for any orthopedic problems and there were none. The vet said she did NOT think it was liver shunt, but that if we wanted she would test him. Well the very next day my hubby had to go into the hospital for a couple of weeks, he had surgery, and I just couldn't take Rowdy in for testing. Rowdy has not had any more weakness that I know of - so we haven't yet had him tested. Anyway, when you said oddball symptom, I just had to ask.

YorkieRose · 10-04-2005, 04:29 PM

I am very sorry to hear about your puppy?
How long did you have him before he became ill? You mentioned he was fine until after the vet appointment. Did he receive and vaccine that day? Just curious if it could have been a reaction to lepto..sounds similiar.
Since your new boy is much bigger, I would rest easy. Best wishes

YorkieShadow · 10-04-2005, 04:30 PM

Welcome to TY. Im sorry to hear about your loss. I hope your new puppy brings you lots of happy years.

10-03-2005, 12:46 PM	#1
MsDebi43 Yorkie Talk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: wv Posts: 1	Hey, We're Newbies! Hi there, my name is Debbie and I have a new yorkie thats 8 wks. old. My first experience with the first little love of my life was from the same breeder and his name was gizmo. He was so special and very tiny. He weighed maybe one pound when I got him. But, seemed to be very healthy to me. I kept gizmo up until the first of August I took him to the vet on a routine check up and what was my healthy, happy dog was no longer. That evening he became listless and by the next day he began to lose his balance. I began my trips to the vet where they were pretty sure that it was the liver shunt thingy (of which I hadn't a clue about) so, I took him back home that day and ended up at an emergency animal hospital that nite. There was a doctor there that was frank with me, that I had a very sick dog and that the odds didn't look good for him. By this time, my gizmo was clinching his teeth and having seizures and I was besides myself. He gave my dog a shot of something and some antibiotics and somekind of special food and said take him home over the weekend and see if what he had given him and what I would give him would help him improve. Thats what I did. I got one dose of antibiotics in him that day. He did lay on the couch with me that day. He seemed to be doing better. Suddenly, in the evening he aroused and began to play our little game of tug of war for about a minute he ate a few bites of whatever. Then he went into his final seizure and it was horrible. He died on his way to the hospital. I was devastated. I was told to let the breeder know that gizmo had died, which I did. He said he would give me another puppy(although he wasn't happy about it) I said whenever he would be ready, which would be the last of September. It has been a long road and gizmo was a trooper and now I have this little guy thats so different. He is bigger, seems healthier, he's 3 lbs at 8 wks. I guess the thing I want to know is, How likely is it that this first cousin of gizmos will have the same thing? The breeder said that they had never dealt with that before gizmo. At any rate, I'm sorry to write so long. I still am having trouble with a name, does anyone have any suggestions? Love and Prayers, MsDebi43

10-03-2005, 01:24 PM	#3
alaskayorkie Race to 7,000 champ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 10,474 Blog Entries: 25	Welcome to YT. I'm so sorry to hear about poor Gizmo. I don't know enough about liver shunt to give you any information on the likelihood that a cousin of gizmo's would be a risk, but I'm sure there will be people here who can offer input. The new pup, though, seems to be a much better weight for that age. I wish you the best of luck with this one. __________________ Meet Eddie and Jack: www.dogster.com/?159686 YouTube vids: http://www.youtube.com/alaskayorkie Picture site: http://web.mac.com/mlewishome

10-03-2005, 06:51 PM	#6
Thorsmomma I Love Thor Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,151 Blog Entries: 1	Welsome to YT! I am so sorry to hear your devistating sorry about your precious Gizmo. I am glad that you are finally settled down with a healthier puppy now... Again welcome! __________________ Hannah & Thor & Harry The boys on DOGSTER

10-03-2005, 07:28 PM	#7
MeganS Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 10,122 Blog Entries: 1	I'm so sorry about Gizmo. losing a baby is never easy. welcome to YT, and good luck with your new one! we lost a baby similar to the way you lost yours in April. Liver shunt is hereditary, and is passed down through the lines. It is possible that your new baby is at risk, but he sounds healthy to me!!! again, WELCOME TO YT! __________________ Megan Positive posting makes every day brighter! "I stand for the power to change." - I Stand by Idina Menzel "I have my dreams. I have made plans." - The Pirate Queen musical

10-04-2005, 08:27 AM	#9
ecucurlyq77 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hampstead, North Carolina Posts: 46	max has a liver shunt and had surgery 4 months ago. he is doing great now! vets seem to think that liver shunt is gentic. i would definatly get your new little puppy a bile acid test to see if everything is ok. good luck! __________________ Brooke & "Max"

10-03-2005, 01:21 PM	#2
DolcesMommy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 74	I am so sorry to hear about Gizmo. That would be heartbreaking. Your new puppy sounds healthy. Congrats!!!I love the name Rocco.

10-03-2005, 01:36 PM	#4
River Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Posts: 178	Welcome to YT! I'm sorry about Gizmo, hopefully your new one will do better for you. As far as liver shunts go, my Indiana just had surgery for one about a month ago. I was lucky. Indy is a bigger Yorkie with only 1 odd ball symptom, and we caught it right away before his liver was damaged. He was 6mos when diagnosed and seemed very healthy, gaining weight steadily, I never in a million years would have thought he was sick. I am told that liver shunts are hereditary so if I were you I would ask your vet to perform a bile acid test on him as soon as he is strong enough to do a 12 hour fast. It's about $75 to$85 and well worth the money! Good luck!

10-04-2005, 09:19 AM	#10
sneri13 Luv My Spoiled Babies Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,065	Hi and welcome. So sorry for your poor little Gizmo. __________________ Susan Mac Mellie & Manny Prayers for Ren

10-04-2005, 10:07 AM	#11
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 22,521	Hello and welcome to YT. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

10-04-2005, 03:09 PM	#12
River Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Posts: 178	To Rowdysmom: His odd ball symptom was squinting eyes. He looked like he was asleep on his feet, his eyes would roll down into his head like he was going to sleep. However, he wasn't sleepy! He would actually play like that. I did alot of reading on liver shunts when my vet suggested it, I thought she was way off base. I couldn't find one thing that said squinting eyes was a symptom. Turns out she wasn't off base at all. My surgeon said it was a central nervous system response to the toxics in his blood, could have been a precursor to a seizure, which is a symptom. No more squinting eyes since the surgery! He has alot more energy now too and is doin great!

10-04-2005, 04:25 PM	#13
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,309	Thanks River! My Rowdy had some slight weakness in his back legs a few weeks back. We have wood floors and when he would first wake up, his back legs would sometimes slip out from under him. We checked with the vet his breeder uses and there are absolutely no problems with the breeder's dogs. She checked him for any orthopedic problems and there were none. The vet said she did NOT think it was liver shunt, but that if we wanted she would test him. Well the very next day my hubby had to go into the hospital for a couple of weeks, he had surgery, and I just couldn't take Rowdy in for testing. Rowdy has not had any more weakness that I know of - so we haven't yet had him tested. Anyway, when you said oddball symptom, I just had to ask. __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

10-04-2005, 04:29 PM	#14
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	I am very sorry to hear about your puppy? How long did you have him before he became ill? You mentioned he was fine until after the vet appointment. Did he receive and vaccine that day? Just curious if it could have been a reaction to lepto..sounds similiar. Since your new boy is much bigger, I would rest easy. Best wishes __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

10-04-2005, 04:30 PM	#15
YorkieShadow Yorkie Shadows are the best Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 8,397 Blog Entries: 1	Welcome to TY. Im sorry to hear about your loss. I hope your new puppy brings you lots of happy years. __________________ Now Taking Orders Business cards, Labels, Holiday cards