Liver Shunt - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Yorkieluv · 05-07-2005, 07:19 AM

I'm new to this site

...I became a member in Feb, but never actually got on here til last night. My 1yr old yorkie baby has a liver shunt. We noticed what looked like blood in his urine and took him to the vet; they did urinalysis and urine culture and decided it wasn't a UTI but that it wasn't a big deal and that he just had a couple of stones so they sent antibiotics. A few months later it happened again, and I wanted answers so we did the same tests, bloodwork, and I also requested that a bile acid test be done b/c I had read that blood in urine might be a symptom of liver shunts. 2 weeks later, he stopped urinating...he would just race from one pee pad to the next trying to urinate, but nothing would come out and he started crying so I took him to a new vet that I had heard was the best (and he is). They put him on a urinary catheter and did an ultrasound and they found MANY bladder stones in there with signigicant size. You could literally see tons of stones going through his catheter. It was horrifying to me. So, after 3 weeks of testing and being hospitalized they decided to do the liver shunt surgery. Well, they weren't able to find the shunt which means it's probably intrahepatic and it's a very delicate place to get to. The doctor said it's very possible that he could live for many years with the liver shunt as long as he's on his special diet and medications because he wasn't having any of the side effects, just the bladder stones. The vet actually went in and took out the bladder stones he could find and made my yorkie a new pee hole at the base of his penis so that he wouldn't have to struggle and be in pain to pass the stones. The stones will never stop coming because they are a symptom of the liver shunt so that's why he did that. I know it sounds weird, but it works. He's no longer in pain and he doesn't have to be on a urinary catheter all the time. Is there anyone out there that has a yorkie baby with liver shunts. It would be nice to hear other people's experiences with this problem.

ReconsMomma · 05-07-2005, 10:32 AM

I dont know anything about this but I wanted to send my thoughts to you and your baby in hopes that you have many many happy years together.

Yorkieluv · 05-08-2005, 09:47 AM

Thanks for the support. It's a really difficult thing to go through.

lily's mom · 05-08-2005, 02:28 PM

How horrible for you!!! I so hope your baby will be alright. Very scarey thing to live with. Keep us posted on how things are going.

Marie · 05-08-2005, 04:39 PM

So sorry for you and your baby. I dont know anything about Liver shunt, but someone here must. I will have you both in my prayers. Im glad that your yorkie is not in pain anymore.
I also wanted to Welcome you to YT.

Dabeckrock · 05-08-2005, 04:47 PM

I'm sorry to hear about these health problems. That's tough. My good wishes and thoughts go out to you.

Yorkieluv · 05-08-2005, 09:42 PM

It's weird because he has always acted really healthy and happy. Right now, he has a ton of stitches cause they just did the surgery on Monday, but it doesn't stop him from trying to play and bring me toys! He definitely has not lost the will to live. Right now, I just have to wait and see what happens and I pray that everything works out.

05-07-2005, 07:19 AM	#1
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,822	Liver Shunt I'm new to this site ...I became a member in Feb, but never actually got on here til last night. My 1yr old yorkie baby has a liver shunt. We noticed what looked like blood in his urine and took him to the vet; they did urinalysis and urine culture and decided it wasn't a UTI but that it wasn't a big deal and that he just had a couple of stones so they sent antibiotics. A few months later it happened again, and I wanted answers so we did the same tests, bloodwork, and I also requested that a bile acid test be done b/c I had read that blood in urine might be a symptom of liver shunts. 2 weeks later, he stopped urinating...he would just race from one pee pad to the next trying to urinate, but nothing would come out and he started crying so I took him to a new vet that I had heard was the best (and he is). They put him on a urinary catheter and did an ultrasound and they found MANY bladder stones in there with signigicant size. You could literally see tons of stones going through his catheter. It was horrifying to me. So, after 3 weeks of testing and being hospitalized they decided to do the liver shunt surgery. Well, they weren't able to find the shunt which means it's probably intrahepatic and it's a very delicate place to get to. The doctor said it's very possible that he could live for many years with the liver shunt as long as he's on his special diet and medications because he wasn't having any of the side effects, just the bladder stones. The vet actually went in and took out the bladder stones he could find and made my yorkie a new pee hole at the base of his penis so that he wouldn't have to struggle and be in pain to pass the stones. The stones will never stop coming because they are a symptom of the liver shunt so that's why he did that. I know it sounds weird, but it works. He's no longer in pain and he doesn't have to be on a urinary catheter all the time. Is there anyone out there that has a yorkie baby with liver shunts. It would be nice to hear other people's experiences with this problem.

05-08-2005, 02:28 PM	#4
lily's mom Lily Loves Maximus Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,633	How horrible for you!!! I so hope your baby will be alright. Very scarey thing to live with. Keep us posted on how things are going. __________________ Lily and Dawn

05-08-2005, 04:39 PM	#5
Marie Mom loves Gucci Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 6,419	So sorry for you and your baby. I dont know anything about Liver shunt, but someone here must. I will have you both in my prayers. Im glad that your yorkie is not in pain anymore. I also wanted to Welcome you to YT. __________________ Huggies, Gucci and Marie http://www.dogster.com/?132187 "I have been egged" Last edited by Marie; 05-08-2005 at 04:42 PM.

05-08-2005, 04:47 PM	#6
Dabeckrock Yorkie Talk Newbie! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Manhattan Posts: 5	Liver Problems I'm sorry to hear about these health problems. That's tough. My good wishes and thoughts go out to you.

05-07-2005, 10:32 AM	#2
ReconsMomma BANNED! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 2,483	I dont know anything about this but I wanted to send my thoughts to you and your baby in hopes that you have many many happy years together.

05-08-2005, 09:47 AM	#3
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,822	Thanks for the support. It's a really difficult thing to go through.

05-08-2005, 09:42 PM	#7
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,822	It's weird because he has always acted really healthy and happy. Right now, he has a ton of stitches cause they just did the surgery on Monday, but it doesn't stop him from trying to play and bring me toys! He definitely has not lost the will to live. Right now, I just have to wait and see what happens and I pray that everything works out.