Quote:
Originally Posted by Madisen55  hey everyone just updating on rileys liver biopsy!! apperntly the cells came back saying he DOES have a shunt!!  even though the liver seemed normal on xray the cells are abnormal microscopically.... the vet said he must be getting somewhat of an o.k blood supply to his liver or else he may not be alive today or came out of surgery o.k!...right now i cant afford another procedure (ulatrasound and possibly the surgery to correct this.. she told me it could be around $2000 or so..?? any ideas?) right now were just going to monitor him put him on low protein which i already started with science diet but were switching to pres. diet L/D and hes going to have milk thistle and denosyl i guess i have t opick it up tommorow not sure yet how to use all these supplements... were going to retest his bile acids in april if there the same or lower were jsut gunna keep monitoring him until i can save up enough money...but if there higher were gunna go right ahead into the next phase!..how long can a dog live with a liver shunt? hes going to be 2 yrs in july and no symptoms yet.. but i heard eventually it will take a huge toll on his life span /liver... is is true that sometimes even with surgery it may not totally correct the shunt/he may not be garunteed a long life??  |
I'm sorry to hear that your baby does have a liver condition
Did he say he had a single liver shunt or several microscopic liver shunts....If it's several microscopic liver shunt and no single liver shunt, then that's called hepatic microvascular dysplasia (MVD/HMD). This is NOT operable and has to be managed with diet/supplements. If it is a single extrahepatic shunt, then it requires surgery.
I don't see a need in spending money on an ultrasound if your vet already checked the liver size, unless he/she wants to check for bladder stones which can usually only be seen on ultrasound (the kind of stones/crystals that liver compromised dogs usually get do not usually show up on x-ray).
Have them do a urinalysis to check for crystals instead.
My yorkie was diagnosed when he was a pup, and we were told that he would not survive...I'm happy to say that he will be 4 yrs old in April!!
There is definitely hope!!
I think the oldest dog with MVD that I've heard lived to be 16? I think...
Liver issues are not a death sentence, by any means as long as you keep them on the proper protocol.
No red meat of any kind(beef, venison, etc.). Quality, low protein food is important.
If your baby hasn't exhibited any symptoms, count your blessings!!
That's wonderful, and that makes it all the more important to make sure and follow the proper protocol so that he doesn't DEVELOP symptoms.
How did you find out that he had liver issues? Was he a picky eater or something like that?