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Originally Posted by blitz  Well, since Sharon Center has devoted her career to LS and she suggest BAT, I'd go with that and a CBC. Good for you and your girls. This makes me so happy. I also think an ultrasound might be a lot more expensive. |
Exactly! The protocol is to do a BAT, repeat in 4-6 weeks if abnormal, then do a Protein C test if that one is abnormal, too.
Both Dr. Center and Dr. Tobias do not recommend ultrasounds as the results are too unreliable. Dr. Center estimates that they are only 80% accurate and I believe Dr. Tobias rates them as low as 60%. Unfortunately, many vets aren't up on the current protocol and still waste time and money on them.
The preferred test after the Protein C test is scintigraphy.
Here is some fabulous information from Dr. Center:
http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proce...2675&O=Generic
Since Yorkies are
36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined according to Dr. Tobias' study done at the University of Tennessee, I think breeders must get more proactive about doing a BAT on all dogs they intend to breed and new owners must start insisting that their puppy have a BAT before he comes home as recommended by Dr. Center.