Quote:
Originally Posted by pack leader  What a heartbreaking story! I have a 2.5 pound male (15 months) who has been
diagnosed with L/S. His bile acid test was 130. My vet has only done one of these
procedures and all I keep hearing on line is UTK and Dr. Tobais. I live in S. Florida
and would prefer to find someone local. The ameroid constrictor seems to be the way
to go, but not all vets use it.
At UTK they boast a success rate of 95% and 35% of all surgeries are Yorkies.
It's so sad that yours was not part of that percentage.
After reading your story, I am very confused on what to do, and where to do it.
My Bubba will not eat that low protein food....K/d, E/N, U/D. etc. He's not eating
and he even refuses Nutrical, now!
Any ideas????
Thanks in advance.
Pack Leader |
I'm so sorry that your baby may have a liver shunt...
K/D, U/D, S/D, etc are not recommended at all for liver compromised dogs. Yes, those foods are low in protein *but* they are the wrong kind of protein. These foods contain pork liver or meat proteins which are not recommended because they are very, very hard on the liver. Also, the dry varieties of Hill's diets are not recommended because they contain ethoxyquin which is a carcinogen.
Only canned L/D is recommended for liver compromised dogs...Its specifically formulated for them and contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals they specifically need like vitamin E and zinc and are low in vitamins and minerals they don't need much of like copper.
Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14 is a dry food that is for liver compromised dogs that is highly recommended. Most dogs find it very palatable, and it is also lower in fat. Both L/D and Hepatic LS 14 contain vegetable, soy, or dairy proteins because these are the safest and easiest on their livers.
Animal proteins produce the most amount of ammonia and in a liver which is not functioning properly, the ammonia cannot be filtered and therefore enters the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream it causes symptoms like inappetance, head pressing, and even seizures...As the liver becomes more damaged, the symptoms become more severe.
Lactulose is very important...It helps bind the toxins and pushes them through the colon. The goal with this med is to get them to have 2-3 soft stools per day. This is important, so the amount you give needs to be based on this. The recommended dosage should be broken up into 3-4 doses per day.
Can you share any symptoms that your baby has exhibited including inappetance, drooling, staring, head pressing, dark urine, etc?