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Yorkieluv · 05-11-2008, 07:24 AM

I'm so sorry that you are going through this with your baby. Did the vet actually see an extrahepatic shunt?? If you have any doubts at all, I highly recommend that you give your vet information about the Protein C test which helps decipher whether your dog has a liver shunt or MVD. This is basically just a blood test that is relatively inexpensive, and other than a prick for blood, non-invasive.
Under 100 is typically more indicative of MVD and over 100 usually points more towards shunt, but I know of a yorkie who had bile acid test results of under 100 (around 50 to be more specific), and actually had an extrahepatic shunt that was operable. Same thing goes for the other side. I know of several yorkies with results over 100, including my own that have MVD.
If your baby has an extrahepatic shunt and they do a biopsy and find that she does *not *have underlying MVD, then after your baby has surgery to close off the shunt (preferably with an ameroid constrictor), you will have to keep her on special diet, lactulose, and supplements only until her bile acid test results come back normal.

If your baby has an extrahepatic shunt and they do a biopsy and find that she *does* have underlying MVD as well, then they will have to close off the shunt, but your baby will still need maximum liver support for the rest of her life. This includes special diet, lactulose, supplements. This really is not that much work. You just give her a different food and add certain supplements to her food each day. It's really not too bad at all.

If your baby does not have an extrahepatic shunt but has MVD, then there is no surgery to correct the MVD, and she will need max. liver support. The reason I say special diet, lactulose, and supplements. Your baby is symptomatic, otherwise, she wouldn't have tremors. In these cases, you really have to watch what she eats so that the symptoms don't get worse. Certain foods cause toxin build-up and over time cause symptoms that get worse and worse if she is not maintained properly. But with just a couple of small changes, you will see a vast improvement.

05-11-2008, 07:24 AM	#3
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	I'm so sorry that you are going through this with your baby. Did the vet actually see an extrahepatic shunt?? If you have any doubts at all, I highly recommend that you give your vet information about the Protein C test which helps decipher whether your dog has a liver shunt or MVD. This is basically just a blood test that is relatively inexpensive, and other than a prick for blood, non-invasive. Under 100 is typically more indicative of MVD and over 100 usually points more towards shunt, but I know of a yorkie who had bile acid test results of under 100 (around 50 to be more specific), and actually had an extrahepatic shunt that was operable. Same thing goes for the other side. I know of several yorkies with results over 100, including my own that have MVD. If your baby has an extrahepatic shunt and they do a biopsy and find that she does not have underlying MVD, then after your baby has surgery to close off the shunt (preferably with an ameroid constrictor), you will have to keep her on special diet, lactulose, and supplements only until her bile acid test results come back normal. If your baby has an extrahepatic shunt and they do a biopsy and find that she does have underlying MVD as well, then they will have to close off the shunt, but your baby will still need maximum liver support for the rest of her life. This includes special diet, lactulose, supplements. This really is not that much work. You just give her a different food and add certain supplements to her food each day. It's really not too bad at all. If your baby does not have an extrahepatic shunt but has MVD, then there is no surgery to correct the MVD, and she will need max. liver support. The reason I say special diet, lactulose, and supplements. Your baby is symptomatic, otherwise, she wouldn't have tremors. In these cases, you really have to watch what she eats so that the symptoms don't get worse. Certain foods cause toxin build-up and over time cause symptoms that get worse and worse if she is not maintained properly. But with just a couple of small changes, you will see a vast improvement. __________________ Miko 's his Mommy Last edited by Yorkieluv; 05-11-2008 at 07:25 AM.