Sorry... this is a long one…
I had posted about a week ago about Ruthie's liver shunt issues… So I had finally come to terms with it, and felt better about everything — from talking to people on here, as well as my vet — who recommended NOT doing surgery and bringing her in every couple months for bloodwork to keep an eye on her because she is doing SO well on the drugs and special food right now — she has virtually NO symptoms and is very energetic and happy.
Anyways, I took Ruthie AND Oscar to the vet yesterday (Ruthie for follow-up bloodwork and Oscar for his annual exam).
Ruthie's tests came back exactly the same and now they are recommending further testing (scintigraphy) to determine if it IS a shunt, how big, etc. Then, based on that, possibly surgery…
OSCAR'S results came back elevated as well.
His weren't nearly as high as Ruthie's (hers was 249 pre and 231 post) — Oscar's was just a random bile acid test - not the fasted one, and his result was 51 or something... According to my vet, normal range is 1 to 10. SO, now they want to do a proper BAT test on him in the morning where they'll take values before eating and after. Based on that result, they will recommend a scintigraphy test be performed on him at the same time as Ruthie.
Sorry for the long post... I'm absolutely devastated. What are the odds that BOTH my dogs could be liver compromised??? They aren't even from the same breeder! I seriously can't take this… emotionally or financially. I feel like throwing up. Oscar has had NO symptoms - he was always a healthy puppy. I'm tempted to not bother with any further testing on him... but does that make me a jackass? I'm thinking of doing the BAT tomorrow, but even if they recommend the scint test for him, I may decline.
What would you all do? Keep in mind, I've already shelled out $4000 this year for Oscar's broken leg — plus now an additional $1500 in testing, etc. for him and Ruthie. Not to mention the $600 surgery to have Oscar's plate removed from his leg in a couple months. I have no idea how much the scint test even is.. but I dont' imagine it's cheap. Then surgery!!! Ugh, I can't even imagine doing surgery — Ruthie is only 2.5lbs for pete's sake!!! Oscar is only 3.5lbs...
I dont even know why I'm posting... i have no idea what to do... I hate having to make these decisions and it's me alone that has to make it.
Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Has anyone's dog tested around 50ish and NOT had liver issues?
Please help... I'm losing my mind here. All I wanted was a couple dogs to love — I love animals SO much... I did the research, I found reputable breeders with great reputations — I thought I did everything right... so what's the deal... How is this possible???