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Originally Posted by DAB  Good Morning and thank you to everyone who replied to my first post ever yesterday. I am so new to this site that I am not sure how to forward threads, etc.
My yorkie girl is Emma Angel. She is the sweetest little girl and so much fun. Her older "sister", Zofia, is 4 years old and they are best friends. The 3rd member is their 3 year old brother, Bright Eyes, who is a cat! The 3 are like 3 peas in a pod....always playing and even sleeping together.  Emma is chasing the cat (about 3x her size), around the house now.
I will call Tufts Foster Hospital as soon as it opens this morning. Because of the holidays, I could not make an appointment last week...Emma's blood work test results were not available to me until the Dec. 26th and the clinic was closed until today. I will be CERTAIN to ask about the shunt surgery success rate, how many shunt surgeries have they done and whether or not the surgeon vets are students.
I spent most of the afternoon yesterday researching liver shunts online and I printed down an extensive amount of info from the University of Tenn. I also read about Dr. Karen Tobias, inventor of the ameroid costrictor used in the shunt surgery. Vets, not pet owners, may contact her via email or by phone. The site at the University of Tenn College of veterinary Medicine ( liver) has wonderful information. There is a page of commonly asked questions and answers, testing and diagnosis, diet, and management suggestions, inheritability of the disease ( per Dr. Tobias), etc.
I am quite anxious. Emma's gums are white. The meds make her appear OK but I know she is not. I will keep everyone posted. Thank you so much for your prayers. |
There is so much to learn it can be overwhelming. I'm still wondering Emma's age, and what tests were done to get the diagnosis? Bile Acid test, Protein C test, ultrasound, are some of the common diagnostics; and what were the results.
I am by no means an expert, and am learning just like you are. I have gotten thru the panic stage with Tiki and am happily on a course that is appropriate for her case. Your case may be different if there is a definite shunt, but still, don't panic.
Here is a link to the thread about Tiki, if you want to see the progression of our diagnosis etc. It's quite long, but filled with valuable information for any liver challenged dog. I'm going to be gone all day, but will check in this evening, so please keep asking questions, and we'll try to help.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...r-disease.html
Thoughts and prayers are going your way.