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Originally Posted by DAB  Emma was seen for the 4th time at Tufts University Foster Hospital for Small Animals on Wednesday, 4/22. The appointment was for a surgical consultation and for the surgeon to meet Emma.
The surgeon who is the soft tissue specialist and Dept. Head. explained again what the shunt was---that the blood vessel was bypassing the liver and going straight to another organ called the cava-----the toxins usually filtered by the liver were now not being filtered so toxic build ups would be ongoing. To make a long story short his recommendation was to go for the surgery. Certainly, the toxins would adversely affect Emma over time. Please note that she shows no outward clinical signs of having a shunt. She is just 2 years old, very loving, very energetic and quick/smart thinker.
He stated that the longer we wait to have surgery ( say, for example, until she shows signs of a shunted dog---in a few years? ) the more difficult recovery might be. He explained the complications: seizures---Emma would be kept in the hospital for 3 nights after surgery to watch for them. If she were to have seizures she would be given seizure medication. He stated that the seizures should only be temporary. The other more dire complication would be a blood clot which would most likely be fatal.
During surgery the shunt would be ligated and fitted with the Ameroid ring. The ring does not immediately close the shunt off completely. Rather, it shrinks over time to slowly close off the vessel. Closing the shunt tight all at once would most likely result in a quick back up of blood with fatal consequences. The doctor has seen both complications---not often---but he has seen them. He claims to have a 98% sucess rate. That sems very high but I pray it is true.
So, after much anxious conversation, Emma is scheduled for surgery the second week of June. I am waiting for a definitive confirmation from the surgeon. So, I am trying to keep positive and pray that all will go well. It is a very frightening prospect. My baby girl was just 2 years old in March. She and my older girl yorkie (age 5) are very much attached. Then there is our kitty who makes up the 3rd musketeer!
I only wish I could contact anyone whose yorkie had shunt surgery at Tufts located in grafton, MA---near Boston. Tufts does do the surgeries which, aparently, are not uncommon. If anyone is familiar with the uniersity hospital and whose yorkie has had liver shunt surgery there, I would greatly appreciate a reply.
Please say prayers for my Emma and the surgeon and team who will be doing the surgery in June. Thank you for your support.
DAB |
My Lola was just a year in January and had the surgery in March. She had no outwardly signs of a shunt except that she was very small and a very picky eater. I insisted that my vet do the BAT before her spay and that is when we figured out that she had the shunt. My vet never thought there was a shunt prior to that. We went to University of TN the week after she was diagnosed, she had scintigraphy on Thursday, surgery on Friday and I picked her up on Saturday evening. We then flew back to Houston on Sunday afternoon. She had dissolvable stitches and has not even been to the vet since we returned from TN....in other words, she has done super and will not have her BAT redone until June. I think you are making the right decision - I was given the same information from UT that Tufts has given you about waiting. I hope someone that has experience with Tufts can reassure you; can they give you any references to contact? If I can help answer any questions, let me know. I'l be thinking about you and your precious baby. Keep us posted!