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Connie · 03-23-2005, 10:35 PM

Hi all! I have just been feeling so sick with worry over my little Maddie. Last night I spent hours on the internet reading about liver shunts and Maddie doesn't exhibit all the signs, but she has had some strange things to cause me concern. She is one of those yorkies that doesn't eat unless coaxed; she peed on the carpet once and the color was so dark and I had to work and work on the stain to get it out...I only noticed that dark coloring once, but she normally goes outside and I can't see the coloring; a couple of times when she has been sleeping she appears to be having a nightmare, but it has almost seemed as if it is seizure like; after she eats she pushes her body and head into the couch or wall...back and forth and then will finally quit and act normal again; she got diarrhea/colitis last week and then threw up only once and she is better after being on medicine and a special dog food and has even gained a little weight. One of the sites about liver shunts said the dog will try to get higher when you hold them...Maddie has climbed higher on me since she was a puppy. At times she drinks water like there's no tomorrow and then she'll drink normal amounts most of the time. Yesterday Maddie was at my daughters, who has Maddie's brother, Kirby plus another dog, so Maddie plays with them and always gets tired out and naps when she gets home, but last night she layed down in the middle of the floor and didn't so much as flinch when a door was opened or if I left the room. Normally, even if she is sleeping, if I leave the room, she's up and following me. She was in such a deep sleep last night that it scared me and it took a while to get her to wake up. I hope and pray that I am just being worried and letting my mind run wild, but I am really scared. I have an appointment to have her spayed on April 5th, but can't wait that long to find out about her bloodwork, so I got her an appointment for April 1st...I wish it was sooner! I will have a list of all that has been going on so I won't forget anything. My sister lost two little yorkies to liver shunt and I just hope and pray that is not what Maddie has. I hope I will find out her bloodwork is normal and then I will feel stupid for carrying on like this, but the feelings of relief and happiness would far outweigh my feeling stupid! I should mention that most of the time, Maddie appears to be normal...plays and runs and hops like a bunny, so it's not that she acts sickly constantly.

I apologize for this getting long, but wanted to mention one more thing. My mom had cataract surgery yesterday so this morn I called her to check on her and got no answer. I took my shower and called and still no answer and then knew there was something wrong, so Maddie and I went to her house. She was in bed with excruciating back pain and could not move...I felt so bad to see her in such pain...mom is a trooper and never complains, but this was too much for her. Maddie loves her and got up on the bed with her and gave her puppy kisses and I called for an ambulance. I figured when they got there that I'd have to put Maddie in a bedroom and shut the door because she normally barks her head off at strangers, but when the rescue people got there, and then the paramedics, Maddie did not make a peep. She just watched with a worried look on her sweet little face. Isn't it something that dogs know when there is something wrong? Anyway, mom was in that terrible pain from 4 AM till about 5 PM when if finally lessened to where it was tolerable. Even Morphine wouldn't help her! We don't know for sure yet what caused this, but the doctor thinks it's more muscle involved and I'm praying it isn't more than that. My sister and I were getting pretty scared, but feel a little better after talking with the doctor and now that mom can finally be somewhat comfortable. So now, it's not just my little Maddie I'm worried about, but also my dear mom. Thanks for listening...you're all so wonderful!

03-23-2005, 10:35 PM	#1
Connie Loved by Maddie & Libby Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North Dakota Posts: 10,732	Worried! Hi all! I have just been feeling so sick with worry over my little Maddie. Last night I spent hours on the internet reading about liver shunts and Maddie doesn't exhibit all the signs, but she has had some strange things to cause me concern. She is one of those yorkies that doesn't eat unless coaxed; she peed on the carpet once and the color was so dark and I had to work and work on the stain to get it out...I only noticed that dark coloring once, but she normally goes outside and I can't see the coloring; a couple of times when she has been sleeping she appears to be having a nightmare, but it has almost seemed as if it is seizure like; after she eats she pushes her body and head into the couch or wall...back and forth and then will finally quit and act normal again; she got diarrhea/colitis last week and then threw up only once and she is better after being on medicine and a special dog food and has even gained a little weight. One of the sites about liver shunts said the dog will try to get higher when you hold them...Maddie has climbed higher on me since she was a puppy. At times she drinks water like there's no tomorrow and then she'll drink normal amounts most of the time. Yesterday Maddie was at my daughters, who has Maddie's brother, Kirby plus another dog, so Maddie plays with them and always gets tired out and naps when she gets home, but last night she layed down in the middle of the floor and didn't so much as flinch when a door was opened or if I left the room. Normally, even if she is sleeping, if I leave the room, she's up and following me. She was in such a deep sleep last night that it scared me and it took a while to get her to wake up. I hope and pray that I am just being worried and letting my mind run wild, but I am really scared. I have an appointment to have her spayed on April 5th, but can't wait that long to find out about her bloodwork, so I got her an appointment for April 1st...I wish it was sooner! I will have a list of all that has been going on so I won't forget anything. My sister lost two little yorkies to liver shunt and I just hope and pray that is not what Maddie has. I hope I will find out her bloodwork is normal and then I will feel stupid for carrying on like this, but the feelings of relief and happiness would far outweigh my feeling stupid! I should mention that most of the time, Maddie appears to be normal...plays and runs and hops like a bunny, so it's not that she acts sickly constantly. I apologize for this getting long, but wanted to mention one more thing. My mom had cataract surgery yesterday so this morn I called her to check on her and got no answer. I took my shower and called and still no answer and then knew there was something wrong, so Maddie and I went to her house. She was in bed with excruciating back pain and could not move...I felt so bad to see her in such pain...mom is a trooper and never complains, but this was too much for her. Maddie loves her and got up on the bed with her and gave her puppy kisses and I called for an ambulance. I figured when they got there that I'd have to put Maddie in a bedroom and shut the door because she normally barks her head off at strangers, but when the rescue people got there, and then the paramedics, Maddie did not make a peep. She just watched with a worried look on her sweet little face. Isn't it something that dogs know when there is something wrong? Anyway, mom was in that terrible pain from 4 AM till about 5 PM when if finally lessened to where it was tolerable. Even Morphine wouldn't help her! We don't know for sure yet what caused this, but the doctor thinks it's more muscle involved and I'm praying it isn't more than that. My sister and I were getting pretty scared, but feel a little better after talking with the doctor and now that mom can finally be somewhat comfortable. So now, it's not just my little Maddie I'm worried about, but also my dear mom. Thanks for listening...you're all so wonderful!