[Mardelin]

[quote=kjc;2954054]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

I do NOT blame Krystal at all , Im sure no one will , however leaving Melody with a VET that doesnt even know enough to perscribe meds certainly isnt going to help MELODY. True IT is also not going to help MELODY if we are assuming things. True YOU stated Melody is not stable enough for the operation , HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?? Natural sequence of events This should not be determined by 1 phone call to Krystal, expecially now since we know that by the phone call between Krystal and Kathleen we assumed Diet and Meds would help , they HAVE NOT. But they have helped. She was still functioning as of my last correspondence with Krystal.[/QUOTE]

Liver shunt/MVD are basically treated the same, with medications and proper low protein diets. Without medications and special diet, the dog will continue to produce toxins that it cannot get rid of, until the point that it dies. A dog with LS can exhibit no symptoms at all, or as the body becomes more and more toxic, symptoms will appear. The first symptoms are the inability to maintain a healthy weight, and lethargy as the liver cannot store energy producing nutrients. As the body becomes more toxic, neurological signs appear such as circling, head pressing, drooling, blindness, etc. If nothing is done, seizures, coma and death would come next. When lactulose and antibiotics are administered, they mechanically begin to change the condition of the body and help to physically block the production and absorbtion of the toxins, thereby allowing the liver to begin to rid the body of the toxins that have already infiltrated the dog's system. How quickly this happens depends on the amount of functioning liver the dog has left. Of course the ideal situation is to surgically repair the shunt or medicate the dog and feed a special diet as soon as this condition is diagnosed, not to wait until the amont of toxicity is evidenced by the dog's behaviors/symptoms.

Thanks so much for the update.....so, all and all it's up in the air.....time is not on our side.......