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Originally Posted by livingdustmops  Sadly she will die if they aren't willing to spend the over $1500 (minimum) for surgery to make her well. This is not about diet at this stage...she is going into complete failure. |
I agree. She needs to be taken to the nearest vet school for further treatment. I hope her new owners are aware of this.
As far as size goes, small stature can be sign of a shunt, but there are plenty of bigger Yorkies out there with liver shunts. Since Yorkies are 36 times more likely to be born with a shunt than all other breeds combined, it's important to get a puppy from a breeder who bile acids tests each and every one of her Yorkies prior to breeding. She must also know her lines many, many generations back as two healthy Yorkies can be carriers fro shunts and there is no genetic marker as yet. All Yorkie puppies should get a bile acids test routinely done once they reach 20 weeks old according to Dr. Sharon Center, the developer of the BAT. FYI, Dr. Center is currently working on finding a genetic marker for liver shunts with a grant from the AKC.