Quote:
Originally Posted by Roccosmommy  Yes, he said he would follow up with a BAT as well as an ultrasound if necessary to check for a liver shunt, but he's currently more concerned with Rocco's unfounded urge to urinate. There are no definitive symptoms related to liver shunt right now. Even if there was a liver issue, he cannot at all relate that to the urination urge. Also, since Rocco's eating and drinking and mostly well otherwise, he wants to focus on what's causing his urinition issue since this is the immediate problem. |
This
is a symptom of Liver Shunt. LS dogs may produce Amonium Urate stones, which
do not show on xray. These type of stones are directly related to dogs with LS.
From:
Bladder stone (animal) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Symptoms
Bladder stones may cause blood in the urine (
hematuria) (giving the appearance that the animal is urinating blood)
but sometimes there may be no signs at all. Painful urination or
straining to urinate are other signs. Urinary tract infections are commonly associated with bladder stones.
Smaller stones may become lodged in the urethra, especially in male animals, causing urinary tract obstruction and the inability to urinate. This condition causes acute renal failure, hyperkalemia, septicemia, and death within a few days. [edit] Diagnosis When symptoms indicate bladder stones, the first step is usually to take an x-ray. Most types of stones will appear readily in an x-ray, urate and occasionally cystine stones being the most common exceptions. Stones smaller than three millimeters may not be visible.[3] Ultrasonography is also useful for identifying bladder stones. Crystals identified in a
urinalysis may help identify the stones, but analysis of the stones is necessary for identification of the complete chemical composition.
[edit] Treatment
Reasons for treatment of bladder stones include recurring symptoms and risk of urinary tract obstruction. Some stones can be dissolved using dietary modifications and/or medications. Small stones in female dogs may possibly be removed by
urohydropropulsion, a nonsurgical procedure. Urohydropropulsion is performed under sedation by filling the bladder with saline through a catheter, holding the dog vertically, and squeezing the bladder to expel the stones through the urethra. Bladder stones can be removed surgically by a
cystotomy, opening of the bladder. Stones lodged in the urethra can often be flushed into the bladder and removed, but sometimes a
urethrotomy is necessary. In male dogs with recurrent urinary tract obstruction a
scrotal urethrostomy creates a permanent opening in the urethra proximal to the area where most stones lodge, behind the
os penis. In male cats, stones lodge where the urethra narrows in the penis. Recurrent cases can be treated surgically with a
perineal urethrostomy, which removes the penis and creates a new opening for the urethra.
Urate stones
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ate_stones.JPG http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/...gnify-clip.png
Urate stones
Urate (C5H4N4O3) stones, usually ammonium urate (NH4·C5H4N4O3) or sodium urate monohydrate (Na·C5H4N4O3×H2O), form in an acidic to neutral urine. They are usually small, yellow-brown, smooth stones.
Urate stones form due to an increased excretion of uric acid in the urine. Dalmatians (especially males)
[11] and to a lesser extent
Bulldogs are genetically predisposed to the formation of urate stones because of an altered metabolism of
purines. Dalmatians have a decreased rate of urate hepatic transport, leading to only about 30 to 40 percent conversion of urate to
allantoin, compared with greater than 90 percent conversion in other breeds.
[6] Dogs with portosystemic shunts or endstage liver disease also have increased uric acid excretion in the urine due to reduced conversion of uric acid to allantoin and ammonia to urea. Urate stones make up about six percent of all stones in the cat.
[12]
Urate stones can be dissolved using a diet with reduced purines that alkalinizes and dilutes the urine.
Allopurinol is used in dogs with altered purine metabolism to prevent the formation of uric acid. Feeding a diet high in purines while simultaneously administering allopurinol can result in the formation of
xanthine (C5H4N4O2) stones.
Also: See this thread:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ease-help.html
I won't argue the point any further, but you do need to be aware that he may still possibly have stones/blockage... and that this is a life threatening condition.
I realize you have a lot going on (get well wishes to all) but you will need to really pay attention to whether or not Rocco is urinating. I am hoping your vet has told you this already.
If he is not urinating, he will need to be seen ASAP, possibly every few days to unblock him until he is fully diagnosed and the issue is corrected.
Praying for a speedy diagnosis and recovery for Rocco.... and for you and your family for strength and wellness.