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Originally Posted by Maximo  Becca, sending best wishes for your little one. If I understand correctly, the shunt was discovered when your baby was 3 years old. Is this unusual for a congenital shunt to go undetected that long? I'm asking because Max will be 3 later this year. |
Tink's shunt wasn't suspected until she was 2 years old. She had been bred and had puppies by one of her previous owners, then turned over to the Humane Society. She was adopted out, but returned there after they found out she had high liver enzymes, and difficulty recovering from her spay surgery. Then DH and I adopted her, bc she was set to be PTS in 2 days (bc she had 'problems'). We scheduled her first BAT for the next month, and it came back slightly elevated.
To answer your question, no, it's not uncommon for dogs to be diagnosed at an older age. This is why a few members on here are recommending having any Yorkie Bile Acid Tested every 2 years or so, so it can be caught early. Many Yorkies show no symptoms. Many start with having frequent or recurring Urinary Tract Infections. Others have gone into full blown Hepatic Encephalopathy. Each dog is different, each shunt is different, and each liver is different.