Quote:
Originally Posted by Ellie May  Going with Dr. Centers' values, I think her cut-off is 25 (which imo is kinda high). Idexx is 15 post. Ellie's was 15.7 at one point and that was considered ever so slightly elevated. When it was 47, it was something we needed to watch and be cautious. When it went to 106, her vet said she had some choice words to say while reading the report. lol. Not mild at all. Not okay. It means the liver isn't functioning well at all in most cases.
With numbers like that, even with a regular vet who isn't bothered by it, it is still best to go to an IMS. |
The newer info from UT (Re: Breeding vs pet):
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine - Liver Shunt Research
Bottom line is we don't know how it's passed.
All breeding dogs should have normal fasting and fed bile acids (true normal -- i.e. less than 10 and less than 20; versus "okay as a pet" normal, i.e. 25-40 range). At the very least, dogs that have produced puppies with shunts should not be bred to the same lines (their own or that of the other parent). Obviously the best breeders would never breed the parents again, and they may consider spaying and neutering the littermates as a "just in case" precaution. If, however, shunts are found in all lines of Yorkies, then even that may not solve the problem.
This (below) is why my vet opted to treat Tink through Medical Management.
Portosystemic Shunts FAQ Can dogs with shunts be treated with only medical management?
Most animals improve immediately with proper diet and medicine, and about one third of the dogs treated medically will live a relatively long life. Unfortunately, over half of the dogs treated medically are euthanized, usually within 10 months of diagnosis, because of uncontrollable neurologic signs, such as seizures and behavior changes, or progressive liver damage.
Dogs that tend to do well with longterm medical management are usually older at the time of diagnosis, have more normal bloodwork, and have less severe clinical signs. Surgery provides the best chance for a long healthy life in most dogs.