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Originally Posted by CarlMommy  My vet mentioned that a shunt would normally have bile acid results from 150-400s and that 49 while a little high might not be his problem. I did mention the mvd and he said that would be normally found with the ultrasound. Unfortunately the specialists are only available on monday, nice.... He actually seems to be doing REALLY well since I've been home(4 hrs now) so I'm praying maybe the medication just took a few days and is starting to work... Poor sweetie. He seems to be shaking a lot (like how they dry off after a bath) and using his back leg to scratch by his head so I'm wondering if he has an inner ear infection, and if he does if his current antibiotics will fix that? |
Yes a single liver shunt usually will throw very high BATs (waaaayyyy over 100).
MVD will NEVER be seen on an Ultrasound though, and a U/S is only about 60% accurate in seeing a single shunt as well (Like Kerri said about Quinn's shunt). A U/S is good to see the size and shape of the Liver and to see if there are bladder stones present.
MVD is tiny microscopic shunting throughout the liver, and can even be in only part of the liver. MVD can be loosely dx through BATs and other testing, but can only be confirmed through a liver biopsy. The end result is always the same though, low protein diet, sometimes lactulose and antib's (depending on the symptoms) and liver aiding supplements. So, one has to decide if it's worth it to put their dog through a liver biopsy just to confirm MVD. I choose not too, bc Roxy had already been spayed and I felt why put her through that invasive surgery when the end result would still be the same: diet and supplements.
Keep us posted!