YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Liver Shunts? Possible cure without surgery?

SugarPie · 12-25-2011, 10:35 AM

Sorry that it took me so long to get back to you guys! Didn't mean to keep you worried. We ended up having to move the appointment two times. Both due to double booking and being so busy. We were finally able to get him in early yesterday.

The vet ended up agreeing that shunts is what it probably is. When I brought up the AAI or any other possible problems, he said it's not likely from what he's seen of him. He said it would cost $61 to do a bile acid test but wants to wait until he is a bit older and a bit bigger because he seems to be very fragile right now. He said chances are I can keep him on the diet and Lactulose forever and opt out of surgery. He said his daughter had a Yorkie mix that they suspected shunts because all the signs fit but once they had testing it turned out not to be and that her dog has just had weird symptoms that never turn out to be anything usually and this could be Cricket's case as well. He also mentioned a cat he's been seeing for 5 years that has shunts and hasn't had the surgery, just the diet. We decided to go ahead and keep him on the diet and medicine until he gets the bile acid done and then go from there.

My vet knows that Cricket came from an Amish seller and also agreed, chances are he came from a puppy mill. When I was looking for funding earlier this week for surgery, someone I spoke to, when they asked where we got him from, said most likely puppy mill as well. So I am wondering if all the shock he seems to have, may be because of that. Perhaps he was handled very roughly, even abused. My theory comes from the fact that sometimes, a family member will brush by him and barely touch him and he starts yelping out in pain like he was startled. I am wondering if they may be what had happened Sunday night. My son DID slam a door right before I saw Cricket run in to the room yelping and I thought about it, Cricket wasn't in the door if it got slammed and I am almost positive he didn't jump from the couch and land wrong. If Crick had been close by, it could have scared him when he heard the loud noise and sent him into a state of shock like I've seen him have that one time at the vet.

Do any of you have any experience with puppy mill rescue dogs? If so, what are some things you see as far as post traumatic stress or signs of abuse?

Thank you all for your concern, advice, and prayers. I hope you're all having a merry Christmas!

12-25-2011, 10:35 AM	#22
SugarPie YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 7	Sorry that it took me so long to get back to you guys! Didn't mean to keep you worried. We ended up having to move the appointment two times. Both due to double booking and being so busy. We were finally able to get him in early yesterday. The vet ended up agreeing that shunts is what it probably is. When I brought up the AAI or any other possible problems, he said it's not likely from what he's seen of him. He said it would cost $61 to do a bile acid test but wants to wait until he is a bit older and a bit bigger because he seems to be very fragile right now. He said chances are I can keep him on the diet and Lactulose forever and opt out of surgery. He said his daughter had a Yorkie mix that they suspected shunts because all the signs fit but once they had testing it turned out not to be and that her dog has just had weird symptoms that never turn out to be anything usually and this could be Cricket's case as well. He also mentioned a cat he's been seeing for 5 years that has shunts and hasn't had the surgery, just the diet. We decided to go ahead and keep him on the diet and medicine until he gets the bile acid done and then go from there. My vet knows that Cricket came from an Amish seller and also agreed, chances are he came from a puppy mill. When I was looking for funding earlier this week for surgery, someone I spoke to, when they asked where we got him from, said most likely puppy mill as well. So I am wondering if all the shock he seems to have, may be because of that. Perhaps he was handled very roughly, even abused. My theory comes from the fact that sometimes, a family member will brush by him and barely touch him and he starts yelping out in pain like he was startled. I am wondering if they may be what had happened Sunday night. My son DID slam a door right before I saw Cricket run in to the room yelping and I thought about it, Cricket wasn't in the door if it got slammed and I am almost positive he didn't jump from the couch and land wrong. If Crick had been close by, it could have scared him when he heard the loud noise and sent him into a state of shock like I've seen him have that one time at the vet. Do any of you have any experience with puppy mill rescue dogs? If so, what are some things you see as far as post traumatic stress or signs of abuse? Thank you all for your concern, advice, and prayers. I hope you're all having a merry Christmas!