Hi Meichelle - I'm responding to your post because I've had a little one with a liver shunt and know how awful it can be. First of all, you shouldn't be feeding her raw food. She needs to be on a diet low in protein. Your vet can prescribe a prescription diet and some meds that will temporarily help her. The reason she most likely is "wandering" your house and having seizures is because her liver is not functioning properly. It can't filter out the toxins from her little body and she is slowly being poisoned. If left untreated long enough, the toxins/poisons will eventually kill her. Her drooling is most probably associated with the shunt, also. If you don't trust your vet or his advice, please find another one you do trust - and please do this sooner than later; your little girls life may depend on it. You also talk about working with a nutritionist. There are very few certified vet nutritionists in the United States and with a puppy exhibiting severe symptoms such as Layla's, I wouldn't trust a "nutritionist" unless they were also a veterinarian. Please remember most veterinarians have gone to school for many, many years and have gone through extensive training to give the advice they give. Most so called "nutritionists" I've run into take very short courses and have no idea how to handle a puppy with such complex problems. I know making the decision to have surgery is a big one and it comes with great expense - you obviously love Layla or you wouldn't be here asking questions. Sometimes loving her may also mean having to give her up if you can't provide the proper care of a medically compromised dog. I totally understand what a hard decision that is - for us it was a very expensive surgery and one that I had to seek financial help with, also. Please think about all of this, but make sure that you at lease change her food and get her on the lactulose tomorrow. It may take some time and patience to get the dosing right on the medication. Surgery is what saved my little girl's life - the only thing that would and could save her life. We are all here to help - we all love our Yorkies and want the best for them. Please come back, ask any questions and keep us updated on what you decide to do. |