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Lacy's Mom · 09-01-2006, 12:06 PM

To Yorkies4ever:

Does she have any diarrhea? If so, I would think it could be coccidia or giardia causing the anorexia.

Light colored stools might indicate a liver problem.

If I had a 16 week old not eating, I would definitely have a blood test done to see if anything shows up there and then decide what other tests may be necessary from the results.

Here's some info. on symptoms of liver shunts and the testing available.

SYMPTOMS:
Keep in mind that these symptoms can mimic other problems as well.

Sporadic Weakness

Dizziness

Disorientation

Loss of coordination

Vomiting

Diarrhea

head-pressing

Mental unawareness

Aggression

Urinary Tract Infections

Bladder stones

Low tolerance to sedatives

Bleeding disorders

Light colored stool
Behavioral Changes

Drooling

Stupor

Anorexia

Pacing

Blindness

Seizures

Coma

Circling

High puppy mortality (6-14 weeks)

Lethargy

Distended abdomen

Jaundice

TESTING:
There are several Test that can be used to determine if more invasive test are warranted but it is unrealistic to test every puppy or Adult dog unless some signs or symptoms are seen that justify the testing to be done.

The simple test are inconclusive at best and there are no test at this time other than the invasive ones that can give an accurate diagnosis.

There are many many problems that can lead to liver dysfunction and some are not genetic so it's not as simple as to say to test every puppy for liver shunt because the test are not always accurate and they do not do a conclusive diagnosis of liver shunt but as to a liver dysfunction.. We all wish it was as simple as testing every puppy but it just isn't that simple. 28% of test to date have shown to be inaccurate for the diagnosis of liver shunt. Not very good odds when your condemning a puppy to more invasive measures or being put to sleep due to the cost of the more invasive treatments.

There has also been a concern as to using the inconclusive test on Yorkies since Yorkies have been found to NOT have a determined consistent acid bile level even in healthy unaffected specimens.

Bile Acid Test - Serum Bile Acids - A Liver FUNCTION test, not an enzyme test. Performed by taking a blood sample, givng a meal, taking another blood sample 2 hour after the meal. The sample are then compared giving us an accurate measure of liver function. This does NOT give a CONCLUSIVE diagnosis of liver shunt only a reading of liver function. More invasive test would be needed for any diagnosis as to the liver problem.

Urine Acid Test - Ammonia tolerance testing - A urine test to determine existance of lvier disease. Could result in finding annomium biurate crystals. Not always accurate. More invasive test would be needed for any diagnosis as to the liver problem.

Blood Ammonia Value Test - Sensitive indicators: less reliable than Total Serum Bile acids because of analytic problems.

STOOL SAMPLE: A dog that has abnormal pigmented stool could indicate liver disease. Obstruction of the biliary system and normal bile pigments are not secreted to cause the normal dark color of stool.

X-Rays - An enlarged liver on a radiograph is called hepatomegaly, an abnormally small one is called microphepatica. Both be signs of a liver problem.

Ultrasounds - Is highly beneficial in the diagnosis of liver disease. Ultrasounds are usually used after the Enzyme or Bile Acid Test prior to Imaging or Biopsy. Is unreliable at best.

Liver Imaging: RADIOGRAPHY - Invasive - A dye is injected into the spleen and the dye is tracked through Radiograph through the blood vessels. A blood vessel bypassing the liver can easily be seen on the image. This is the only universally accepted method of confirming a shunt, short of major surgery, it however is extremely invasive and is a poor choice for "screening" purposes.

Liver Biopsy - Extremely Invasive - A valuable test in the diagnosis of liver disease. A sample of the liver is obtained during exploratory surgery. Can be life-threatening if the diseased liver hemorrhages into the abdomen so a coagulation panel prior to any liver biopsy is necessary.

INVASIVE SURGERY and AUTOPSY are the only two that can positively identify a LIVER SHUNT.

Also keep in mind that Liver Shunt has to this date not been proven to be genetic. No genetic markers to date have been found and no research has proven that it is genetic. However there is every logical reason to believe that SOME FORMS are genetic.

09-01-2006, 12:06 PM	#11
Lacy's Mom YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 3,065	To Yorkies4ever: Does she have any diarrhea? If so, I would think it could be coccidia or giardia causing the anorexia. Light colored stools might indicate a liver problem. If I had a 16 week old not eating, I would definitely have a blood test done to see if anything shows up there and then decide what other tests may be necessary from the results. Here's some info. on symptoms of liver shunts and the testing available. SYMPTOMS: Keep in mind that these symptoms can mimic other problems as well. Sporadic Weakness Dizziness Disorientation Loss of coordination Vomiting Diarrhea head-pressing Mental unawareness Aggression Urinary Tract Infections Bladder stones Low tolerance to sedatives Bleeding disorders Light colored stool Behavioral Changes Drooling Stupor Anorexia Pacing Blindness Seizures Coma Circling High puppy mortality (6-14 weeks) Lethargy Distended abdomen Jaundice TESTING: There are several Test that can be used to determine if more invasive test are warranted but it is unrealistic to test every puppy or Adult dog unless some signs or symptoms are seen that justify the testing to be done. The simple test are inconclusive at best and there are no test at this time other than the invasive ones that can give an accurate diagnosis. There are many many problems that can lead to liver dysfunction and some are not genetic so it's not as simple as to say to test every puppy for liver shunt because the test are not always accurate and they do not do a conclusive diagnosis of liver shunt but as to a liver dysfunction.. We all wish it was as simple as testing every puppy but it just isn't that simple. 28% of test to date have shown to be inaccurate for the diagnosis of liver shunt. Not very good odds when your condemning a puppy to more invasive measures or being put to sleep due to the cost of the more invasive treatments. There has also been a concern as to using the inconclusive test on Yorkies since Yorkies have been found to NOT have a determined consistent acid bile level even in healthy unaffected specimens. Bile Acid Test - Serum Bile Acids - A Liver FUNCTION test, not an enzyme test. Performed by taking a blood sample, givng a meal, taking another blood sample 2 hour after the meal. The sample are then compared giving us an accurate measure of liver function. This does NOT give a CONCLUSIVE diagnosis of liver shunt only a reading of liver function. More invasive test would be needed for any diagnosis as to the liver problem. Urine Acid Test - Ammonia tolerance testing - A urine test to determine existance of lvier disease. Could result in finding annomium biurate crystals. Not always accurate. More invasive test would be needed for any diagnosis as to the liver problem. Blood Ammonia Value Test - Sensitive indicators: less reliable than Total Serum Bile acids because of analytic problems. STOOL SAMPLE: A dog that has abnormal pigmented stool could indicate liver disease. Obstruction of the biliary system and normal bile pigments are not secreted to cause the normal dark color of stool. X-Rays - An enlarged liver on a radiograph is called hepatomegaly, an abnormally small one is called microphepatica. Both be signs of a liver problem. Ultrasounds - Is highly beneficial in the diagnosis of liver disease. Ultrasounds are usually used after the Enzyme or Bile Acid Test prior to Imaging or Biopsy. Is unreliable at best. Liver Imaging: RADIOGRAPHY - Invasive - A dye is injected into the spleen and the dye is tracked through Radiograph through the blood vessels. A blood vessel bypassing the liver can easily be seen on the image. This is the only universally accepted method of confirming a shunt, short of major surgery, it however is extremely invasive and is a poor choice for "screening" purposes. Liver Biopsy - Extremely Invasive - A valuable test in the diagnosis of liver disease. A sample of the liver is obtained during exploratory surgery. Can be life-threatening if the diseased liver hemorrhages into the abdomen so a coagulation panel prior to any liver biopsy is necessary. INVASIVE SURGERY and AUTOPSY are the only two that can positively identify a LIVER SHUNT. Also keep in mind that Liver Shunt has to this date not been proven to be genetic. No genetic markers to date have been found and no research has proven that it is genetic. However there is every logical reason to believe that SOME FORMS are genetic.