Hi! New to the site, anyone's puppy had shunts? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Cano and Jeter · 02-14-2009, 08:11 AM

Hi, Cano will be 2 in April... We took him into the vet on Friday because we were worried about him not eating. He literally stare at his food and maybe only eat once every day and a half for the past week when he was really hungry. We had blood taken and an x-ray taken yesterday, and the doctor said that his liver is a *little bit* smaller and under a couple ribs lower than normal. She said that she can't tell at this point if he does have shunts, but that it is a possibility. Has anyone gone through an experience with a puppy with shunts? Any advice on this would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks!

browniesmom622 · 02-14-2009, 08:22 AM

Welcome to yorkietalk!

Nikis2 · 02-14-2009, 08:31 AM

Wow sorry to hear your little man is under the weather. I have not had liver shunt in my line but have seen some people that have gotten puppies from puppy mills and pet stores that have had it. I am surprised if he had shunts it wasn't picked up on until now. B,ut believe me I am no expert on the subject. Have you given him some kero syrup or something to boost his energy level. You might want to cook some good food for him and really watch what you are feeding him. I am sure there is lots of information about shunts on the web. Hope all goes well.

TLC · 02-14-2009, 10:27 AM

YES - I have some experience.

Please tell me more about your fella. How mush does he weigh? What type of tests did your Vet do? What are you feeding him? What treats does he get? Tell us any 'odd' behaviors that he does?

...The first step is to do Superchem Blood Work, a Bile Acid test and Urinalysis. These results will show any abnormalities with the liver (and anything else)....

When you get those results, the next step would be a Protein C test (special blood tests) the result will lean towards a liver shunt or they will lean towards MVD.

If the results lean towards Liver Shunt, then I suggest speaking with a Specialist.

We are here to help and guide you, but you have to tell us more ok

-Nicole

Patti · 02-14-2009, 10:30 AM

My Cali was diagnosed with a very mild internal liver shunt or MVD. She needs no special treatment other than I try and keep her on a lower protein diet. There have been quite a few people on here with LS dogs that had surgery and have done fine or just needed special diet and medicine. Hopefully the vet took the blood to do a Bile Acid test. If you use the search function on here you should find a lot of info on shunts. Good luck and keep us posted.

Cano and Jeter · 02-14-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLC

YES - I have some experience.

Please tell me more about your fella. How mush does he weigh? What type of tests did your Vet do? What are you feeding him? What treats does he get? Tell us any 'odd' behaviors that he does?

...The first step is to do Superchem Blood Work, a Bile Acid test and Urinalysis. These results will show any abnormalities with the liver (and anything else)....

When you get those results, the next step would be a Protein C test (special blood tests) the result will lean towards a liver shunt or they will lean towards MVD.

If the results lean towards Liver Shunt, then I suggest speaking with a Specialist.

We are here to help and guide you, but you have to tell us more ok

-Nicole

They couldn't do any Bile acid test because we weren't planning on it and hadn't fasted him for 8-12 hours. Cano is around 5 pounds right now, long, but super skinny. Our other yorkie is just seven months and I think weighs more than him. We are feeding Cano the Nutro Valley lamb. We don't give him treats that often. The odd behavior as of late is he won't eat and he'll go under the bed for some time in the morning. My wife has said she thinks he seems like he is in a daze and he's been shaking a lot more lately.

Thanks for all the responses.. these two dogs are definitely my wife and I's best friends

Thanks!

FuzzysDad · 02-14-2009, 01:51 PM

Fuzzy most likely has MVD. She's a year and a half old now and her vet last checked her blood in October with a plan to repeat the test every year. So far, no special treatment has been necessary except for low-protein diet...

It was first identified when she had an anesthesia test for an x-ray related to an injury. But she had anesthesia a few times related to that (debacle) plus when she was spayed with no negative experience.

To date, she has been a normal, playful happy puppy with no negative effect of her MVD condition. Either it's very mild or it hasn't fully manifested yet. We'll keep her on low-protein and repeat tests each year just to be safe, but I try not to worry too much for now...

mom2twins · 02-14-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cano and Jeter

Hi, Cano will be 2 in April... We took him into the vet on Friday because we were worried about him not eating. He literally stare at his food and maybe only eat once every day and a half for the past week when he was really hungry. We had blood taken and an x-ray taken yesterday, and the doctor said that his liver is a *little bit* smaller and under a couple ribs lower than normal. She said that she can't tell at this point if he does have shunts, but that it is a possibility. Has anyone gone through an experience with a puppy with shunts? Any advice on this would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks!

My Yorkie had a blood work done, indicating liver numbers high. Had a bile acid test done, had a ultrasound done by a board certified radiologist. DX was a liver shunt. 2/3/09 she had her surgery.

Ultrasound is better than an x-ray. Find a board certified radiologist to do an ultrasound.

Good luck...

AMD · 02-14-2009, 03:41 PM

I don't have any experience with shunts, but I just wanted to say welcome!!

Ellie May · 02-14-2009, 03:52 PM

Yes, there are some dogs on YT with liver shunts and MVD.

What is the vet planning on doing next?

yorkiesmiles · 02-14-2009, 10:56 PM

Welcome to YT! There are a number of very educated people here on YT about liver shunts. This is a great place to ask questions & share knowledge

MyFairLacy · 02-14-2009, 11:16 PM

have you dont a bile acid test yet?

Liver shunt and MVD are very very common in the Yorkie breed unfortunately. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a livershunt than all other breeds combined. It is genetic.

My yorkie's bile acid test came back high a couple weeks ago. We've ruled out a shunt and are doing a liver biopsy in a week and a half.

02-14-2009, 08:11 AM	#1
Cano and Jeter YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Blacklick, OH, USA Posts: 2	Hi! New to the site, anyone's puppy had shunts? Hi, Cano will be 2 in April... We took him into the vet on Friday because we were worried about him not eating. He literally stare at his food and maybe only eat once every day and a half for the past week when he was really hungry. We had blood taken and an x-ray taken yesterday, and the doctor said that his liver is a little bit smaller and under a couple ribs lower than normal. She said that she can't tell at this point if he does have shunts, but that it is a possibility. Has anyone gone through an experience with a puppy with shunts? Any advice on this would greatly be appreciated! Thanks!

02-14-2009, 08:22 AM	#2
browniesmom622 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ny Posts: 11,253 Blog Entries: 5	Welcome to yorkietalk! __________________ We Love our Yt Angel! My Website< > FB page

02-14-2009, 10:27 AM	#4
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	YES - I have some experience. Please tell me more about your fella. How mush does he weigh? What type of tests did your Vet do? What are you feeding him? What treats does he get? Tell us any 'odd' behaviors that he does? ...The first step is to do Superchem Blood Work, a Bile Acid test and Urinalysis. These results will show any abnormalities with the liver (and anything else).... When you get those results, the next step would be a Protein C test (special blood tests) the result will lean towards a liver shunt or they will lean towards MVD. If the results lean towards Liver Shunt, then I suggest speaking with a Specialist. We are here to help and guide you, but you have to tell us more ok -Nicole __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com

02-14-2009, 10:30 AM	#5
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	My Cali was diagnosed with a very mild internal liver shunt or MVD. She needs no special treatment other than I try and keep her on a lower protein diet. There have been quite a few people on here with LS dogs that had surgery and have done fine or just needed special diet and medicine. Hopefully the vet took the blood to do a Bile Acid test. If you use the search function on here you should find a lot of info on shunts. Good luck and keep us posted. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

02-14-2009, 03:52 PM	#10
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Yes, there are some dogs on YT with liver shunts and MVD. What is the vet planning on doing next? __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

02-14-2009, 08:31 AM	#3
Nikis2 Currently Suspended! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Berlin MD US Posts: 381	Wow sorry to hear your little man is under the weather. I have not had liver shunt in my line but have seen some people that have gotten puppies from puppy mills and pet stores that have had it. I am surprised if he had shunts it wasn't picked up on until now. B,ut believe me I am no expert on the subject. Have you given him some kero syrup or something to boost his energy level. You might want to cook some good food for him and really watch what you are feeding him. I am sure there is lots of information about shunts on the web. Hope all goes well.

02-14-2009, 01:51 PM	#7
FuzzysDad Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 23	Fuzzy most likely has MVD. She's a year and a half old now and her vet last checked her blood in October with a plan to repeat the test every year. So far, no special treatment has been necessary except for low-protein diet... It was first identified when she had an anesthesia test for an x-ray related to an injury. But she had anesthesia a few times related to that (debacle) plus when she was spayed with no negative experience. To date, she has been a normal, playful happy puppy with no negative effect of her MVD condition. Either it's very mild or it hasn't fully manifested yet. We'll keep her on low-protein and repeat tests each year just to be safe, but I try not to worry too much for now...

02-14-2009, 03:41 PM	#9
AMD Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 8,986	I don't have any experience with shunts, but I just wanted to say welcome!!

02-14-2009, 10:56 PM	#11
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	Welcome to YT! There are a number of very educated people here on YT about liver shunts. This is a great place to ask questions & share knowledge __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*

02-14-2009, 11:16 PM	#12
MyFairLacy Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 11,003	have you dont a bile acid test yet? Liver shunt and MVD are very very common in the Yorkie breed unfortunately. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a livershunt than all other breeds combined. It is genetic. My yorkie's bile acid test came back high a couple weeks ago. We've ruled out a shunt and are doing a liver biopsy in a week and a half. __________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.