Liver shunt Q - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Madisen55 · 01-05-2008, 05:01 PM

just wondering if any of you breeders could help me out on some test results i got back from the vet about my dogs bile acids...his post number was 12 and preprandial was 70... any thoughts on wether these are serious? He doesnt have ANY symptoms and eats like a champion. He did have a few vacinnes a few months ago could that be throwing off the results or is this vet trying to scam me? my friend recently had her dog neutured and they didnt do any pre -op blood work i called anotehr vet and they said they only do it before neuturing if theres symptoms or its an older dog?? ANY ADVICE?

CC's · 01-05-2008, 05:11 PM

Do you have the numbers switched?

If his post eating is 12 thats normal. Sometimes the fasting causes some to do a "gastric dump" and elevate the pre numbers.

The vaccines shouldn't interfere at this date.

I would make sure he is not eating a fatty diet and retest in 30 days. You may want to consider the UBA as it doesn't require the fasting, or see if a shorter fast may be done.

Pre-op blood work should always be done IMO.

Madisen55 · 01-05-2008, 05:14 PM

well i know the number after he fasted was 12 then they fed him and 2 hrs later did the next one and it was 70?? ..she told me he would need an ultrasound and xray just to make sure hes ok she wont do the procedure without ... but i have a feeling its a little fishy because he doesnt have any symptoms?

CC's · 01-05-2008, 05:22 PM

Ok I misunderstood.

70 is high after the feeding. If he has no symptoms I would still make sure his diet is not high in fat and retest in 30 days before I went on to other testing.

If its high a second time, even without symptoms I would do further testing.

If he is liver compromised its a different ball game for surgery. It requires special care. I'm sure this is why your vet won't neuter before knowing for sure.

Madisen55 · 01-05-2008, 05:26 PM

i think im going to switch vets anyways and get all of his results transferred these vets quoted me almost $700 for his cryptdorchid neuter at another palce it was $450... thats why i also feel like there money grabbers... so a blood test SHOULD be done before surgery and if its not do you think thats a little bit shady?

Madisen55 · 01-05-2008, 05:28 PM

he does also eat high fat food because i do feed him our left over meat (which i probably shouldnt) so i think that might be the source of the problem

CC's · 01-05-2008, 05:32 PM

Its not shady to not per op test. Some vets insist and some don't.

Some people won't pay extra and some vets don't bother asking. I think with toy dogs its always a good idea to be sure their bodies can handle the anesthesia.

I do think that price quoted for neutering was high. You should always look for a vet you trust and are comfortable with.

CC's · 01-05-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madisen55

he does also eat high fat food because i do feed him our left over meat (which i probably shouldnt) so i think that might be the source of the problem

High fat in the blood stream can affect the SBA test. I would not give any more scraps and keep the fat in the dog food below 14%. It may just make a difference.

I would watch the diet and recheck him to be sure. 70 is more indicative of MVD and some of those dogs don't have symptoms. So its better to be safe than sorry, and retest in a month or so.

Madisen55 · 01-05-2008, 05:39 PM

thank you for all your help !!! do you know if mvd is treatable with meds and good diet or does it need to be worked onwith surgery?

CC's · 01-05-2008, 05:44 PM

There is no operation for MVD. Its tiny shunts inside the liver instead of a large shunt outside.
If there are no symptoms, diet alone may keep it under control.
Sometimes they are given meds as well. It really depends on how bad it is. Not every dog is affected to the same extent.

01-05-2008, 05:01 PM	#1
Madisen55 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 24	Liver shunt Q just wondering if any of you breeders could help me out on some test results i got back from the vet about my dogs bile acids...his post number was 12 and preprandial was 70... any thoughts on wether these are serious? He doesnt have ANY symptoms and eats like a champion. He did have a few vacinnes a few months ago could that be throwing off the results or is this vet trying to scam me? my friend recently had her dog neutured and they didnt do any pre -op blood work i called anotehr vet and they said they only do it before neuturing if theres symptoms or its an older dog?? ANY ADVICE?

01-05-2008, 05:44 PM	#10
CC's YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 402	There is no operation for MVD. Its tiny shunts inside the liver instead of a large shunt outside. If there are no symptoms, diet alone may keep it under control. Sometimes they are given meds as well. It really depends on how bad it is. Not every dog is affected to the same extent. Last edited by CC's; 01-05-2008 at 05:45 PM. Reason: forgot stuff :)

01-05-2008, 05:11 PM	#2
CC's YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 402	Do you have the numbers switched? If his post eating is 12 thats normal. Sometimes the fasting causes some to do a "gastric dump" and elevate the pre numbers. The vaccines shouldn't interfere at this date. I would make sure he is not eating a fatty diet and retest in 30 days. You may want to consider the UBA as it doesn't require the fasting, or see if a shorter fast may be done. Pre-op blood work should always be done IMO.

01-05-2008, 05:14 PM	#3
Madisen55 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 24	well i know the number after he fasted was 12 then they fed him and 2 hrs later did the next one and it was 70?? ..she told me he would need an ultrasound and xray just to make sure hes ok she wont do the procedure without ... but i have a feeling its a little fishy because he doesnt have any symptoms?

01-05-2008, 05:22 PM	#4
CC's YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 402	Ok I misunderstood. 70 is high after the feeding. If he has no symptoms I would still make sure his diet is not high in fat and retest in 30 days before I went on to other testing. If its high a second time, even without symptoms I would do further testing. If he is liver compromised its a different ball game for surgery. It requires special care. I'm sure this is why your vet won't neuter before knowing for sure.

01-05-2008, 05:26 PM	#5
Madisen55 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 24	i think im going to switch vets anyways and get all of his results transferred these vets quoted me almost $700 for his cryptdorchid neuter at another palce it was $450... thats why i also feel like there money grabbers... so a blood test SHOULD be done before surgery and if its not do you think thats a little bit shady?

01-05-2008, 05:28 PM	#6
Madisen55 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 24	he does also eat high fat food because i do feed him our left over meat (which i probably shouldnt) so i think that might be the source of the problem

01-05-2008, 05:32 PM	#7
CC's YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 402	Its not shady to not per op test. Some vets insist and some don't. Some people won't pay extra and some vets don't bother asking. I think with toy dogs its always a good idea to be sure their bodies can handle the anesthesia. I do think that price quoted for neutering was high. You should always look for a vet you trust and are comfortable with.

01-05-2008, 05:39 PM	#9
Madisen55 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 24	thank you for all your help !!! do you know if mvd is treatable with meds and good diet or does it need to be worked onwith surgery?