This is an interesting thread...I'm going to just keep reading...if you all keep posting this valuable information. Thanks!

Why is the pup on A/D if liver function is in question? That food shouldn't be given to liver compromised dogs.

The bile acids could definately be high from all of that, so I would retest. You don't need to do surgery to find a shunt. Scintography or possible portogram is usually recommended I think (and sometimes a Protein C test).

I just wondered if you trusted the vet since he is already saying surgery... I don't think a vet is necessarily bad just because they give lepto and corona. They may not know much about vaccines but they may know more about other things. Ellie's vet office routinely gives both. As long as you can choose your vaccine protocol and you trust the vet otherwise, it might be best to stay with him/her. I just wouldn't go for surgery if you aren't sure that is what should be done. Maybe a second opinion?

What are the problems with Lepto?
 

Hello~

I am new here, and a new Yorkie momma.

I picked up my puppy on Thursday, and brought her to the vet on Saturday. There, they recommended the Lepto vaccine. I had never heard of it before. In discussing it with the assistant and the vet, it sounded like the risks of not getting it far outweighed the risks of getting the vaccine. I, mistakenly or not, decided to trust the judgment of the medical professional.

Unfortunately, I didn't know about this before my visit, or I might have come better prepared.

Can someone please explain what the problems are?

Should I continue with the follow-up injections, since I've started, or is it okay to stop after just one?

I don't know if it was nerves or the vaccine itself, but Lexi threw up twice on the way home. Thankfully, she seemed fine after that.

I would appreciate any information you can give.

Thank you!

Welcome to YT:)

The lepto vaccine is dangerous to Yorkies and small breeds in particular. There is a high reaction rate (including death, especially in pups).
Lepto is a serious problem but the risks of the vaccine outweigh the benefits in most cases. It really depends on your area (living near livestock or by the water increases the risk of getting lepto). There are very few areas where this vaccine should be given and any Yorkie owner who is being pressured to get it, I recommend Googling it. You can look at symptoms, prognosis and the number of cases in your area and decide from there. Vets will try to tell you that your dog needs it because it can be transferred to humans, but it doesn't appear that that happens too often. Also, there is some question about the carrier state in a dog that gets the vaccine. I think it is possible for them to carry the disease and pass it to another animal or a human even with the vaccine. I'm not exactly sure about this though. There are quite a few strains and the vaccine doesn't protect against all of them. The duration of immunity is in question and the vaccine should probably be given every 6-12 months. If you are going to give it it should always be given separately (not in a combo and not with any other vaccines). Pfizer makes one but I don't know the strains it covers. That way the immune system can have time to deal with it and if there is a reaction, you'll know what vaccine caused it. I would not give this vaccine to any pup under about 16 weeks old because it suppresses the immune system. Just because a dog doesn't react the first time doesn't mean they won't the second or third. In fact, it is more likely that they will react the second or third time.

Before I knew this I let a vet give Ellie distemper, hepatitis, leptospira, parvo virus, parainfluenza, corona virus and rabies all in one day. Never will I do that again. It was 5 or 6 too many to give at once. Anyway, about 20 or 30 minutes after the vaccines Ellie threw up, collapsed and went into shock (looked like she was dying basically). I could have lost her if medication wasn't available. This was most likely from the lepto because she'd never had it before and never reacted this way. It could have been rabies but we just don't know.

So, please research before giving any more vaccines and decide which ones you think should be given.

my breeder said it wasnt necessary if the puppy was not going to be around lots of dogs (such as kennels) but i got it anyways. better safe than sorry, and i think it is a nasal vaccine, so into the nose it goes. i think its pink too...=] my vet lets us administer the shots ourselves if we are comfortable with doing so. wookie never had a problem with bordatella. :animal-pa

Trust vs like
 

The vet recommended the science diet ad. Davey is 16 weeks now and he is due for his monthly interceptor. I don't know wether to have him get another blood test right now for the BAT and have them add on the PROTEIN C TEST? Or wait another month till he is older and get them done right now.
I think he vomited a couple of times on Friday-Sunday by looking at the little blanket he was laying on in the mornings .I didn't see him nor did I hear him coughing or retching like he was vomiting. I assumed by the little bits of food particles and ? clear liquid around the stuff.
He has not been lethargic. He is a conundrum.

The A/D or any higher protein food could make the bile acids go up.
Sometimes it is giving before the second blood draw but if a dog has a suspected liver problem, it should be used as regular meals.

If your vet is comfortable waiting for a redraw, that might be the way to go. He is still very young and the results could be skewed. That needs to be balanced with the potential for something to go wrong in between now and then if he isn't receiving treatment. Vomiting could be a symptoms but may be unrelated. Some people don't like Protein C testing, so it really is whatever you and your vet prefer...

Don't let the breeder tell you how to care for your pup when your vet advises otherwise
I quoted this from another post.

I am a breeder and have been for the past 12 years we give advice because we care for our puppies even after they are no longer with us.The advice we give is based in our experience and the best interest of our babies.Most vets are in this for the money responsible breeder like myself and many others aren't.They give unneccesary vaccines to charge a lot of $$$$$$.She has to be mad,you asked her for her opinion and did the contrary.Then you wrote when the puppy got sick.Try to put yourself in her shoes.

true
 

:thumbup::thumbup: i agree

Do you mean AD should not be given on a daily
 

I talked with the vet today. We are going to hold the interceptor, and any further vaccines and we are going to get a blood draw for a second test in 2-3 weeks later part of this month. To try and get 45 days or so between test. He didn't sound like he had much confidence in the protein C test. I am not sure if he has much experience with ordering it to make a definative diagnosis in these cases or what his hesitation was aobut the test. He is amazed Davey has not gotten sick again. He thought for sure he would have been again before now. He is happy about that.
Davey hasn't had any further trouble with his eyes so far, other then normal discharge from hair irritation. I bought this puppy as my new stud. He has had 2 boughts of conjunctivitis. One vet thought he had a fine layer of lashes along the lower lid. No other vet in the office has seen them.