Something We Should All Have to See

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Yor-Key 2 Luv

As far as size goes, small stature can be sign of a shunt! That's a new one on me. In thirty five years I have never heard a doctor say that to me. Never had a bile acid test and none of my doctors have ever suggested it! If I had any signs of illness I would of course do whatever it took to seek the best medical attention at any cost! I have bought the last five Yorkies from the same breeder and her reputation speaks for itself. She has also sold several to friends of mine with no health issues.

It can very well be a sign of shunt, not always. That information is based on research conducted by Dr. Susan Centers and Dr Tobias....both at the forefront of Liver Shunt Research......

As far as not having a bile acid perforemd.....it's hiding your head in the sand. Liver Shunt has reared it's ugly head in our breed and it can show up at any given time......even after 8 or 9 generations.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

It can very well be a sign of shunt, not always. That information is based on research conducted by Dr. Susan Centers and Dr Tobias....both at the forefront of Liver Shunt Research......

As far as not having a bile acid perforemd.....it's hiding your head in the sand. Liver Shunt has reared it's ugly head in our breed and it can show up at any given time......even after 8 or 9 generations.

This makes perfect sense. If LS is a recessive gene, you can have many many beautiful pups be perfectly healthy but yet be carriers. All it takes is for one recessive gene to find another and then an LS baby is born. I have read that the teenies are sometimes inbred to produce more teenies. Shortening the gene pool increases the possibility of LS or any number of genetic diseases. It's basic genetics.

[TLC]

Originally Posted by nanahas3

I am so sorry I havent replied sooner. Been very hectic around here. I do check on her every now and then but it is heartbreaking. The people who own her are elderly and they have continued to take her to the vet who finally told them surgery is her only option but I am not sure they are financially able to do this for her. I have told them about yorkie rescues willing to take her but I dont know if I am getting anywhere with this She is such a little sweetheart and I know they love her but they keep saying they want to try special diets and such first. I just wish I knew a way to get through to them about all this but they seem very set in their ways. All I know to do is continue to pray they will see their way to do what is best for her.

Please keep insisting they need to help her by medically managing this until she is strong enough to go thru surgery.

Please have them contact Olga at Retro Doggy Rescue
livrescue@yahoo.com

She is amazing at helping Liver Shunt Parents. She will give them step by step instruction on how to care for this baby. What food and how much and how often, what medicines and what supplements.

She has had numerous Liver Shunt dogs in her rescue and she goes above and beyond...

The bottom line, is that this pup is suffering and will most likely die if nothing is done soon...

[pancakepat]

I agree w/everything said. I can still hear this little one screeching. So heartwrenching. Please keep hounding this older couple to get the med help she needs.
Good Luck.

[Robin Lodal]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

This makes perfect sense. If LS is a recessive gene, you can have many many beautiful pups be perfectly healthy but yet be carriers. All it takes is for one recessive gene to find another and then an LS baby is born. I have read that the teenies are sometimes inbred to produce more teenies. Shortening the gene pool increases the possibility of LS or any number of genetic diseases. It's basic genetics.

We only wish it was as simple as recessive genes! They have not even been able to find the genetic marker for LS/MVD yet... when at UT, I was told they hope to be able to find the marker within the next 5 years, which would be great.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Robin Lodal

We only wish it was as simple as recessive genes! They have not even been able to find the genetic marker for LS/MVD yet... when at UT, I was told they hope to be able to find the marker within the next 5 years, which would be great.

I said it more as an example, but it sure sounds like a recessive gene from what Mardeline said. If many generations can live happy and healthy, and then all of a sudden it just pops up, it definitely doesn't sound like a dominant gene causes LS.
It's like my cousin who has this disease that degenerates his nervous system as he ages. He's in his 30's now, and was born with no sign of it, but lives in a wheelchair with no use of his legs, and less and less use of his hands. I can't remember the name of his disease off the top of my head, but we were able to trace it at lest 6 generations back to the last case of one of my relatives having this. His is a recessive gene that both my aunt and her husband passed on to him. For 15 years of his life he had no symptoms.
The main difference here is we as people choose to breed or not to breed our pets, so if we choose to go forth and bring about more puppies it's our responsibility to check for all of this.

[Robin Lodal]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I said it more as an example, but it sure sounds like a recessive gene from what Mardeline said. If many generations can live happy and healthy, and then all of a sudden it just pops up, it definitely doesn't sound like a dominant gene causes LS.
It's like my cousin who has this disease that degenerates his nervous system as he ages. He's in his 30's now, and was born with no sign of it, but lives in a wheelchair with no use of his legs, and less and less use of his hands. I can't remember the name of his disease off the top of my head, but we were able to trace it at lest 6 generations back to the last case of one of my relatives having this. His is a recessive gene that both my aunt and her husband passed on to him. For 15 years of his life he had no symptoms.
The main difference here is we as people choose to breed or not to breed our pets, so if we choose to go forth and bring about more puppies it's our responsibility to check for all of this.

Its definitely not dominant... nor recessive. They do not have the genetic marker to even track it really at this point... recessive/dominant genes can be tracked. I just know what I have learned from my research and what I was told by Drs at UT.

[RachelandSadie]

that is so sad! i sometimes wish Sadie had grown to be at least 5 lbs. she's 4.5 lbs. and just didn't make it to 5lbs. but i'm ok with her size, she's healthy and big enough...i would never even before i learned about "teacup" pups have gotten a tiny little dog that wasn't a breed standard, but even more so after learning just how horrible their poor little lives are...and i wanted to add that not only do those people need to learn about her health and FAST, but so do some people very close to me, they have a boxer mix that i would consider morbidly obese. he's so fat and huge that i can just imagine how hard his little legs are working to hold him up and how short his life will be if they don't control his weight. i believe he is free fed, never walked, and just lies around all day with no training, love, or leader.

sad isn't it how foolish some people can be that own pets that never should be allowed to have them!!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Robin Lodal

Its definitely not dominant... nor recessive. They do not have the genetic marker to even track it really at this point... recessive/dominant genes can be tracked. I just know what I have learned from my research and what I was told by Drs at UT.

I don't think the Doctors have the answers. They have breed two dogs whose bile acids are well below the normal limits and they've produced LS pups. They've also bred two dogs with LS that have produced perfectly healthy pups. Now the missing link is as you say, the DNA Marker.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I don't think the Doctors have the answers. They have breed two dogs whose bile acids are well below the normal limits and they've produced LS pups. They've also bred two dogs with LS that have produced perfectly healthy pups. Now the missing link is as you say, the DNA Marker.

Right, and I only said it sounds like a recessive gene to me. While they don't have a way of identifying it right now doesn't mean it can't be true. Genetics is complicated and DNA is made of numerous genomes and scientists and doctors haven't mapped every DNA of every creature. Especially when you consider all the mutations genes go through. In my genetics class we learned basics, and I mean basics. We even learned how to do a paternity test because something like that is incredibly simple. But, to study DNA and what does what is incredibly time consuming. We were given fake DNA and tested it to find if cancer was hereditary, only to learn that as far as we know now it's case by case. Some are hereditary, some are environmental, and some are caused by random gene mutations. But, what I do know is that DNA is life's blueprint. It dictates where a leg goes, and how a heart is formed, and whether or not a living thing will function normally.
I'm speculating about the recessive gene, not stating it as fact. Just because we haven't marked it doesn't mean it isn't there.