Something We Should All Have to See
 

I was asked to foster a tiny little 2 lb 2year old little girl until her owners could be found. She had been found out wondering the streets. I said sure bring her on over. I came on YT that same night because this poor sweet little girl was having the most horrible seizures. She would lie on her side and spin and spin in circles while screeching so loud it actually hurt the ears and foaming out her little mouth. She would do this for several minutes and then when that finally stopped she would be so disoriented and would not let any of us close to her. We rushed her to our vet in fear for not only her but for our two precious furbabies thinking what have we done bring a sick little one in our home with them. Come to find out this little one has severe liver shunt. The vet told us that when they breed for these tinies that this is one of the prices they have to pay. It just sickens me because it is not they that have to pay its these poor babies. I like a lot of others when I went in seach of our first little on wanted a tiny, I knew no better. But now I do and I am so thankful for my 2 four lb healthy furbutts. Ok I am through with my ranting just wanted to give some food for thought to those of you thinking of buying such a tiny baby. Yes we found her owners and they were elated to have her back home but they had no idea about diet or anything else that could affect her. It just breaks my heart every time I think of her.

That is so horribly sad :( Why anyone would purposely set out looking to buy a 2lb yorkie is beyond me., and shame on the breeders who purposely breed such tiny babies!

I hope that they get the proper information on care and diet for that little girl. Did you ever find out how she got to be just wondering on her own? I would have to take a serious look at how and where she lives. :(

Sadly she will die if they aren't willing to spend the over $1500 (minimum) for surgery to make her well. This is not about diet at this stage...she is going into complete failure.

I am wondering too, how did she get away from them? Did they know about her condition? Oh gosh, now I'm going to worry about her too.

What a sad story. I don't understand why any breeder would breed for such tiny babies. You are right, the babies are the ones who suffer. I just hope the owners get her the medical attention she needs!

I feel so badly for that little Yorkie. Thank you for taking the time to find out what was wrong with her. I hope the owners get her the proper medical care she needs.

I agree. She needs to be taken to the nearest vet school for further treatment. I hope her new owners are aware of this.

As far as size goes, small stature can be sign of a shunt, but there are plenty of bigger Yorkies out there with liver shunts. Since Yorkies are 36 times more likely to be born with a shunt than all other breeds combined, it's important to get a puppy from a breeder who bile acids tests each and every one of her Yorkies prior to breeding. She must also know her lines many, many generations back as two healthy Yorkies can be carriers fro shunts and there is no genetic marker as yet. All Yorkie puppies should get a bile acids test routinely done once they reach 20 weeks old according to Dr. Sharon Center, the developer of the BAT. FYI, Dr. Center is currently working on finding a genetic marker for liver shunts with a grant from the AKC.

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.

I have had very small Yorkies for 35 years!!!!!! Healthy! I think by reading on this site there are just as many and more over 2 lbs Yorkies with liver shuts!!!!!!!!! Poor breeding is a large part of the problem. Reputable breeders will occasionally have a tiny, so what do you think they should be put to sleep? Smaller Yorkies of the 2 lb range belong in special homes. I have had no health issues with any of my dogs until ripe old ages. They have all lived at least 15 years and better! I get there teeth cleaned once or twice a year depending on there needs. Dry food, low protein diets! They are spoiled and very protected!

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.

That poor little girl.. it just makes me so mad that people continue to breed these sick puppies and produce more sick babies. We get Yorkies to have a companion, to love and be loved, not for heartbreak.

It's amazing how many people look for the small ones.. every breeder I talk to, I ask how big they think the puppies will be - they immediately think I am asking because I want a small one - the opposite is true, I want a 6 pounder or more. Preferably at least 8 pounds! I can't imagine having a dog that small that never gets bigger... I don't know how some of you do it.

I highly recommend taking her to UT's vet hospital, they are by far the best in the nation for liver shunts. Hands down. She will need an ultrasound and scintigraphy done as well before surgery to see if it is indeed a shunt (or microvascular dysplasia - which is not operable), and to see if its localized for surgery. In the mean time, she needs to be eating Royal Canin LS 14 (which is a very low protein prescription diet) and taking Lactulose (prescription your vet can write and you can get it at Rite Aid, Target, etc and its on the $4 program) regularly to keep the toxins flushed from her body. If $$ is an issue and you seriously do not want to give her up, then I suggest you get CareCredit (its a credit card for medical emergencies and you have months to pay it off). If its a shunt, you will be looking at around 2000 in bills. If its MVD, sometimes they still need to do surgery to verify that it is NOT a shunt (if the tests are not completely clear) and even if they don't repair anything, it will still be 1500ish for everything. My Ginger had surgery and she did not end up having a shunt even though her bile acids were over 100. Have you had a bile acids test? What were her pre and post numbers? Please keep us updated and feel free to PM me and ask any questions.

Here is a group on yahoo with others with babies with liver shunts/MVD... there is a HUGE amount information here... Please utilize this priceless resource. Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

So sorry to hear this story, poor baby. My Maui recently had a seizure and it was the most horrifying thing I have ever witnessed!

A few months ago I found out my groomer breeds yorkies, so I made my husband come with me to check them out. He didn't have any puppies available but he let me see his females.....they were TINY TINY! He told me his stud was even smaller. He told me he sold his so called "teacups" for $1600 and up and he claims it was because they were so fragile and people kill them!!! People kill them, omg. Suffice it to say, I did not get a puppy from him AND I found myself a new groomer. :thumbdown

Even big yorkies are little
 

I understand that having a tiny dog is super cute, but 2 lbs?
I wanted Castor Pollux to be teeniny. He's 4.8 @ 9months and still little. Yorkies, even the "tea pots" are still Yorkies and still small.
Theres no reason to try make em even more tiny (i don't see how all that personality is packed into such a small size anyway)
I've heard that the littler you breed the more likely health risks are.
I'm so sad for the little girl but it is good to be more aware when I get the next one and what to look for.
Love this site!!!
(makes student teaching fun)