Matise's Shunt Surgery went well!!!

[River]

Kara, this is great news!! I have been swamped lately and haven't been on line for a couple days so this was wonderful news for me!! Matise will feel so much better in no time and you will definitely have a different dog! It's wonderful to see. I still marvel at how much difference there is in Indy! The surgery is sooooo worth it!! It is a challenge to keep them quiet though!! Good luck and Indy and I send hugs!!!!

[jwash]

Kara, great news, I can just see all of you on the floor, trying to sleep. Where is Miramar? I'm in Jacksonville, NE Fl.

[kara]

Originally Posted by jwash

Kara, great news, I can just see all of you on the floor, trying to sleep. Where is Miramar? I'm in Jacksonville, NE Fl.

Let me tell you I feel like we are having a slumber party!!!lol It is south broward county (next to Pembroke pines).

[quincyoliver]

What age was Matise when the surgery took place and how much did he weigh?

[RMKC]

AWSOME !!!!! Puppykisses from Rosi

[Thorsmomma]

what great news. I am so happy now she can start her happy healthy life with you!
Hannah

[kara]

Originally Posted by quincyoliver

What age was Matise when the surgery took place and how much did he weigh?

He was 14 months old and 3.5 Lbs.

Here is a little back story on how we came to the diagnosis and surgery.

Matise was born on Aug. 16, 2004. We got him on the last weekend of Nov. 2004. On Christmas morning at 4:30 A.M. he vomited 4 times so we went to the ER and they kept him until 2:30 AM that night. He weighed 2.6 lbs. They did x-rays and blood work (CBC), IV for re-hydration, no apparent reason for the vomiting. Then another vomiting episode in March. Same thing blood work (CBC) and no apparent reason. Then in the beginning of October he had 4 seizures. By then I had finally found a vet that I liked and trusted (we started going there in May) (The vet that I had been going to with my other dog Alex since I moved to Florida in 2003 quit in Dec. so I had to find another vet) He advised me to do blood work and a bile acid test because it could be a shunt or Addison's disease. He was almost 14 months old and 3.5 lbs. We did the blood work. It came back with scores of 68 pre-meal 212 post-meal so they were VERY high. So my vet was 99.9% sure it was a shunt. So he gave us special food and meds that day- Lactulose and Flagyl and started calling to get a surgery consult ASAP. By the next day he had 2 consults for us. We chose Dr. Moore at Coral Springs Animal Hospital. http://www.coralspringsanimalhosp.co.../staff_ken.htm We met with him and he was amazing and has performed more than 100 Liver Shunt surgeries. He performed the surgery the same day as the consult because we thought he was our best choice. He was able to perform the surgery and place an Ameroid Constrictor on the shunt. Matise's shunt was higher up on the stomach and in an uncommon spot so that is why he didn't really show signs until he was 14 months old, or as the Dr. put it survived that long, because typical shunt patients can start to show signs at 4 months of age. We are eternally grateful to Dr. Moore and his staff. It has been three weeks since his surgery and he is recovering well and Dr. Moore is optimistic that he will make a full recovery. He says optimistic because there are certain cases were the body just makes another shunt instead of the original shunt closing and the liver working properly. So we have to do blood work at 6 months and 1 year after surgery to see if the liver is working properly and the shunt is closed. We are staying positive and hoping for the best.

[quincyoliver]

I will keep you in my prayers, I am happy for your great news!!