liver shunt
 

I got a call from the vet today and told me that Daisy's blood results indicate that she has a liver shunt and that it is very common in Yorkshires, so now we have to do blood tests every 6 mo and possible medication, or surgery depending on the following results, she has had seizures and I didn't know why, which took us to the vet to begin with, so since she said it happens primarily in Yorkies I was wondering if anyone else has heard this?

We have many threads (posts) about liver shunt disease. Check them out and read up so that you can make good decisions for your little girl. God bless you, you are both in my prayers this week.

from your post I would say her numbers must not be very high or your vet must not be very good. Liver shunt is not something you just test for every six months it is a serious condition that often needs expensive surgery. There are also meds that can help with eliminating the toxins from her that the liver is failing to do. He is correct it is something that has become common in yorkies and it has a lot to do with the boom in yorkie breeders that are looking to make a lot of money selling this small breed. This is something you should contact your breeder about or others that have bought from your them. If thet they are good breeders they will stop breeding the pair that your dog came from. I don't know that much about the disease only that it is serious, expensive to treat and there is a lot of information on here and on the internet about it. There are also a lot of people on YT that have dogs with it and many have had the surgery. If I was you I would start goggling everything about it and learn how to read the lab work so you will know for yourself how severe her condition is. Make sure every time a test is done that you get a copy of it, people often wind up going to a specialist or a university vet school so it is good not to have to beg your vet for the records. Is her hair thin and is she very thin those are signs as well. So sorry to hear this because it seems like your dog is only about 7 months old and she is a doll. Good luck, she is in my prayers

In the Sick and Emergency Forum; you will find lots of information about liver shunt.

Here is what concerns me about your post and the details (minimal) that you have offered. She has had seizures already...at only 7mths old. That is not a good sign at all.

My best advice is to go now to the experts, this is not something a general vet should treat.

I have no idea where you are in the States; but Univ of Tennessee, and Dr Tobias are the leading experts in this disease. Beat a path there, or at the very least call them, to get a referral to a specialist close to you.

So sorry to hear this but there is hope for them, my Micah is going to be four this year and seems to be doing fine..:)

does he have this, if so did he have to have surgery or medication?

the vet didn't sound so concerned but now I am scared after reading all of the concerns here. I will read up on it, and get the results from her, she didn't make it seem this serious, she just said it's something Yorkies get. I'm going to call for a second opinion tomorrow.

I'm glad you're getting a second opinion. The vet's lack of concern is kind of alarming to me. Liver shunt disease of any kind is serious, and at the very least your pup should have been put on a special diet and/or medication.

Thinking of you and your little one:love: Please keep us posted on what the second vet says

I will, and thank you for for your advise and support.

They sent her blood work to UT, we live in near Knoxville so I will call them tomorrow. It's just so sad, one thing after another with her...:(

I am so sorry to hear this about your baby. My Gracie was the "runt" of the litter. My vet was very concerned that she may have liver shunt when I took her in for her first visit. I confess I knew little about Yorkie issues when I first got her. As it turned out she did not have it but has always been a picky eater just the same. I guess that is also one of the outstanding symptoms of liver shunt.

Your baby looks so healthy. Does she vomit or have loss of appitite? Has she shown symptoms other than the seizures? It is a deformity of the liver. Because of some genetic malfuntion the liver does not form properly. You will see some diagrams online showing some samples of how the deformed liver can look.

Things like this problem are one of the reasons there are so many people on YT against backyard breeders and others who know nothing about the breeding of dogs. I can't say that show breeders have never had this issue but it is becoming rampant out in the general market for Yorkies. I hope your vet can get you to a specialist soon. It sounds like she needs one quickly.

I have to confess and hope no one judges on this, I bought her from a breeder that had to moms and two dads and 9 puppy's in the home, and not so clean, but she showed pictures of grandparents in shows and she had papers on her, I was just there to look but when I got a hold of her I fell in love and came back the next day to get her and she came right to me again. There the problems begins I took her to the vet on the way home, she had every worm there was she was hypoglycemic, had diarrhea and random seizures it took me about another $1000.00 to get her healthy, she is now happy hyper and full of life, I though the worst was over until this last seizure, it happened after her yearly shots and giving her trifectis for the first time, well a few days apart. It was actually the Trifectis manufactures that payed for her blood work that was sent to UT. but that wasn't the problem, I guess it was this and I'm finding out it's genetic. It's hard to believe since she acts and looks so well that she could have a problem, so I will go from here to see how bad this is.

No one is going to judge or think bad of you - you didn't know any better at the time. My baby came from a broker and I'm fairly certain from a puppy mill. I should have known better - I researched Scottish Terriers and knew what to look for, but for some reason didn't when "looking" for a Yorkie. I think in the back of my mind, I wasn't going to buy one yet. :eyetearssI had lost my Scottie 2 months before I started semi-looking. I wasn't sure I was ready. All it took was seeing that wee babe and I was smitten.

Hopefully it's the meds and shots that have set off increased levels.

From what I have read many of these genetic defects do not always show up when they are young puppies. I am amazed that your vet did not check into this sooner since she has had issues right along. As I mentioned it was one of the first things my vet mentioned with Gracie.

These breeders make me so angry. They know that people fall in love with these adorable little babies so easily and are taking advantage of it big time. It is an easy buck for them and a giant heartache for the people they sell to. I know many people who have purchased from backyard breeders and been lucky enough to get a fairly healthy pup get upset with those who crusade so hard against bybs but when you and your little one are the victims the light goes on quickly. It sounds like the place you got her from was a nightmare. I know it seems like you are rescuing them from an awful situation but it is also keeping that greeder in business.

The thing to concentrate on now is getting you baby the best care possible. I think someone stated that a regular vet is not the one to deal with this. She really needs someone who has a good record of successful treatment of liver shunt. Keep researching.

oh, thank you that makes me feel better for the understanding, also I am sorry for your loss.

yes I will and I actually took her to my moms vet for the shots, which is the one who found this, but I will have these results transferred to her normal vet to decide where to go from here, I have always trusted her and she helped us at the beginning, I just didn't think it would hurt to get her shots where my mom goes since we have our little ones on the same schedule and I did take copies of her shots to her normal vet.
I had never bought a pet before, so I really was ignorant to the situation that I was contributing to. I really did feel she was better off with me.

Micah has MVD he went to UT twice, and had testing done including a liver biopsy, you are so close to UT, I highly reccomend them, Micah is on a low protein diet and seems to be doing fine.

He never showed any signs except for being small, I had took him to his vet for testing because i had hoped to use him for breeding one day, he was also neutered while at UT...I am betting that your little one had to many vaccines together that caused the convulsions...the first time she had them could have been caused by having all the worms

that's what I was hoping, I called this morning to get the papers of her result, she asked if I wanted to take her to UT for an ultrasound, I guess that's what's next. What is MVD? is it the same type of thing. I am kind of afraid to read to much because I am easily upset with to much information and end up thinking the worst. I am happy to read that he is ok. I guess diet plays a big part in all of this.

I took Daisy to her original vet yesterday to have her bile acid test repeated since the first one was so high, the results came back and the non fasting one was high again. To continue testing and surgery is out of my financial situation, since all indications lead to liver shunt we are going to work with diet and medication. I feel completely helpless and like I am just watching her die, I haven't stopped crying in two days. Just looking at her breaks my heart. The people around me have no idea how devastating this is to me.

I very much understand your feelings and also the fact that the surgery is out of your budget. I had the same problem when my Mia showed signs and tested with high bile acids. I couldn't afford all of the expensive costs either. I went with low protein diet and supplements, I had a very good vet that was willing to try anything that I read about that might help. We did preventive antibiotics and also gave her lactilouse before or after she ate. Those were things that I learned about on a yorkshire terrier website/support group that was primarily about liver shunt. She started at 3 years old and because of test results we assumed that she had MVD. With this type you have multiple shunts through out the liver and the surgery doesn't work on this type. All you can do is diet and supplements. There is one other test called a protein c test that if it comes back high this will most likely tell you that it is multivascular or MVD. I did finally loose her at 6 years old to seizures last September, it broke my heart and I will never forget her. But all of the good times and memories are very precious to me and she will be forever in my heart. Do lots of reading and find a good vet that is willing to work with you. You might even join the Yorkie group for babies with liver shunt, you will learn a lot and they are good support. Hang in there. She may live a long good life, it just may take a little more work and special help from you, but you can do it. God bless you and your little fur baby.

Go to yahoo and search for Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support, there is a place to click and join the group.

Thank you for sharing and for the understanding and support. I am sorry for your loss. I am looking for the support websites to find out as much as I can, I guess I just have to pull myself together and do the best I can for her, again thank you for the information.

Please at least get a firm diagnosis through the proper tests. Then go from there. It very well could be the type that can only be managed with diet, as surgery doesn't work for that type. If she does have an operable shunt, her quality of life would be immensely better if she had the surgery. I know it's expensive (and scary)! Care Credit is out there. Any family or friends that could lend you the money?

Praying for your baby:hands: :love:

honestly, I am just not getting a lot of support with this.:(

Do you mean from your friends or family? If so, I'm so sorry. What about your baby's breeder?

Can you tell us what her Pre and Post numbers are?

friends and family

78 - 83 second time 4 - 80

You haven't done anything wrong, you are just like everyone on here that bought their first pet, Yorkie, and many of us were not educated about the breed. Yorkies are 40 percent more likely to have liver shunt then any other breed, it can happen with other animals also.

Talk to your vet and change her diet right away, that is essential. Liver shunt babies can not handle the high protein in most dog foods. They have different brands dry and canned. The l/d diet is important as are the liver supplements that can help with the build up of toxins in their blood and help control more damage to the liver. Ask about the Lactalous, it keeps there stool from being hard and also breaks down the toxins when they eat. A very small amount is all you use and it is not very expensive. You have to get it at a people pharmacy, so you need a prescription from the vet. You can also feed a small amount of boiled chicken & rice, cottage cheese, yogurt, veggies for treats. The key is small amounts and very little protein.

I don't know everything but I lived the life with a MVD baby, and I am here for you. I had to learn, you can p.m. me anytime. Don't take what others say to heart no one feels your pain or knows your situation. Sending a prayer and a big hug to you.

dont give up.. please apply for care credit. I just had a dog that had spinal issues and thought we would have to have surgery. I have had a few difficult years and money is an issue.. I got the care credit.. what a relief!!

Also.. this is a very last resort... if you can pay for the surgery and it means she will not live you may give her to a rescue that would do the surgery. I know that would be the hardest thing in the world but at least the baby would live.

Sending prays that she has the version that is easily controlled by diet!!