Bile Acid Testing for Breeders
 

Last fall I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Karen Tobias and attending a seminar re. Livershunt (LS) She promotes bile acid testing (pre and post feeding annd blood work) of Yorkie pups at age 10 weeks to see if there is LS problems before they are sold.

She also suggests having the potental parents of the pups tested for LS prior to breeding.

Do any of you do this???? I think this is a must and I wolldnn't buy a pup uunless it was done.

After going through what I have and am going through with my precious Matise. I strongly think that responsible breeders should have their breeding pairs tested before breeding and pups tested before they sold them so as not to put the new parents through what I am going through. I would pay the extra money to a breeder to know that I was getting a puppy the was LS free. I wouldn't want anyone not even my worst enemy to go through what I am going through.
For example, I had another sleepless night last night because Matise was up all night long not feeling well. I maybe slept 2-3 hours. I can't sleep when I know he is feeling bad or having a bad night. We have a very long road ahead of us and I hope every single day that he will be ok because it would kill me if anything happened to him. I still have the anxiety of having his first post op blood work done in Jan. I will die if those results do not come back good. Since this whole ordeal began I have had to be put on anti-anxiety meds-Paxil because most days it is overwhelming. I wouldn't trade Matise for anything in the world but the pain that we are all going through is too much some days. sorry to go on and on but I thought you would like to hear the side of someone who got a LS dog from an irresponsible breeder.

My adults have been bile acid tested, puppies have full blood panels. If the levels are off indicating LS then I do a bile acid.

Irene

I wish every breeder was as concious as you !!!!!

Me too..I have yet to purchase from one that does the same and I purchase for breeding. <sigh>

I too feel this is very important to under go this testing on my breeders. But lets not lose sight this is not 100%. My parents are tested so are the pups, now if I was to sell you breeding rights, that doesn't mean it can show up in future litters...It will makes the chances slimmer, but still not a 100% guarantee. Never the less it is still VERY important to have these test done... :D As a breeder this allows me to stand behind my health guarantee and know that I am being responsible.