Hey Everyone!!

[MichL]

My name is Michele and I'm new to this site, I have a little Yorkie, Coco, who was a rescue and we've been together for almost a year now. Coco will be 2 in June. She is a VERY loving pup, all she wants is to cuddle and give kisses. Not yappy or snappy!! I decided to join the site since recently I have been having issues with her and need some advice and opinions, even some support and you guys seem GREAT to eachother!!!
I'll give you the 'long story short of it'!

About 2 months ago, Coco and I moved. She stopped eating and I just attributed it to the move. Then when days would go by, I noticed she still wasn't eating and that freaked me out. I tried everything I could. Added broth to her food, water to soften, cheese to entice her, a teaspoon of wet in the dry (She was eating Blue, chicken for small breeds) when that failed, I tried giving her vegetables, she LOVES broccoli!! but then it was just her eating the veggies I was giving her (sweet potato, asparagus, carrots) So I added grilled plain chicken. She was doing well on this for a while and then stopped eating again.
Which brings me to the now. She has been vomiting over the last 3 weeks a clear fluid with white foam in it. not all the time, but some days more then others. Her belly is swollen and she doesn't like it to be touched by anyone but mommy (she snaps at them)! and even sometimes with me she doesn't like it.
We went to the vet; xrays, heartworm tests come back negative. She is on an antibiotic to fight, if any, bacteria. She also had bloodwork. The dr is concerned because of her symtoms she has a liver shunt. I don't know much about it or anyone who has been through this, so this leads me to you guys!!

So please, any advice or experiences you can share will be GREATLY appreciated!!!

xoxo Michele and Coco

[Maximo]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. I'm sorry Coco and you are going through this. Did you discuss Coco's diet with your vet? Dogs require a delicate balance of nutrients and the chicken/veggies diet she has been eating most likely is unbalanced. When it comes to feeding homecooked meals, it is very important to work with a dog vet nutritionist. Many people here who homecook use a nutritional additive called "Balance It."

Regarding the liver shunt, most people here would recommend working with a vet school on testing to confirm a diagnosis and determine if surgery is required. Other members here can recommend where to go depending on where you are located.

Best wishes to Coco and you.

[MandiesMom]

If it were me, I would try to get her to a vet school. There are so many things that these symptoms could indicate. A vet school will have all the various different specialists that could look at Coco and diagnose. It really may be just something as simple as diet balance.

The bloating of the stomach and sesitivity to touch concerns me the most. Has an ultra sound been done? That is also the best way to view a liver shunt (based on my readings)

Welcome to YT! And I will keep Coco in my prayers. Hope you get a dx and get her feeling better soon!

[marlenemaria]

Praying she feels better real soon

[Deb1]

Just wanted to welcome you and Coco to YT. I have no advice except, give her a big hug from all of us! I hope she is feeling better soon!

[MichL]

Awe thank you guys!!

I've been giving her nothing but LOVE!!

Mandiesmom: No ultrasound yet. I was asking about one, they said they wanted to wait until bloodwork comes back, hopefully by today!!

Maximo: as far as the food goes, vet told me as long as she eats a little something it's okay. So I'm not pushing until we know for sure whats wrong! But thanks for the heads up with "Balance it"!! I will mention that to the vet!!

xoxo

[Micah my love]

Welcome to YT I hope your little one is better soon

[Lovetodream88]

I don't know anything about Liver shunt but just wanted to say welcome and I will keep your little one in my prayers.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by MichL

Awe thank you guys!!

I've been giving her nothing but LOVE!!

Mandiesmom: No ultrasound yet. I was asking about one, they said they wanted to wait until bloodwork comes back, hopefully by today!!

Maximo: as far as the food goes, vet told me as long as she eats a little something it's okay. So I'm not pushing until we know for sure whats wrong! But thanks for the heads up with "Balance it"!! I will mention that to the vet!!

xoxo

Praying you get good news from the test results.

I don't have personal experience with liver shunt, but I think ultrasounds can be inconclusive. That is when scintography and possibly exploratory surgery come into play. There are many people here with experience and I'm sure they will post more info for you today.

I agree that it is important for a dog to eat just about anything for the very short term, but an imbalanced diet can affect kidneys and liver. A specialized diet is often prescribed for dogs with liver problems. Sometimes when a Yorkie is suspected of having a shunt, it turns out to be MVD and requires a special diet and meds. I'll message some people who have been through this to explain it better.

[MichL]

Thank you so much!! I would really appreciate any help I can get!!

It's only been a few weeks that she hasn't been eating dog food, so hopefully not long enough for any damage!!!

Fingers crossed!!

[DBlain]

welcome to Yorkie Talk

as an FYI normally with Liver Shunt bloodwork will show problems with the liver and Kidney, if that is the case often an Acid Bile Test will be recommended, and results from that will help determine if that is the case and how severe. The sure cure is surgery which many have had here with good results, for mild cases sometimes you can control it with diet and medicine. Let us know what the blood results show.

After the blood info comes in, and if LS is a possibility, start searching on YT for Liver Shunt and a lot of the threads discussing it will come up.

Are you from N Bellmore in NY, if so I grew up right next store to you, in East Meadow
welcome to Yorkie Talk

[ladyjane]

First of all, may I recommend that you put her on HW preventatives if you have not already. The fact the vet thought she might have them concerns me....she does not need that to top things off. Heartworms and/or the treatment for them is devastating to dogs not to mention very expensive. HW preventatives are just a few dollars/month.

As for a possible liver shunt, what tests has the vet done that lead him to think there is a shunt? What further tests is he planning?

As for diet: As others have suggested, it is extremely important to have a balanced diet.

Good luck and please let us know what is going on.

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

First of all, may I recommend that you put her on HW preventatives if you have not already. The fact the vet thought she might have them concerns me....she does not need that to top things off. Heartworms and/or the treatment for them is devastating to dogs not to mention very expensive. HW preventatives are just a few dollars/month.

As for a possible liver shunt, what tests has the vet done that lead him to think there is a shunt? What further tests is he planning?

As for diet: As others have suggested, it is extremely important to have a balanced diet.

Good luck and please let us know what is going on.

Linda, I believe in her first post she said the Heartworm test was negative, so it sounds like the last of the initial test results they they are waiting for is the bloodwork. You would know better than me but is blood work one of the first steps to take, followed by ABT if the liver numbers are elevated. She is a new member so some of her responses could be being held until she reaches her post count, but I am sure she can read our responses.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by DBlain

Linda, I believe in her first post she said the Heartworm test was negative, so it sounds like the last of the initial test results they they are waiting for is the bloodwork. You would know better than me but is blood work one of the first steps to take, followed by ABT if the liver numbers are elevated. She is a new member so some of her responses could be being held until she reaches her post count, but I am sure she can read our responses.

I know what she said. Heartworms are not normally a concern if you give preventatives monthly. Maybe she does, but since it jumped out at me I commented.

Yes, bloodwork is one of the first things done, but not a HW test.