After Liver Shunt Surgery

[FirstAssist]

Hi, I am new here! My 16 week old Yorkie Wilson was diagnosed 3 1/2 weeks ago with a liver shunt after being rushed to the ER and finding a stone obstructing his urethra. After blood test to confirm, Wilson was put on a ld diet, antibiotic & lactulose. The surgeon wanted to keep him on the diet for 2 weeks to build his numbers up to prepare him for surgery. I had him back and forth to the vet hospital 4 times that week. The doctor decided it would be best to go ahead with surgery. Wilson had surgery 6/25/2013, he had a extrahepatic shunt fixed with a ameroid constrictor, a mass on his small bowel with bowel resection, she opened and cleaned out his bladder, and neutered him. The mass came back as a Meckel's Diverticulum. Wilson is 11 days post op today and has an appointment to have his staples removed Monday. He is back to his wild little self. This is the most loving, sweetest lil man I have ever owned. I had him 8 weeks before his diagnoses and honestly fell in love with him. It has been a huge amount of money all at once and I was asked by many if I was going to put him down. I told them never, this baby has a 95% chance at living a healthy life. Money is not all there is to life............to have unconditional love is what it is about! I prayed and continue to pray, God has provided thus far and I know He will continue.

[Lolasmom1211]

I'm so glad to read about your little one. I, too, had to have LS surgery done on my baby girl several years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. She is happy and healthy today. Perhaps you would get more responses if you'd post this in the Sick & Injured section. Good luck with your little one and welcome to Yorkie Talk!

[Patti]

Poor little Wilson. I am happy to hear he is back to his wild little self. You're a great owner.

[FirstAssist]

Thank you all so much! I am happy to have found this site. I am still trying to figure it all out, but I'm sure it won't take long (LOL)!

[ladyjane]

My Teddy Bear had the exact same set of circumstances in February ... I will post his link below. He was older but had never had any symptoms at all.

Bless you for taking such good care of your little Wilson! I am sure you will have many years of his unconditional love.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ver-shunt.html

Welcome to YT!

[jeane]

Wilson is very lucky to have you

[MandiesMom]

I am so happy Wilson is healing well after his surgery. Welcome to the forum from a fellow Alabamian

[yorkietalkjilly]

My Tibbe had scintigraphy/sono for possible liver shunt but the tests were negative, though the nuclear-radiologist vet and a consult vet at the test and his two regular vets think he has MVD, but didn't recommend putting him through liver-biopsy confirmation now. Started on the new half-hepatic and half-GI-friendly diet, he is back to his usual self and symptom free since beginning it and coming off the Metronidazole.

I hope your little Wilson has great success with his surgery and think you are such a good mommie for having it done. I've read so many threads here and things online that when done early and not when a dog is very, very ill, it is life-transforming for them.

BTW, are you an RN or PA first assist at surgery? Just wondering.

[lisaly]

You and Winston are so lucky to have each other. The unconditional love from our pups is priceless and everlasting. I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, health, and beautiful memories with Winston.

Welcome to YT. There are so many caring and knowledgeable people in this community. I have had Yorkies in my life for over thirty years, and I still learn so much here. I hope you stick around.

[cocosmybaby]

FirstAssist, Can I ask you a question about your puppy's behaviors before and after the surgery?
My Coco is 17 weeks old and I'm in the process of getting tests done to find out what exactly is going on with her liver. The vet is pretty sure its a liver shunt and will need surgery, I'll know tomorrow.
Did your puppy have any neurological problems? My little girl is having a hard time walking, almost like she is dizzy. I'm told it's due to swelling of the brain because of toxin build ups. I just want to know that she will be able to play and be happy again after the surgery. If your puppy had similar problems, how is he doing now?
Thanks!

[FirstAssist]

I am a Certified Surgical First Assistant for a Urogynecologist. I also assist the other surgeons in the OR when my doctor is not working.
Wilson's symptoms before diagnosis: Looking back now (that I know more about Liver Shunts), he slept a lot. He would get behind the toilet or in small corners and sleep. He never slept for long periods, always moving to a different spot. He never seemed to be able to get comfortable. I also look back and remember that he did not urinate large amounts, mostly dribble. I did not notice any neurological issues. On 6/15/13 he ate well that morning and had 2 bm's, that afternoon he wouldn't eat and I noticed he stopped drinking. Later on he started squatting like he had too urinate with nothing coming out. As the evening passed he got to where he couldn't take a step without doing this. Around 9pm he started whinning when he did it and salivating. At that point I said something is wrong and I took him to the ER. The ER doc did a Xray and ultrasound and thought it was a small bowel obstruction. He looked closer and saw a stone blocking his urethra. They flushed it and gave him IV fluids with pain meds. The ER doc said - he is too young to have bladder stones, I think he could have a LS. They ran all the test and found that he did. The surgeon put him on a ld diet with antibiotics and lactulose. She wanted to have him on this for 2 weeks before surgery, but he obstructed 4 other times within that week. They kept him at the hospital the following weekend and he had the surgery on 6/25/13. He had a extrahepatic shunt repaired with ameroid constrictor, a mass on his small bowel (it was a Meckel's Diverticulum) and had a small bowel reconstruction, she did a Cystotomy (cleaned the stones out of the bladder), and his testicles were undescended so he was neutered. A lot of stuff for a little fellow. He came home a couple of days later and I nursed him. He got his staples out this past Monday, his incision is healing great and he is like a new puppy. He is playful.....all the time. He sleeps in one spot (usually on his back) for longer periods. He is on a schedule with his feedings and meds and sleeps all night in his playpen by my bed. He goes back on 8/12/13 to have his blood work done to check his bile salt acids and see how the liver is functioning. What a blessing he is, and such a blessing to have found this at such an early age. Thank you all so much for you prayers and comments.

[ladyjane]

So happy to see this update.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Sounds as if you were observant, caught it as soon as you were convinced there was a problem and got excellent vetting/surgical treatment. What a blessed little guy to have found his way to you and not one of those families where he's a third or fourth dog in a houseful of little kids or teenagers and parents so busy they barely notice their dogs. He could have gotten so ill he was too far along for any help in time. What a good mommie you are to this little guy and I hope and pray his rehab continues to go well until he is fully recovered. Isn't it the greatest to see those little sickly ones begin to feel better and flourish now that they are getting healthy again and their bodies no longer full of toxins? This is a great report to read and it's wonderful to know there are such great Yorkie owners!