Words of encouragement, or... anything at all

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by Oscar's Mummy

I was under the impression that such high BAT results kind of ruled out MVD? I thought MVD generally gave results of 100 or lower?

First of all, I am sorry to read that your baby has liver problems...But remember that this is not a death sentence by any means. My yorkie was diagnosed when he was a pup, and here he is at 4 yrs old doing great!! He lives a normal life. The only differences between him and my healthy maltese are that he can't have meat protein like her, he eats 6 times a day to lighten the load on his liver (because he is very symptomatic if not cared for properly) and he has extra things added to his food.

Typically, results under 100 point towards MVD, but I know of several dogs, including my own whose numbers were beyond 300 and they have MVD, not an extrahepatic shunt. Those are only guidelines, they are not numbers that are set in stone.

The next step, in my opinion, would be the protein C test, or if your budget allows, the scintigraphy. This should be done to help determine if there is an extrahepatic shunt. If there is an extrahepatic shunt, surgery is the best option, but the older the dog is, the more dangerous it is to close off the shunt because there are increased risks. I do know of dogs over the age or 2 who have had the surgery done, and they came out okay. Ameroid constrictor should be used.

If the protein C test and scintigraphy point towards MVD, the only way to confirm this is through a biopsy of the liver. This, of course, requires surgery though. If it's likely to be MVD, then you could opt *not* to put her through surgery, since the medical management aspect would be the same regardless.

You are correct about the K/D. This is not a food that should be given to liver compromised dogs because it contains liver and makes the liver work too hard. It produces a lot of ammonia that the liver has trouble filtering.

Please ask your vet for canned L/D or Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14.

You say she is on metronidazole. Do you know if they intend to use it long-term or just for 7-14 days? If they want her on it long-term, then she should be getting a low-dose of it.

The lactulose is important. Your dog should be having 2 soft stools per day. The lactulose dosage should be broken up into 3x per day and the amount should be adjusted so that she has 2 soft stools per day.

[Yorkieluv]

Here's the link to the liver shunt group mentioned before. Please join as you will find it to be extremely helpful. We have a wealth of info in our Files section, and lots of members with a ton of experience.
Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

[Bizzymammabee]

Oh honey I am sending you a ton of prayers. I don't have much info on the shunt stuff but I wanted you to know your both in my prayers.

[Oscar's Mummy]

Thank you all so much for your advice and kind words.

I have to keep reminding myself that she's sick and that I have a decision to make — to look at her, she seems perfectly normal…

[TLC]

Originally Posted by Oscar's Mummy

Thank you all so much for your advice and kind words.

I have to keep reminding myself that she's sick and that I have a decision to make — to look at her, she seems perfectly normal…

I know how you feel....

My Roxy doesn't really have any of the common signs of liver issues, yet she does and now with the proper diet and supplements I can see slight changes in her attitude and behaviors that make me think "Oh - Now I can see back when she must have not been right"

[Oscar's Mummy]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

You are correct about the K/D. This is not a food that should be given to liver compromised dogs because it contains liver and makes the liver work too hard. It produces a lot of ammonia that the liver has trouble filtering.

Please ask your vet for canned L/D or Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14.

You say she is on metronidazole. Do you know if they intend to use it long-term or just for 7-14 days? If they want her on it long-term, then she should be getting a low-dose of it.

The lactulose is important. Your dog should be having 2 soft stools per day. The lactulose dosage should be broken up into 3x per day and the amount should be adjusted so that she has 2 soft stools per day.

Thanks so much - this was all very helpful.

I think I am going to look into the scintigraphy next. I'd rather be sure of what's going on rather than go with the vet's "well, it looks like it's a shunt, but let's open her up to find out for sure" attitude. Just the thought of dropping her off the day of surgery makes me want to bawl, lol! (I cried when I dropped her off for her spay) Plus, $4,000 is a lot of money, especially when I've already paid out that much for Oscar's poor leg this year.

Ruthie only poops once or twice a day — soft (which is grrreat with the long hair! ugh!). She gets .1 ml of metronidazole twice a day and .25ml of lactulose twice a day. I THINK that the doc said I could increase the lactulose if it didn't give her diarrhea. She's doing well so far on those dosages and two small meals of the K/D a day. She's only 2.7lbs…

[bailey12]

Hi. I have a 7 year old dog with MVD, diagnosed at 10 months. He is being manged medically and is doing great. He is on a prescription diet for liver disease and his energy level is great. It is actually better, because food no longer makes him "sick". He is also on Denosyl SD4 daily and this regimen is great for him. Good luck with everything. It's a nerve wracking time and sometimes the info. can be overwhelming. I just wanted you to know there are yorkies out here who are happy and thriving, even with compromised livers! Juliet PS I have family in Toronto!!

[Oscar's Mummy]

Originally Posted by bailey12

Hi. I have a 7 year old dog with MVD, diagnosed at 10 months. He is being manged medically and is doing great. He is on a prescription diet for liver disease and his energy level is great. It is actually better, because food no longer makes him "sick". He is also on Denosyl SD4 daily and this regimen is great for him. Good luck with everything. It's a nerve wracking time and sometimes the info. can be overwhelming. I just wanted you to know there are yorkies out here who are happy and thriving, even with compromised livers! Juliet PS I have family in Toronto!!

You're right, it is really reassuring to hear other people's experiences — and to know that this isn't a 'death sentence'. I love my dogs so much sometimes I think I'm a little nutty...