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10-14-2008, 11:20 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Liver Shunt or Yorkie Encephalitis? My yorkie is only 2 years old. And over the weekend, we noticed that she was going in circles alot, bumping into things, and not directly looking at us. These are definite things that she doesn't ever do. So Monday comes, and I made an appointment to see the doctor. The vet believes that there are only two things that she could have, Liver Shunt or Yorkie Encephalitis...but without bloodwork or going to see a neurologist, we wouldn't know. So I brought her home before doing anything, so I can discussed our options with my husband. I decided to monitor her even closer now, and maybe in a day or so, I'll decide if we need to do anything. The vet says that Liver Shunting is treatable, but if it's Yorkie Encephalitis, then there's not much we can do, except for keeping her comfortable, and making the surrounding safe for her. My husband is soooo distraught over this. More than I, I believe.
__________________ BluePangTaylorTwix |
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10-14-2008, 11:42 AM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| I'm so sorry. I would do a bile acid test (make sure not to give any meds including for heartworms or fleas about a week or two before the test. These could skew the results). If the bile acid test is abnormal, continue with testing. If it is normal, you could be pretty sure it isn't liver shunt.
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10-14-2008, 12:05 PM | #3 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Quote:
Is that what the blood test is (a bile acid test)? What does the bile acid test, test for?
__________________ BluePangTaylorTwix | |
10-14-2008, 12:21 PM | #4 | |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Quote:
The dog is fasted for 12 hours (this isn't necessary but most vets still do it this way) and a blood sample is drawn. Then they are fed and another sample is drawn two hours later. Before they eat (preprandial) the number should be under about 10 (depending on the lab). After they eat (postprandial) the number should be under 15 or 20 (depending on the lab). A postprandial number over 100 usually indicates a shunt but not always. A postprandial number over 20-40 but under 100 usually indicates microvascular dysplasia (small shunting throughout the liver that is managed by diet and supplements) but just because it is under 100 doesn't mean it can't be a shunt and just because it is over doesn't mean it can't be microvascular dysplasia. Bile acids can go up for anything to do with liver function though, so high numbers don't mean LS and MVD everytime.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 | |
10-14-2008, 12:22 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Quote:
If it is liver shunt you really don't want to wait to get a diagnosis...the sooner treated...the better. The longer the condition goes...the worse the damage could be to her liver. What do you feed her? How's she act after eating?
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com | |
10-14-2008, 12:26 PM | #6 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| I agree with everyone above. The sooner you find out what is wrong the better off she will be BAT (bile acid test) is approx $80 - well worth it as a 'start' to finding out what's wrong. What are you feeding her? |
10-14-2008, 12:31 PM | #7 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Quote:
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10-14-2008, 12:36 PM | #8 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| I know the sooner, the better. The test they are doing is about $130, just bloodwork. And after that, if it's not liver shunt, then she can be recommended to see a neurologist at the University, and that would be even more costly just to find out that her case would just get worse.
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10-14-2008, 12:37 PM | #9 | |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Quote:
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 | |
10-14-2008, 12:43 PM | #10 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Quote:
She seems fine, not suffering, and still listens to commands... It's just soo confusing right now.
__________________ BluePangTaylorTwix | |
10-14-2008, 12:46 PM | #11 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| As a pre-caution - I would put her on a vegetarian dog food. I think wellness makes one. SD and Purina are really not the greatest brands |
10-14-2008, 12:49 PM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Is a vegetarian diet suppose to help with either conditions? I thought Science Diet was pretty good
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10-14-2008, 12:54 PM | #13 | |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| Quote:
Dogs with liver issues need to eat a low but quality protein diet - absolutely no organ meats and beef, lamb and venison should be avoided. "IF" there must be a meat source of protein, chicken is better (but again, no organ meats). So that's why I say, as a pre-caution, I'd change her food. | |
10-14-2008, 12:54 PM | #14 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| I'm so sorry to hear about your baby. I hope whatever she has ends up being treatable. I'm not sure where you are in Georgia, but a GREAT specialty vet near Atlanta is Georgia Veterinary Specialists (located just a few exits up 400) in the Sandy Springs area. They brought my bullmastiff back to life twice and treated him for his lymphoma. They truly are miracle workers. I don't know anything about your vet, but my bullmastiff had just had his annual check-up and given a clean bill of health. Not even two weeks later we were in the ER at GVS and given his cancer diagnosis...it just goes to show that even good vets can miss things. Check them out if you are interested: Georgia Veterinary Specialists
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. Last edited by TresCutePiggies; 10-14-2008 at 12:56 PM. |
10-14-2008, 12:57 PM | #15 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia
Posts: 73
| Quote:
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