Sick yorkie 9 months old, Vet cant figure it out
 

My friend Kim and Steve bought their first house dog with me and my husband in October. The girls were 6 months old at the time, full blooded Yorkies. Great kennel, great people to work with. The girls are cousins mine baby is Carlie 3.8 lbs and Kim's dog is Lexie 3.6 lbs at 6 months. Lexie was 4 lbs on Sunday but is now very sick, Kim and Steve are scared to death. This started early this week.
Monday evening playing hard running and jumping bumped her head, stood up shook her head, done playing. Middle of the night vomited twice.
Tuesday - Lethargic, loss of balance, afternoon perked up played seemed near normal
Wednesday - cant sleep. paces, cant get comfortable, loss of balance
Went to the vet, he thought it was hypoglycemia sorry about the spelling.
Treating Lexie with nutra cal. Blood test show liver enzymes are elevated. Bring her back in two weeks.
Thursday- worse more vomiting, Lexie is miserable doesnt know what she wants. Is eating nurd cal and lean steam ground hamburger with rice. Stools are okay, urinating as well. Cant seem to hold her head up for very long time. It appears her back is hunched like she is in pain, maybe from vomiting. We went out last night to see her, SOMETHING IS WRONG! This dog has been very active and smart quick to train. She paces and lays down paces some more. Did not sleep through night
Friday - Out to the vet early, kept her started IV's. Exray shows no blockages or broken bones. IV's seemed to brighten her a little, she slept on a heating pad at the vet.
Kim is to take her back for in the morning if no signs of improvement they are sending them to Iowa State University in Ames Iowa. Good vets I have used them myself for years. Oh one other thing when Lexie was neutered (Dec 12, 2009), she took forever to heal, allegic to stitches. Antibiotics etc.
Please if you have any ideas or thoughts we need your help, Kim and Steve are so attached to this little girl. Thank you.

Did they do any blood work on her, it almost sounds neurological with the head thing, she definately needs to seen again, hope she is better soon. Is there any way she could of gotten into anything

Blood drawn on Wednesday elevated liver enzymes. Blood drawn today higher liver enzyms and slightly elevated white count. We dont know if she got into something or not. She did attend a childs b-day party on Sunday and I wondered if she was fed chocolate. It is too cold here for spider bites. No mouse poison. Any suggestions?

Did the vet do a bile acids test to check liver function?
It sounds very much like a liver shunt.

If the vet hadn't thought of this after neurologic symptoms and high liver enzymes, they need to find a new vet.

Until the diagnosis is made, this pup needs to come off of all red meat. The ammonia (toxins) that are produced from it can make neurologic symptoms worse in liver compromised dogs.

If she wants to see another vet - I would recommend Dr. Gary Van Englenburg at Iowa Veterinary Acupuncture Clinic in Des Moines - he is Beaverdale on Beaver, just north of Douglas Ave. Here is Dr. Van's website Iowa Veterinary Acupuncture Clinic - Helping cats and dogs live better lives through acupuncture in Des Moines

He was originally a regular vet - now he does it all traditional vet, acupuncture & holistic - he really knows what works best in different situations.

he said the life of one of my dogs when he first opened this practice. A lot of people love Dr. Van - he has a huge referal business. They are open on Saturday - closed on Monday though

I completely agree with Ellie May...

I would definitely have her Bile Acid Tested as these symptoms all make sense with a liver shunt, especially since a blood panel showed elevated liver enzymes.

If it's not the liver, it definitely sounds like something neurological. How hard did she hit her head? She could have injured herself....you might have a neurological exam done as well. Many regular vets can do a basic neurological exam, but of course an actual neurologist would be able to do this and interpret the results best.

Thank you I will keep you posted.

High white blood cells also are a sign of infection. Good luck, I am praying for her.

This sounds like a lot of what happened to my little female we just lost. head down falling over pacing. took to vet hospital they told me they thought she had a pinched nerve in neck and or back. gave her pain meds. next day. she was worse rushed her in to see another vet . said it was in her head. he took blood test a few things read high.gave her a steroid shot and sent her home. she died . they think she had a brain tumer. but we dont know really what it was.

have them check her head for bleeding. if she had hit her head. I know my Minnie played wild with her ball and she too had hit her head a few times and acted like nothing was wrong. I worry and think now I wonder if this had any thing to do with what caused her to die. some thing we will never know.

Ill pray for this baby that she comes out of and gets the care that she needs from the vets. keep us updated.

I am so sorry for your loss..........puppies are angels sometimes here for just a short while.

Thank you.

Possible seizures????

Have her change off the red meat asap. Do boiled chicken and rice if absolutely necessary

I agree with others it sounds like liver shunt. I had a friend with a yorkie with these symptons when she hit her head and her soft spot had not closed. This is a shot in the dark but I though I would mention. (probably not since the spot usually closes in a couple months and yet some never close and then it is a real concern) Hope your friends can get some answers that help.
8 week old yorkshire terrier pup, soft spot in his head? - Yahoo! Answers