New Owner of a 7 week old yorkie I think he is sick

[busterbrown1]

Ok, I just talked to a different vet at the same facility. He said that he doesn't think it is low blood sugar because if it was he would have been acting better by now. He wants us to bring him in first thing in the morning for a full blood panel. He said that just by what I have said he thinks it sounds like a porto-systemic shunt (liver shunt). When we were feeding him the Hawaiian Delight baby food mixed with cottage cheese he looked like he was doing better but, when I switched to a protein based canned soft puppy food he looks terrible again. This would make sence if he has the liver shunt. We will know more in the morning. We just want to know what is wrong so we can treat his condition properly. Thank you so much for all of your support and advise. We greatly appreciate it!

[Ashley V]

Poor baby. I hope it's not a liver shunt, but I have a feeling it is. I'm glad he has you for a family!

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by manolos mom

You can buy puppy goat milk at petsmart. Its about 7 bucks a can and all my pups also loved it...

WOW that's about twice the cost of the grocery store.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Ok, I just talked to a different vet at the same facility. He said that he doesn't think it is low blood sugar because if it was he would have been acting better by now. He wants us to bring him in first thing in the morning for a full blood panel. He said that just by what I have said he thinks it sounds like a porto-systemic shunt (liver shunt). When we were feeding him the Hawaiian Delight baby food mixed with cottage cheese he looked like he was doing better but, when I switched to a protein based canned soft puppy food he looks terrible again. This would make sence if he has the liver shunt. We will know more in the morning. We just want to know what is wrong so we can treat his condition properly. Thank you so much for all of your support and advise. We greatly appreciate it!

I hope it's not liver shunt. but at least you would know what you are dealing with.

JMO But.....I would go back to the petstore and let them know and ask for a refund. AND HELL NO I'M NOT GIVING THE PUPPY BACK, WHY WOULD YOU WANT A SICK PUPPY BACK. And if you don't give me a refund I'm calling the Local TV station.

[mscat]

How is Buster doing now? Is he going to be ok during the night? i know las night was very rough for him. Has he eaten for you guys? Has the vet explained that there are 2 different types of Liver shunts?
I will be praying for Buster and my thoughts are with him and his new family.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Ok, I just talked to a different vet at the same facility. He said that he doesn't think it is low blood sugar because if it was he would have been acting better by now. He wants us to bring him in first thing in the morning for a full blood panel. He said that just by what I have said he thinks it sounds like a porto-systemic shunt (liver shunt). When we were feeding him the Hawaiian Delight baby food mixed with cottage cheese he looked like he was doing better but, when I switched to a protein based canned soft puppy food he looks terrible again. This would make sence if he has the liver shunt. We will know more in the morning. We just want to know what is wrong so we can treat his condition properly. Thank you so much for all of your support and advise. We greatly appreciate it!

Oh, dear. That's what I have been afraid of.

What sort of health guarantee did you get? Missouri doesn't have puppy lemon laws.

Here is a great link from the University of Tennessee about liver shunts. The U of T did the study that found that Yorkies were 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined.

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

[manolos mom]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

I hope it's not liver shunt. but at least you would know what you are dealing with.

JMO But.....I would go back to the petstore and let them know and ask for a refund. AND HELL NO I'M NOT GIVING THE PUPPY BACK, WHY WOULD YOU WANT A SICK PUPPY BACK. And if you don't give me a refund I'm calling the Local TV station.

You go girl.....My exact words...Dont give up this pup to the pet store or the breeder, because sure enough they will euthinize him....Get Buster to the vet and deal with these crook breeders and petstore later.....Love is on your way.......Lissette

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Ok, I just talked to a different vet at the same facility. He said that he doesn't think it is low blood sugar because if it was he would have been acting better by now. He wants us to bring him in first thing in the morning for a full blood panel. He said that just by what I have said he thinks it sounds like a porto-systemic shunt (liver shunt). When we were feeding him the Hawaiian Delight baby food mixed with cottage cheese he looked like he was doing better but, when I switched to a protein based canned soft puppy food he looks terrible again. This would make sence if he has the liver shunt. We will know more in the morning. We just want to know what is wrong so we can treat his condition properly. Thank you so much for all of your support and advise. We greatly appreciate it!

that's what I was afraid of I know bile acid tests are recommended for a 20 week or older puppy for most accurate results, but if you have a puppy with obvious symptoms, I'd have one done. I hope they are able to get him stablilized and figure out what's going on with him. I know this has to be so draining on you too...what was supposed to be a happy time for you has turned into a scary one.

Originally Posted by JeanieK

I hope it's not liver shunt. but at least you would know what you are dealing with.

JMO But.....I would go back to the petstore and let them know and ask for a refund. AND HELL NO I'M NOT GIVING THE PUPPY BACK, WHY WOULD YOU WANT A SICK PUPPY BACK. And if you don't give me a refund I'm calling the Local TV station.

exactly. they shouldn't be able to get away with selling a sick puppy. They really ought to give you a refund to go toward his vet bills

[Patti]

I am so sorry your baby is still sick. Hopefully you will get some answers tomorrow.

[manolos mom]

How is Buster doing now..... Just worried....

[Woogie Man]

From your earlier post, it sounds like Buster is very weak. No matter what the vet told you on the phone, you must consider his condition an emergency at this point. It is not a certainty that he'll make it through the night unless he gets some nutrition. If he can't stand, you're likely to see this progress into seizures and/or coma. He is much too weak to eat on his own and would now have to be force fed. If you aren't able to get something in him or if he doesn't respond well when you do, you should see a vet tonight and not wait until tomorrow. Yes, it is THAT serious.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

From your earlier post, it sounds like Buster is very weak. No matter what the vet told you on the phone, you must consider his condition an emergency at this point. It is not a certainty that he'll make it through the night unless he gets some nutrition. If he can't stand, you're likely to see this progress into seizures and/or coma. He is much too weak to eat on his own and would now have to be force fed. If you aren't able to get something in him or if he doesn't respond well when you do, you should see a vet tonight and not wait until tomorrow. Yes, it is THAT serious.

I agree. This little guy needs to be on an IV at this point, I think.

What a horrible, horrible situation for Buster's new parents. I hate puppymills and pet shops.

[maximillion1]

Buster is a fighter, you can tell by the first and last name and family too!!! Good luck with everything...I agree with the previous post, once Buster is better start calling your local news and even your congress...I have to admit before Max came into my life, I didn't think much either way about dogs, but this is really upsetting to me and everyone else on this post and I can only imagine what you are going through at this point.


send Buster our love from Max and Keyona

[busterbrown1]

Well it is 10:00 here and he is looking good again. I came home after work and it was like all the hard work down the drain. He was floored. My wife called the vet as she said and he told us about the shunt and he didn't need the bad protein of the soft food. He said that was prob the prob so we stoped the soft and went straight back to the baby food and plite. He is back on his feet and walking around. I hate it that he may have a shunt but I am glad we have a shot at a solution. I called the breeder last night and told him that the dog was sick when we bought him and he claims that he is gonna get with the pet store and try to help us out. If he has shunts I will be on him hard about a refund. No I will sacrafice the money over giving him back. If he doesn't do right I will be taking him to small claims court. I haven't ever taken anyone to court but this could be the first. I am not gonna make this an easy experience for him as he did the same to my fam. Unless he does the right thing. I told my wife that if he gets away with this it will be easy for him to do it again. It's not about the money at this point but it is about the point that if I stand on him he might make better choices next time he thinks about selling a sick pup. Like the vet said if he was having to feed him cottage cheese and hawian delight baby food before we got him then there was a prob from the get go and the breeder prob knew all about it or had an idea. Thanks everyone.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Well it is 10:00 here and he is looking good again. I came home after work and it was like all the hard work down the drain. He was floored. My wife called the vet as she said and he told us about the shunt and he didn't need the bad protein of the soft food. He said that was prob the prob so we stoped the soft and went straight back to the baby food and plite. He is back on his feet and walking around. I hate it that he may have a shunt but I am glad we have a shot at a solution. I called the breeder last night and told him that the dog was sick when we bought him and he claims that he is gonna get with the pet store and try to help us out. If he has shunts I will be on him hard about a refund. No I will sacrafice the money over giving him back. If he doesn't do right I will be taking him to small claims court. I haven't ever taken anyone to court but this could be the first. I am not gonna make this an easy experience for him as he did the same to my fam. Unless he does the right thing. I told my wife that if he gets away with this it will be easy for him to do it again. It's not about the money at this point but it is about the point that if I stand on him he might make better choices next time he thinks about selling a sick pup. Like the vet said if he was having to feed him cottage cheese and hawian delight baby food before we got him then there was a prob from the get go and the breeder prob knew all about it or had an idea. Thanks everyone.

Buster and all his relatives who are suffering in the mill he came from to produce more Busters have found a great advocate! You can make things pretty difficult for this man because it is illegal for the wholesalers/puppymills to sell puppies to pet shops before they are eight weeks old. If he isn't even licensed by the USDA, he is really in big trouble.

Have you checked to see if his name is on the USDA "puppymill" list?

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/ListA2006.pdf

Keep a diary of everything, all conversations, save all your receipts, etc. As you say, you can probably take him to small claims court. Unfortunately, the best you could get would be a refund of his purchase price and if he has a shunt, his vet bills will be much more.

If Buster does have a shunt, it's the protein in the meat that he can't eat. He still needs protein to stabilize his blood sugar, but it has to be the right kind of protein. Cottage cheese and eggs are excellent choices. Fiber helps flush toxins out of his body since his liver may not be able to sorown rice or oatmeal would be great, too.