Liver Shunt Confirmed - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

drabinowitz43 · 03-05-2009, 07:10 PM

I forgot to mention that he also has kidney stones, which relates to his liver impairment.

Ellie May · 03-05-2009, 07:25 PM

If it is very important that they be able to continue grazing, you could ask your vet if the healthy dog could have the RC with added protein. I wouldn't but it's an option.

Do you mean ammonium urate stones? If yes then he should eat all low purine foods also.

drabinowitz43 · 03-05-2009, 07:44 PM

What is low purine food?

MyFairLacy · 03-05-2009, 07:54 PM

I'm so sorry about Joey

I know the vet bills do add up so fast and it does get expensive. I've spent about $1800 in the last month on diagnosing Lacy so I understand...and I know shunt surgery costs even more. I know it can be hard to come up with the money all at once but if you'd be able to pay it off overtime, maybe you can find a credit card that doesn't incur any interest for 6 months to a year or maybe the vet school you go to will let you make payments? I know here at A&M they require about half the initial amount as a deposit and then let you make payments. I hope you can find something that works for you and Joey

AmyChristine · 03-05-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

What is low purine food?

I am so sorry to hear that your baby has a shunt, the whole thing is stressful and scary. You will want to use mostly non meat proteins, eggs, cottage cheese, plant based proteins, white fish is also lower in purines, and chicken is low to moderate. Also, if he is getting diarreah from the lactulose them you can lower the dose just a bit until you get the right ammount, it really does help get the extra toxins out. This is all so hard to go through and alot to take in all at once.

drabinowitz43 · 03-06-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmyChristine

I am so sorry to hear that your baby has a shunt, the whole thing is stressful and scary. You will want to use mostly non meat proteins, eggs, cottage cheese, plant based proteins, white fish is also lower in purines, and chicken is low to moderate. Also, if he is getting diarreah from the lactulose them you can lower the dose just a bit until you get the right ammount, it really does help get the extra toxins out. This is all so hard to go through and alot to take in all at once.

Do you think a healthy dog could eat the prescription diet kibble and I could supplement them both with the proteins you just described? I work full-time, single mom with 3 kids, and I am having trouble with all the juggling. They won't eat in separate rooms, each one is crying to get to the other, ugh! Thanks for your support and everyone else's and for acknowledging this difficult time.

Ellie May · 03-06-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

What is low purine food?

Uric acid is formed from purines.
Liver compromised dogs have trouble processing uric acid.
This can lead to stone formation.
There are list of low, medium, high and very high purine foods on the internet.
Exotic meat is very high.
Whitefish is probably somewhere around high.
Egg white is lower, etc.

AmyChristine · 03-07-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

Do you think a healthy dog could eat the prescription diet kibble and I could supplement them both with the proteins you just described? I work full-time, single mom with 3 kids, and I am having trouble with all the juggling. They won't eat in separate rooms, each one is crying to get to the other, ugh! Thanks for your support and everyone else's and for acknowledging this difficult time.

This is only my opinion from my own experience, If your dog is on a prescription food you shouldn't need to add extra protein in. I give cottage cheese in the morning with his supplements mixed in, about a tablespoon to each of my dogs. But too little protein is not good for a healthy dog and could actually do dammage, so this is the only meal where everyone gets something that is the same. I know that they always want to eat what the other one if having

Then I feed each of them their own foods, offering it up a couple times a day. Ideally you would want to feed a liver compromised dog three to four small meals. but on a busy day mine have been fine with two meals. I would not give my healthy dog prescription, or vice versa.

Now I home cook, so they both get about the same thing but supplements are different and Copper gets less protein, It has taken me quite a while to figure out what is the right amount of this and that for each dog, I also have had alot of help from other good people and a local holistic vet.

Hope that this helps a little, I am still doing alot of learning.

Yorkieluv · 03-09-2009, 06:28 PM

Egg whites and non-fermented milk products (ie. cottage cheese, whey protein, etc.) are generally purine free...

If your dog has ammonium urate stones due to the liver problems, maintaining a low purine diet and drinking lots of water is essential.

The water helps dilute the urine and helps keep the stones from forming.

Feeding my liver compromised yorkie high moisture and low purine foods has kept him from getting ammonium urate stones again. He was a very severe case in that he was passing 20+ stones per day and he hasn't had any stones since I changed his diet a couple of years ago.

He eats no purine rich foods except that he sometimes gets low or non fat stonyfield organic plain yogurt.

Offering small frequent meals is extremely important for these dogs.

drabinowitz43 · 03-09-2009, 06:49 PM

What is his main food source, do you home cook or use prescription food?

Fashionlady · 03-09-2009, 07:09 PM

hope your baby does well

bjh · 03-11-2009, 12:44 PM

I am praying Joey has a successful surgery today. Please keep us posted. Hugs.

Nancy1999 · 03-11-2009, 01:36 PM

My prayers are also with you and Joey.

drabinowitz43 · 03-11-2009, 01:46 PM

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I just got the call that Joey is out of surgery. They were able to completely close off his shunt and he is in the ICU. They said his body temp warmed up really nicely after the surgery and they will monitor him closely all night. It took awhile for the surgeon to get to that undescended testical, but she removed it and his retained baby teeth. She said he is a "real little fighter" and everything went as well as could be expected. I feel so much lighter right now. I will check up on him in a couple of hours.

Ladymom · 03-11-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I just got the call that Joey is out of surgery. They were able to completely close off his shunt and he is in the ICU. They said his body temp warmed up really nicely after the surgery and they will monitor him closely all night. It took awhile for the surgeon to get to that undescended testical, but she removed it and his retained baby teeth. She said he is a "real little fighter" and everything went as well as could be expected. I feel so much lighter right now. I will check up on him in a couple of hours.

Great news! Thanks for updating us!

03-05-2009, 07:10 PM	#16
drabinowitz43 YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 490	I forgot to mention that he also has kidney stones, which relates to his liver impairment. __________________ Donna, Sadie, Joey and Nicky (and Buddy the cockatiel)

03-05-2009, 07:25 PM	#17
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	If it is very important that they be able to continue grazing, you could ask your vet if the healthy dog could have the RC with added protein. I wouldn't but it's an option. Do you mean ammonium urate stones? If yes then he should eat all low purine foods also. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

03-05-2009, 07:44 PM	#18
drabinowitz43 YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 490	What is low purine food? __________________ Donna, Sadie, Joey and Nicky (and Buddy the cockatiel)

03-05-2009, 07:54 PM	#19
MyFairLacy Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 11,003	I'm so sorry about Joey I know the vet bills do add up so fast and it does get expensive. I've spent about $1800 in the last month on diagnosing Lacy so I understand...and I know shunt surgery costs even more. I know it can be hard to come up with the money all at once but if you'd be able to pay it off overtime, maybe you can find a credit card that doesn't incur any interest for 6 months to a year or maybe the vet school you go to will let you make payments? I know here at A&M they require about half the initial amount as a deposit and then let you make payments. I hope you can find something that works for you and Joey __________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.

03-09-2009, 06:28 PM	#24
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	Egg whites and non-fermented milk products (ie. cottage cheese, whey protein, etc.) are generally purine free... If your dog has ammonium urate stones due to the liver problems, maintaining a low purine diet and drinking lots of water is essential. The water helps dilute the urine and helps keep the stones from forming. Feeding my liver compromised yorkie high moisture and low purine foods has kept him from getting ammonium urate stones again. He was a very severe case in that he was passing 20+ stones per day and he hasn't had any stones since I changed his diet a couple of years ago. He eats no purine rich foods except that he sometimes gets low or non fat stonyfield organic plain yogurt. Offering small frequent meals is extremely important for these dogs. __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

03-09-2009, 06:49 PM	#25
drabinowitz43 YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 490	What is his main food source, do you home cook or use prescription food? __________________ Donna, Sadie, Joey and Nicky (and Buddy the cockatiel)

03-09-2009, 07:09 PM	#26
Fashionlady Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palm Beach,Fl,Usa Posts: 115	hope your baby does well

03-11-2009, 12:44 PM	#27
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	I am praying Joey has a successful surgery today. Please keep us posted. Hugs.

03-11-2009, 01:36 PM	#28
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	My prayers are also with you and Joey. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

03-11-2009, 01:46 PM	#29
drabinowitz43 YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 490	Joey is out of surgery Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I just got the call that Joey is out of surgery. They were able to completely close off his shunt and he is in the ICU. They said his body temp warmed up really nicely after the surgery and they will monitor him closely all night. It took awhile for the surgeon to get to that undescended testical, but she removed it and his retained baby teeth. She said he is a "real little fighter" and everything went as well as could be expected. I feel so much lighter right now. I will check up on him in a couple of hours. __________________ Donna, Sadie, Joey and Nicky (and Buddy the cockatiel)