My yorkie has liver problems.

[AmyChristine]

You already have gotten alot of wonderful advice. I am really glad you found YT and I would also recomend joining the yahoo group that was posted above. I am sorry for you and your baby, it can be so scary when you find out that they have a liver problem. to both of you.

[107barney]

My Daisy has MVD and eats the Hill's L/D diet. We do not use the dry because it was my understanding that the dry contains ethoxyquin (a possible cancer causing ingredient). I am not sure if the dry L/D still does contain the ethoxyquin these days. We always fed the canned to Daisy for that reason. We also give her a product called Marin which is milk thistle in tablet form. Her dose is 1/4 of a small dog tablet (She is 7.5 lbs). Milk thistle has been shown to regenerate the liver.

We add sweet potatoes, pasta, de-fatted no salt home made chicken broth, in small bits, apples, small amounts of yogurt, cottage cheese, cooked egg whites, blueberries, and steamed green beans to her diet for variety. She usually cannot tolerate much else (no bully sticks or real chews of any kind, no meats, no cookies). You can also bake the canned L/D for snacks but I never bother with this since Daisy can eat the items I just mentioned. We feed Daisy 1/4 can of L/D twice a day she has snacks at lunch time and in the evenings. She's done fine on twice a day feeding but when we first started and were trying to get her #s down, we fed more often as our schedules permitted.

Also, metronidizole (flagyl) is usually prescribed when the dog has diarrhea to take care of an overgrowth of bad bacteria. Adding yogurt to the diet in small amounts (plain only, nothing with artificial sweeteners) can help to put the body back in balance and can actually help the dog to get rid of some of the toxins that have built up due to liver failing to clean all the blood appropriately. We've done this for Daisy and have not had to put her on the flagyl again since her diagnosis at age 6. She is almost 9 now. She has improved over time - one mishap in her diet and we are back to diarrhea and vomiting up bile.

These liver babies have special needs but there is hope and a lot of successful outcomes. I agree that you should join the Liver Shunt/MVD support group. There are alot of helpful tips.

P.S. the bile acids test does seem wrong. We fast Daisy for 12 hours then do a blood draw. After the blood draw, she eats her food. Exactly two hours after eaing, her blood is drawn again. We get two numbers for the BA result.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by 107barney

P.S. the bile acids test does seem wrong. We fast Daisy for 12 hours then do a blood draw. After the blood draw, she eats her food. Exactly two hours after eaing, her blood is drawn again. We get two numbers for the BA result.

Dr. Center updated the protocol years ago and a 12 hour fast is no longer required:

Serum bile acids should be collected Before and 2-hours After a meal (this serves as a provocative challenge initiating bile acid release from the gallbladder, intestinal reabsorption, passage into the portal vein to the liver, and rapid liver extraction from the portal blood). The term Postprandial refers to the after meal sample. Dogs DO NOT need to be fasted for 12-hours to conduct this test. The important issue is to test BEFORE and 2-Hrs after FEEDING to fully evaluate the dogs ability to extract bile acids from the portal circulation.

[107barney]

Dr. Center updated the protocol years ago and a 12 hour fast is no longer required

We fast Daisy for 12 hours so we can run a complete fasting chemistry profile in addition to her bile acids test.

[DAB]

Just saw your post. If you can find the posts I have had here all winter and spring, you can see what my little 2 year old Emma Angel has been through. Long story short: She had a plethora of repeated blood work done (BAT tests, etc.), an ultrasound---waste of money b/c it is not 100% accurate, a scintigarphy test (radioactive dye injected---overnight visit at the hospital required) which is very accurate, and finally surgery to gradually close off the shunt. Emma's surgery was done on June 9th at Tufts University Foster Hospital for Small Aniamals in Grafton, MA----near Boston. The surgery is intense and not w/o risk but the surgeon Emma had at Tufts has an excellent record. She was kept in the hospital's Intensive care unit for 4 days to watch for complications---seizures, blood pressure issues, etc. She is a fighter and came through the surgery with an A+ and is now home and has had her stitches removed. The incision was quite long so the surgeon could see if any organs were compromised. She is on the road to recovery and just stopped taking the Metronidazole this weekend. She had been on it all winter until now to help neutralize the amonia in her system. So I pray that she continues to improve now that she is off the medication. Emma will have another BAT test in about a month. I am a bit anxious as I watch her day by day. She is very peppy and does not seem any worse for wear at this point. The expectation is that she will be better.

The only complication to date is the discovery that she had a dry eye---no tears being produced. This was determined after anesthesia was given and she ended up with an eye ulcer twice which is not common in dogs. The anesthesia does dry out the eyes so the medical personel are careful to lubricate the eyes----Emma's dry eye condition did not allow for the eye to remain most during the proceures were she was given anesthesia hence the suspicion that she had another problem. She is now on Celluvisic tears and a special eye ointment. She may not have a tear duct. Right now her eye looks good with the medication.

Diet: She is now on Iams Low residue kibble and will continue on it for a while maybe forever. Peviously she was on a very high protein premium kibble--EVO which did not agree with her system. As she became sick she was switched to the IAMS. A high protein diet is a big "No. No."

I pray that your little one willl be fine. I did not meet anyone on this forum who had used Tufts University for the LS surgery. I could not go to the University of Tenn or Cornell. My vet is a Tufts person and he reccommended that Emma go there as he said they had a high success rate with the LS surgery. Again. Emma is just one month out of surgery---she is not out of the woods yet as I have to see how she does w/o the meds. Shunts are hereditary.

Is there anyone on this forum whose puppy has had the LS surgery and can tell me how long before the ligated shunt took to close ( I understood a month or so from the surgeon) and whether or not there were any complications. How long before the BAT test was normal? The surgeon did not use the ameroid ring on Emma as he said that the smallest ring was too large for her! he used the cellophane proedure instead---I was surprised as I expected the ring to be used as it has a high success rate. Any comments?

Again, hope your baby gets better.
DAB

[Chance]

I agree with everything Crystal wrote. The supplements, meds, and food. A scintigraphy test is the way they found Chance's liver shunt. I think that will tell if
the shunt is outside the liver or inside the liver. Liver shunts on the outside I think, are
fixable with surgery. If they are inside a think they are treated with supplements, low
protein food, and Lactulose. But this is not a death sentence, but if you don't find out if it is a shunt, and treat it. It will probably short the life of your baby.
Chance had her liver shunt repair at U.T. by Dr. Karen Tobias, she is world known for
liver shunt repair and studies. The web site that was posted so many times is a great
place to find good information, I belong to it, and Chance's story is on LiverShunt.net
Please join Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support There
are so many nice and helpful people on that group.
Sandy and Chance

[Chance]

Hi, My name is Sandy, and Chance, is my Yorkie. She had her liver shunt repaired at U. T. by Dr. Tobias, on March 26, this year. She is on Hills L/D canned food, which she
seems to like very much. I was also told to keep her on Denamarin, which is SamE and
Milk Thistle together, she takes one in the morning on an empty stomach, she can eat
two hours after, but it has to be on an empty stomach. The Denamarin, helps to heal
and repair the damage to the liver caused by the shunt. She also get 1 1/2 cc of
Lactulose, it helps to remove the toxins from the liver, because there is still some
protein in the low protein L/D, and that helps to not work the liver so hard, while the
shunt is being slowly closed.
Chance had the ring used to close her shunt. I have heard of what they used on your baby, but I don't know anything about it. Chance just had her bile acids checked for the first time since her repair, Dr. Tobias said to check them after 3 months and then again after 6 months. I think 2 months is to early to tell much.
Her Bile Acids before her repair was pre--74 and post--77, yesterday they were
Pre--1 and post--40, and the rest of the blood work that was checked before the
repair, was all normal now, that God, he did it all. I was told to keep Chance on
everything I was doing and get her checked again in another 3 months. They said
this was great, because you want the shunt to close off slowly.
What supplements, meds, and food does your baby do? Have you joined the group
that was mentioned? It is Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

[Chance]

Originally Posted by RONLYNN

You really really need to join this group: Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

They are wonderful and so so knowledgeable about everything!!! My Teddi had a liver shunt and they were so helpful and she is now almost 3 years old and completely fine!!!

Was Teddi on Livershunt.net? Was she the one on groomer has it? I'm on
these groups with Chance, my fur baby. She just had her 3 month check
after her shunt repair. If Teddi was on Groomer Has It this year, how did
you think the groomers did on putting a top knot on those dogs? I think I
do a better job of it, do you? I think all of us that do it all the time, thinks
the same though.
Sandy

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Dr. Center updated the protocol years ago and a 12 hour fast is no longer required

We fast Daisy for 12 hours so we can run a complete fasting chemistry profile in addition to her bile acids test.

yes this is what we did as well as like in humans always best to have blood done on a 12 hr fast to get most accurate results - i do this for all blood draws

[DAB]

So happy that Chance is doing well. I was not instructed by the surgeon at Tufts to give Emma anything else but the Metronidazole for a month after surgery. As I wrote in a previous post, a month has passed since her surgery and she is no longer on the medication. I am praying she stays well. Her blood (BAT) will be checked in a month.
The surgeon stated that I should just keep Emma on the IAMS Low Residue kibblle basically forever. He consulted with the nutritionist and then said that even my other yorkie girl, age 5 and healthy, could eat that as well. I wonder if he wants Emma off of medication for while before she has the Bile Acid test again. I really don't know. I am just following instuctions.

Yes, I have joined the Liver shunt suport group but I am receiving many emails! Maybe , too many? However, the informaion is appreciated----I will ask about the lactulose.

Thanks for your comments. Hugs to Chance from Emma!

[smbritton]

OK, first off thanks for all the responses, it has been very educational for me.

In the last few months Scout has had more tests and ultra sounds.

Here is the outcome:

First results after approx 1 month he had put on 1 pound. The Vet said this was great. His Alt's went from 606 to 130. The Vet sent away the Protein C tests and they came back in range? Perfect score.

Now today we have just received the second round of BAT tests and they came back at 198?

What is going on? Two ultra sounds and two Vets can't see a shunt, first ALT score was 606 and is now 130. He has put on over 1 pund of weight over the last month? I honestly thought everything was going to be fine & now tonight I get the news that his BAT came back at 198?

I live in Northern VA 30 miles outside of DC. The Vet has recomended I go to VA Tech to have a MRI done and the glow liquid procedure done.

My dog is full of energy and seems fine?? I'm so scared & confused?

So far I've spent over 2k on tests?

Does he have shunt? His AlT's are now in check, the protein C test came back fine, he is full of energy, pooping fine and totally acting normal?

Only thing is this BAT test results coming back really bad?

What do I do?

[TLC]

He could have MVD. The Protein C test is really good at indicating LS. If the % came back above 75 then he either has MVD or normal, it can't really say fir sure (normal or MVD). Roxy was 165% and her post BAT is 60 to 100, all else is normal and she acts fine.

Yorkieluv has an MVD dog with post BAT in the 300 range.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by smbritton

OK, first off thanks for all the responses, it has been very educational for me.

In the last few months Scout has had more tests and ultra sounds.

Here is the outcome:

First results after approx 1 month he had put on 1 pound. The Vet said this was great. His Alt's went from 606 to 130. The Vet sent away the Protein C tests and they came back in range? Perfect score.

Now today we have just received the second round of BAT tests and they came back at 198?

What is going on? Two ultra sounds and two Vets can't see a shunt, first ALT score was 606 and is now 130. He has put on over 1 pund of weight over the last month? I honestly thought everything was going to be fine & now tonight I get the news that his BAT came back at 198?

I live in Northern VA 30 miles outside of DC. The Vet has recomended I go to VA Tech to have a MRI done and the glow liquid procedure done.

My dog is full of energy and seems fine?? I'm so scared & confused?

So far I've spent over 2k on tests?

Does he have shunt? His AlT's are now in check, the protein C test came back fine, he is full of energy, pooping fine and totally acting normal?

Only thing is this BAT test results coming back really bad?

What do I do?

Asymptomatic MVD?
Why were two ultrasounds done when they aren't very accurate for this?
Have you started using Denosyl or anything?

[Ladymom]

I agree with TLC and Ellie May. He most likely has MVD.

What do you feed him? Are you giving him supplements?

My 13.5 year old Lady has liver disease from nine years of phenobarbital for seizures. Her ALT in September 2008 was 303. It was 298 the year before.

I started home cooking a diet for dogs with liver disease last Fall and added Denosyl. She had been getting milk thistle for years. She just had bloodwork done a few weeks ago and her ALT was down to 79 - perfectly normal!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by smbritton

OK, first off thanks for all the responses, it has been very educational for me.

In the last few months Scout has had more tests and ultra sounds.

Here is the outcome:

First results after approx 1 month he had put on 1 pound. The Vet said this was great. His Alt's went from 606 to 130. The Vet sent away the Protein C tests and they came back in range? Perfect score.

Now today we have just received the second round of BAT tests and they came back at 198?

What is going on? Two ultra sounds and two Vets can't see a shunt, first ALT score was 606 and is now 130. He has put on over 1 pund of weight over the last month? I honestly thought everything was going to be fine & now tonight I get the news that his BAT came back at 198?

I live in Northern VA 30 miles outside of DC. The Vet has recomended I go to VA Tech to have a MRI done and the glow liquid procedure done.

My dog is full of energy and seems fine?? I'm so scared & confused?

So far I've spent over 2k on tests?

Does he have shunt? His AlT's are now in check, the protein C test came back fine, he is full of energy, pooping fine and totally acting normal?

Only thing is this BAT test results coming back really bad?

What do I do?

treat the dog not the blood work - those bats are higher than 100 so normally in liver shunt range but if no head pressing, seizures, not a picky eater, then i would do a low protein diet of 18% protein and take it one day at a time. I would not put the dog through any more testing unless the dog was showing signs of liver disease. I chose not to do scintigraphy which is what they are talking about not mri where they shoot radioactive dye into butt and watch it go through and see if it bypasses the liver - no way i was doing this to my dog unless she showed serious symptoms so i told them no. My dd has mvd but all her post biles were less than 100 and she is on a low protein diet and has been for two years.