Liver Shunt Yorie sick
 

Hi Everyone,
My Yorkie, Emma Angel, had surgery to repair her liver shunt on June 9th at Tufts University. She continued on Metronidazole for a month after surgery and has been off of it for a week now. Yesterday she started with bloody soft/ mucus/ very loose stools. It has since progressed to liquid consistency with blood and she is throwing up-----bile and the boiled rice I gave her last night. This morning she refused to eat the rice. She is throwing up bile and just had another horrible bloody/ liquid stool. My vet is not opened on Sunday so I am taking her back to Tufts shortly.

I have read here and on the Liver hunt support forum that many dogs who have the ls surgery begin or remain on lactulose. The surgeon said to keep Emma on the Metronidazole for only a month after surgery then wait another month for a blood draw to check the bile acid level. I admit I am concerned b/c I haven't heard from ANYONE who stopped meds a month after surgery. I am now more worried b/c Emma has not been sick one day when she was on the Metronidazole---and she was on it before the surgery.

Also, some of them feed their babes Hills L/D in the can. My girl is eating IAMS Low Residue kibble and has been on it since she became sick this winter. Tufts sid I should keep her on this kibble. However, no one else on this forum seems to be feeding their LS dogs this food.

Got to leave now----Emma is pooping blood again. Thanks for any advice.

DAB

OMG, Im glad you are taking her to the vet. You need to join the Yahoo support group for liver shunt and mvd. Please keep us updated.

Poor baby, I hope all goes well. Keep us updated.

Oh the poor little thing...postive thoughts being sent your way...

Please let us know how she makes out..

I am so sorry Emma is sick again. Please update us when you get back from Tufts.

Oh no. I am so glad you are on the way to the vets. Praying she will be fine.

Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support@yahoogroups.com

join this group asap they will help you

wish you went to dr tobias :(

Lola had surgery in March at University of TN. She has been on the lactulose since surgery but not the Metronidazole. She is also on the Hills LD and Royal Canine Hepatic 14 dry kibble. I would not think the food would cause her to have thaose problems so suddenly, but I'm certainly no vet. Since she was a patient at Tufts can you call them and ask? Please keep us posted! Good luck!!!

I just read about Emma Angel and be assured of my prayers for her.
Helen, Oliver's Mom

Do you mean the one iwth chicken?
Not sure why they would tell you to use that one but it is not a good choice for a dog who has had LS surgery.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers. Emma was seen at Tufts this afternoon. She was put on IV drip to rehydrate her and given some meds. She had blood tests done and an ultrasound as well.The ultrasound shows that the repaired shunt is intact. Everything looks OK. However, she is still bleeding out her rear end. They have not managed to stop it but have given her metronidazole. She was admitted and willl stay overnight. The ER resident does not believe she needs any surgery as the ultrasound results were good. He did say that the bleeding is not due to any primary problem related to the shunt but there may or then again may not be a secondary problem related to the shunt. They will tell when the blood work results are ready.

She will be at Tufts at least overnight as they try to stop the bleeding. They believe at this hour that the medication will work. Maybe she just ate something she should not have. She is like a little vaccuum cleaner! I need to watch her like a hawk but she is quick. I don't know what to think right now.

Tufts is world renowned for its veterinary care and their state of the art facilities. I could not go to Tennesse to see Dr. Tobias but my surgeon has a very high success rate with LS surgeries. I did join the yahoo liver shunt group----I am receving tons of random emails though--- but some of the information is useful. I will keep you posted. Please say a prayer for her everyone. I am crazy with worry.

DAB

I am so glad Emma is at Tufts and is being cared for. I will pray for her.

I asked this afternoon when I saw the ER doctor at Tufts-----IAMS LOW RESIDUE seems to be OK. I asked about the food, Metronidazole and even lactulose. I was told that usually the Hills LD is given if a dog can't have the surgery to repair the shunt or prior to surgery to help the dog. Lactulose generally is given to dogs who cannot be operated on. That doesn't mean that eventually Emma may have to be on other medication for a while longer. Of course she can't have the lactulose now b/c it does make stools soft/loose----she has liquid bloody stools-----mostly blood. They are trying to stop it---please see my other post. She will stay overnight at Tufts....maybe longer depending on what the blood work says. Ultrasound was done this afternoon and all looks well with the repaired shunt. I am expecting a call tomorrow morning or sooner should something drastic happens. Please pray for my Emma Angel. She just looked so confused when I left her in the hosoital. Kisses to Lola.

DAB

I am so, so sorry to hear about your sweet baby. It seems like these little ones have to go through so much. She is so very lucky to have you as her Mama! You get so much advice, and so many different opinions and although thankful for all of it - sometimes it's so confusing and I'm not ever really sure if I'm doing the right thing or not. I just have to say a little prayer and do my best. Sometimes it seems like we clear one hurdle just in time to jump another...I guess we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other! My little male ate some leaves from my lantana plant in the backyard three days ago and had some mucusy blood in his stools and threw up a few times....he, too, will eat anything. I bet it was something like that Emma got in to. I hope you get some rest tonight - I just know she will come home tomorrow as good as new! Lola, Harley and I send lots of Yorkie kisses and prayers your way tonight. Please keep us posted! ~~~ Valerie

I am keeping Emma in my prayers. Thanks for updating.