Liver shunt/mvd - dr center

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Lolasmom1211

Yes, Dr. Tobias did a liver biopsy and everything came back normal. I retested Lola in May, about 12 weeks after surgery. Her numbers had been reduced by half but were still high. I was told to wait another 3 months and retest in September. If Lola's numbers are normal, she will not have to be on any special diet or meds. If her numbers are still high, I will just continue to feed her a low protein food and squirt lactulose on her food three times a day and forget about retesting her anymore. Buying a bag of vegeterian food is really no harder to buy than high protein food! And....I save on vaccinations, too!

that is wonderful so glad she is doing much better and hope she is lower the next time love hearing successful stories with liver babies

[TLC]

I have heard that LS babies should continue on a special diet (at least Veggie Formula) forever. Even if the BAT returns to normal, you can still stress the liver function by adding too much animal protein.

I have also heard that Dr. Center (depending on case by case basis, and based on her research, may not recommend LS surgery all the time). For ex. I think her studies show that Maltese run a greater risk of shooting more shunts after surgery, so she may suggest to try to Medically Manage first

[Lolasmom1211]

Originally Posted by TLC

I have heard that LS babies should continue on a special diet (at least Veggie Formula) forever. Even if the BAT returns to normal, you can still stress the liver function by adding too much animal protein.

I have also heard that Dr. Center (depending on case by case basis, and based on her research, may not recommend LS surgery all the time). For ex. I think her studies show that Maltese run a greater risk of shooting more shunts after surgery, so she may suggest to try to Medically Manage first

I have no idea about any other protocol for liver shunts / possible liver shunt. I know we had a high BAT (pre - 13, post - 237) at the end of Feb., took Lola straight to Dr. Tobias at the beginninig of March and had the surgery performed at that time. I thought Lola was totally asymptomatic until I had her shunt repaired...then I realized she was exhibiting symptoms that I was totally unaware of. She is like a totally different dog now. I was told by UT if her bile acids returned to normal, that she could return to normal foods. Lola's shunt was congenital from my understanding. I can understand that reasoning if they were acquired shunts, but for something that was congenital, that would not make sense to me. But, and that is a BIG but, I am no vet or MD, so I will by all means check with UT before I change her diet at all. Thanks!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by TLC

I have heard that LS babies should continue on a special diet (at least Veggie Formula) forever. Even if the BAT returns to normal, you can still stress the liver function by adding too much animal protein.

I have also heard that Dr. Center (depending on case by case basis, and based on her research, may not recommend LS surgery all the time). For ex. I think her studies show that Maltese run a greater risk of shooting more shunts after surgery, so she may suggest to try to Medically Manage first

ok as this person is a maltese person so may be why she said this in the maltese breed - also i have read that maltese test high on bile acids normally but centers says this is not true but read this on liver shunt group a few years ago. I never tested my dex who is a yorkie or my demi who is a maltese and they are both 5

[dwerten]

can they still acquire shunts after repairing the one shunt if only one?

[TLC]

Originally Posted by dwerten

can they still acquire shunts after repairing the one shunt if only one?

I don't know her whole study, but I do know that she says Maltese and Yorkies are different when it comes to shunts.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by TLC

I don't know her whole study, but I do know that she says Maltese and Yorkies are different when it comes to shunts.

ok thanks so much as i think that is why she was stating that but have you noticed that in what you have seen on liver shunt mvd group on yahoo as i have not been on in a while

[Lolasmom1211]

This is all very confusing to me....it's funny how quickly you learn about it when it happens to your baby! If Lola's numbers are still high in September, I guess I will educate myself on MVD, as it wll point towards her having that diagnosis. Until then, I am thinking positive and hoping that her numbers will come back normal and I can get back to feeding everyone the same thing at the same time! If not, we'll continue to do the best we can - there is nothing we won't try to do for this sweet baby girl!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Lolasmom1211

This is all very confusing to me....it's funny how quickly you learn about it when it happens to your baby! If Lola's numbers are still high in September, I guess I will educate myself on MVD, as it wll point towards her having that diagnosis. Until then, I am thinking positive and hoping that her numbers will come back normal and I can get back to feeding everyone the same thing at the same time! If not, we'll continue to do the best we can - there is nothing we won't try to do for this sweet baby girl!

they probably biopsied her liver at time of shunt surgery so check paperwork as i am sure they did if tobias did the surgery - they biopsy the liver at same time since already in there to make sure no mvd so you may want to call and confirm as this is pretty routine in preparing a shunt

[TLC]

Originally Posted by dwerten

ok thanks so much as i think that is why she was stating that but have you noticed that in what you have seen on liver shunt mvd group on yahoo as i have not been on in a while

I do belong to that group as well, but I am more active on the Dog Liver Disease yahoo group. And yes, on that group there is a member that took a Maltese pup to Dr. Ceneter with a confirmed shunt. Dr. Center suggested to manage medically bc of her research of LS and the Maltese breed. I do not know much about the study though.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by TLC

I do belong to that group as well, but I am more active on the Dog Liver Disease yahoo group. And yes, on that group there is a member that took a Maltese pup to Dr. Ceneter with a confirmed shunt. Dr. Center suggested to manage medically bc of her research of LS and the Maltese breed. I do not know much about the study though.

ok anyway they can send you the info to post from that maltese owner. I would be curious to know more about it as i have a maltese as well although she is fine and 5 years old. I am on that group too - i actually referred sheree to first group and she adopted harley from olga so she has gabby and harley now both liver shunt survivors I do not read much on it anymore as mvd is the least of my worries with dd as she has horrible allergies so that is my main focus but always try to help with what i can on the maltese and yorkie groups i am on as feel so bad for owners with these sick babies as have been there

[dwerten]

Genome Barks

above is an interview with dr center - found it interesting