My Rosie - in the vet hospital now - YorkieTalk.com Forums

carolekv · 08-20-2009, 07:34 AM

She's been diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt and is being rediagnosed right now at the UGA vet hospital. She just doesn't seem to fit the symptoms described (well partially but it sounds more like hypoglycemia to me) so I am insisting that they rediagnose. But I unexpectedly had to leave her there today and come back and work for the day (which I hate doing right now - I am worried about my puppy). I am really having a hard time with this and I love her so very much. I am trying to be strong. She may have to stay over tonight and go straight into surgery. I just don't get it - she is so lively and seems so fine, so I just don't get it.

RoscoesMommy42 · 08-20-2009, 07:35 AM

Oh I am so sorry. I will be praying for you and your baby. Please keep us updated.

ARCHIE · 08-20-2009, 07:37 AM

I will keep your baby in my thoughts and prayer's today.
Keep up updated.

Ellie May · 08-20-2009, 07:38 AM

I'm sorry about your pup.

What are her symptoms and why did the original vet check for a shunt?
What blood work was done and what were the results?

If she does need surgery, please consider taking her to University of Tennessee. The surgery isn't without risks and they are the best (and most likely the cheapest).

dwerten · 08-20-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolekv

She's been diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt and is being rediagnosed right now at the UGA vet hospital. She just doesn't seem to fit the symptoms described (well partially but it sounds more like hypoglycemia to me) so I am insisting that they rediagnose. But I unexpectedly had to leave her there today and come back and work for the day (which I hate doing right now - I am worried about my puppy). I am really having a hard time with this and I love her so very much. I am trying to be strong. She may have to stay over tonight and go straight into surgery. I just don't get it - she is so lively and seems so fine, so I just don't get it.

hypoglycemia and liver shunt go hand and hand BUT i would take her to dr tobias at university of tennessee for any surgery as just met another liver shunt survivor this week for lunch and she flew from california to tennessee to have it done and it was 1200 and they were excellent and dr tobias is the best surgeon for this- are they near you?

dwerten · 08-20-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I'm sorry about your pup.

What are her symptoms and why did the original vet check for a shunt?
What blood work was done and what were the results?

If she does need surgery, please consider taking her to University of Tennessee. The surgery isn't without risks and they are the best (and most likely the cheapest).

yep just met rhonda and teddi and teddi is 3 now and she had surgery by tobias at 1 and she is doing awesome. I would only let her touch my dog if it had this

dwerten · 08-20-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwerten

yep just met rhonda and teddi and teddi is 3 now and she had surgery by tobias at 1 and she is doing awesome. I would only let her touch my dog if it had this

oh and teddi is 3lbs and just adorable and tobias did the surgery on a real tiny one she said like 1-2lbs and the dog is doing well so please make the trip to her and do not just let anyone do this surgery

carolekv · 08-20-2009, 08:15 AM

Well, I cannot take her to Tennessee, but are you telling me that I should worry about her in the hands of the vet school at UGA???? We just don't have the kind of money to jet around the country and then pay the thousands for the surgery unless there is real risk that NO ONE but Tennessee has ever been able to do this surgery properly. Sorry, but I am very, very sensitive about her right now and this scared me to death to hear this. She is at UGA RIGHT NOW.

kalina82 · 08-20-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolekv

Well, I cannot take her to Tennessee, but are you telling me that I should worry about her in the hands of the vet school at UGA???? We just don't have the kind of money to jet around the country and then pay the thousands for the surgery unless there is real risk that NO ONE but Tennessee has ever been able to do this surgery properly. Sorry, but I am very, very sensitive about her right now and this scared me to death to hear this. She is at UGA RIGHT NOW.

Just make sure you are completely comfortable with the surgeons and doctors there. Dr. Centers is not the only one that can perform the surgery correctly. I do respect what she can do and for what she's done regarding this disease so i am in no way saying she isn't excellent. i know many people here that have had Dr. Centers this surgery on their pets and have had wonderful results.

I just wanted to say that If you trust the doctors that are currently taking care of your pet and it comes to surgery then let them do it. I personally worked for 2 board certified veterinary surgeons and assisted them in doing this surgery on a couple very tiny yorkie and maltese puppies. All the dogs they have done surgery on have had excellent results and are thriving now.

Edit: i just wanted to give you a little piece of mind. I know your very scared right now for your puppy.

carolekv · 08-20-2009, 08:39 AM

Thanks and I'm trying to calm down. (I have to get it together as I am doing a two and a half hour presentation to a prospective client this evening for my company! But right now, and i wouldn't tell my coworkers this, all I care about is Rosie.) I do trust them, but part of it is always blind trust - I'm not a vet and I can't do the diagnosis nor can I stand back there and make sure they do it right. So to a certain extent, I'm going on a gut feeling and recommendations. I've always heard great things about the UGA vet school, and they are 20 minutes drive for me. I had no idea that they'd keep her today - that's part of my upset because now it's too late for me to cancel my work responsibilities, so I just have to suck it up and act like I'm fine in front of these smiling bankers.

kalina82 · 08-20-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolekv

Thanks and I'm trying to calm down. (I have to get it together as I am doing a two and a half hour presentation to a prospective client this evening for my company! But right now, and i wouldn't tell my coworkers this, all I care about is Rosie.) I do trust them, but part of it is always blind trust - I'm not a vet and I can't do the diagnosis nor can I stand back there and make sure they do it right. So to a certain extent, I'm going on a gut feeling and recommendations. I've always heard great things about the UGA vet school, and they are 20 minutes drive for me. I had no idea that they'd keep her today - that's part of my upset because now it's too late for me to cancel my work responsibilities, so I just have to suck it up and act like I'm fine in front of these smiling bankers.

its probably best that they kept her. Its easier for them to do the necessary tests on her without stressing her out too much. I read thru your last post about her and didn't see what tests were done to diagnose the shunt so UGA is probably doing them. A bile acid test takes 2 hours to do. blood is taken, the puppy is fed, and then 2 hours later a little more blood is taken. plus there are a few other tests that can be done to diagnose shunt. so this is probably what they are doing. it takes time. she is in great hands. hopefully its not a shunt at all or maybe its the lesser evil, MVD. my yorkie has MVD but is asymptomatic. I haven't had to change anything for her regarding diet or supplements yet.

Ellie May · 08-20-2009, 08:59 AM

I understand you're very nervous today and it does cost money to go out of state. I can tell you I haven't ever heard any bad stories about UGA. However, for the safety record, UT seems to be the best at this time. That doesn't mean UGA wouldn't do a good job. It just means there are other vets out there with more experience and most likely a higher success rate.

As far as the money, most of these places are going to charge $2000-$3000 minimum for testing and surgery. UT charges less than $2000 for all of it. So many people find that it is cheaper even with travel expenses.

Patti · 08-20-2009, 01:24 PM

I know how terrified you are right now but it sounds like the vets there should do fine and hopefully your baby won't even need surgery. Cali has MVD very mild that was diagnosed with a liver biopsy and major abdominal surgery. The vet was a board certified surgeon and Cali did fine. I have found that they know how scary it is for the owner and will keep you updated as they go along. I will keep her Rosie in my prayers.

dwerten · 08-22-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

Just make sure you are completely comfortable with the surgeons and doctors there. Dr. Centers is not the only one that can perform the surgery correctly. I do respect what she can do and for what she's done regarding this disease so i am in no way saying she isn't excellent. i know many people here that have had Dr. Centers this surgery on their pets and have had wonderful results.

I just wanted to say that If you trust the doctors that are currently taking care of your pet and it comes to surgery then let them do it. I personally worked for 2 board certified veterinary surgeons and assisted them in doing this surgery on a couple very tiny yorkie and maltese puppies. All the dogs they have done surgery on have had excellent results and are thriving now.

Edit: i just wanted to give you a little piece of mind. I know your very scared right now for your puppy.

dr center is an internal medicine specialist and dr tobias is the surgeon that does the surgeries.

how much is surgery at uga as it is 1200 at tennessee and it was 4500-6000 in california so you have to look at the whole cost as to which is cheaper so it is cheaper for us to fly from california to tennessee to have tobias do the surgery here - not sure where you are how much the cost is

dwerten · 08-22-2009, 10:08 AM

dr center is at cornell university and dr tobias is at university of tennessee

08-20-2009, 07:34 AM	#1
carolekv Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Athens, GA, USA Posts: 20	My Rosie - in the vet hospital now She's been diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt and is being rediagnosed right now at the UGA vet hospital. She just doesn't seem to fit the symptoms described (well partially but it sounds more like hypoglycemia to me) so I am insisting that they rediagnose. But I unexpectedly had to leave her there today and come back and work for the day (which I hate doing right now - I am worried about my puppy). I am really having a hard time with this and I love her so very much. I am trying to be strong. She may have to stay over tonight and go straight into surgery. I just don't get it - she is so lively and seems so fine, so I just don't get it. __________________ Rosie and Charley's Mama

08-20-2009, 07:35 AM	#2
RoscoesMommy42 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Morristown, TN Posts: 3,736	Oh I am so sorry. I will be praying for you and your baby. Please keep us updated. __________________ Hello and hugs from Kristie & the furbabies! A world without yorkies is not a very bright one

08-20-2009, 07:38 AM	#4
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	I'm sorry about your pup. What are her symptoms and why did the original vet check for a shunt? What blood work was done and what were the results? If she does need surgery, please consider taking her to University of Tennessee. The surgery isn't without risks and they are the best (and most likely the cheapest). __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

08-20-2009, 08:15 AM	#8
carolekv Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Athens, GA, USA Posts: 20	Well, I cannot take her to Tennessee, but are you telling me that I should worry about her in the hands of the vet school at UGA???? We just don't have the kind of money to jet around the country and then pay the thousands for the surgery unless there is real risk that NO ONE but Tennessee has ever been able to do this surgery properly. Sorry, but I am very, very sensitive about her right now and this scared me to death to hear this. She is at UGA RIGHT NOW. __________________ Rosie and Charley's Mama

08-20-2009, 08:39 AM	#10
carolekv Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Athens, GA, USA Posts: 20	Thanks and I'm trying to calm down. (I have to get it together as I am doing a two and a half hour presentation to a prospective client this evening for my company! But right now, and i wouldn't tell my coworkers this, all I care about is Rosie.) I do trust them, but part of it is always blind trust - I'm not a vet and I can't do the diagnosis nor can I stand back there and make sure they do it right. So to a certain extent, I'm going on a gut feeling and recommendations. I've always heard great things about the UGA vet school, and they are 20 minutes drive for me. I had no idea that they'd keep her today - that's part of my upset because now it's too late for me to cancel my work responsibilities, so I just have to suck it up and act like I'm fine in front of these smiling bankers. __________________ Rosie and Charley's Mama

08-20-2009, 07:37 AM	#3
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	I will keep your baby in my thoughts and prayer's today. Keep up updated.

08-20-2009, 08:59 AM	#12
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	I understand you're very nervous today and it does cost money to go out of state. I can tell you I haven't ever heard any bad stories about UGA. However, for the safety record, UT seems to be the best at this time. That doesn't mean UGA wouldn't do a good job. It just means there are other vets out there with more experience and most likely a higher success rate. As far as the money, most of these places are going to charge $2000-$3000 minimum for testing and surgery. UT charges less than $2000 for all of it. So many people find that it is cheaper even with travel expenses. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

08-20-2009, 01:24 PM	#13
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I know how terrified you are right now but it sounds like the vets there should do fine and hopefully your baby won't even need surgery. Cali has MVD very mild that was diagnosed with a liver biopsy and major abdominal surgery. The vet was a board certified surgeon and Cali did fine. I have found that they know how scary it is for the owner and will keep you updated as they go along. I will keep her Rosie in my prayers. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

08-22-2009, 10:08 AM	#15
dwerten BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 11,073	dr center is at cornell university and dr tobias is at university of tennessee