Help!
 

This isn't about my Yorkie...I just got a new little baby over 4th of July, little Sparky. He's 4 1/2 months now, at a strapping 6 pounds and doing great! This post is about my Lhasapoo, who is 2, and I'm hoping someone with similar experiences may be able to help me. Everyone on this page seems so nice and helpful, so I didn't know where else to go.

Chewy is 2 yrs. and 4 months. Recently, he's been a bit lethargic and depressed and kinda quiet. I thought this may be due to jealousy with the new puppy, so I didn't make much of it. Then, lately, he started peeing like crazy, tons and tons (but, he doesn't drink alot of water, which is odd, I'm always trying to get him to drink more). Not only did he pee large quantities, his pee has a really strong odor and was very dark yellow, almost orange. This is when I got concerned and brought him to the Vet. But really, the only things I could complain of, are listed above. No fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea, he has a great appetite.

The Vet took X-rays, an ultrasound, a urine sample and blood. The results are as follows: Crystallization (phosphate) in the urine, elevated liver enzymes, protein in the urine, some birilium in the urine (don't know if I'm spelling this correctly). When I got these results from the Vet, I was devastated and panicked! This all sounds horrible.

My Vet's response was to not panic...wait two weeks, do the blood and urine tests again, and do an ultrasound of the abdomen with Chewy sedated so they can get a better view. I don't like this...if its something serious, shouldn't we act fast? He's only two...all this can't be normal, can it?

I would just like to know if anyone has ever ran into a similar situation with their pet, any of the symptoms, what results you had, what I can expect. I'm very nervous...very worried....he's my little angel first baby and my husband and I love him dearly, as does his new baby brother....

The symptoms you describe sound like liver shunt. He would need to have a bile acid test to determine whether or not more testing was needed.

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

i've always been a believer in trusting your vet...if you can trust him/her by now you should have found another one to go to, find someone you feel you can trust and stick by whatever it is they tell you to do....hope that works out for you.

Thanks all...I do trust her. I'm just paranoid about it...I called a friend of the family, a Vet up in Vermont and relayed the symptoms, blood results, etc. and he said he would suggest following the same course of action, so I feel more assured now.

He mentioned to request a bile acid test....so I think I'll do that, and he said while a shunt is possible, it's very rare, but also easily fixable if that is the problem, it just has to be fixed asap.

I'll just keep saying prayers and hoping it is nothing....he's such a little angel....and so so sensitive....:animal36

prayers coming your way from Bailey and I too! please keep us updated!!!! :)

The only problem I see here is if he does have a liver shunt, he will have problems with anesthesia. Don't wait the 2 weeks, call and request the bile acids test to be done prior to anesthesia and the ultrasound. Livershunt.com has good info. Good luck and keep us updated ...

Hi everyone,

We did the second round of blood work and urine tests and the liver enzymes sky-rocketed. ALT was 360, now 950 and AST was 80 and now 267. Obviously, I'm completely devastated and I'm barely getting through all this. My little Chewy is an angel and just the best little doggy and I'm devastated he's going through this. We got the bad results on Saturday and the Vet has been closed over Labor Day...so Chewy is going in tomorrow for his bile acid test and the ultrasound.

I'm going to ask that the bile acid test be done first, and then the sedated ultrasound. My husband and I both work, so we're dropping him off in the AM to get everything done. The Vets and technicians all love him there, so they'll play with him and give him lots of love and kisses. I'm also going to direct my Vet that if she sees anything weird on his liver, that while Chewy is sedated, that she immediately do a biopsy so we don't waste more time and go through another trip to the vet and another round of being sedated....

I'm getting frustrated now and I just want answers! I want to know what is wrong with him, and how we can fix it! He's only 2 yrs. old and I'm flipping out about all of this.

Everyone who reads this, please please say a little prayer for my little boy...I'm in a weird situation....I want them to find nothing, so I know its not something serious like liver disease, liver cancer, or liver shunt...but at the same time, then I'll still be where I am now, confused and clueless as to what is wrong with my little boy.

I know you are frightened and beyond worried with this information.
However, you are doing everything in your power to help your pup.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.

My prayers go out to you and your little baby:aimeeyork