ALT is on the main blood panel a cbc - try to get to a neurologist if you can and she does not need lactulose with those numbers actually she needs nothing but a low protein diet is all mine is on for her mvd. Your dog needs a specialist at this point and i really think the neurologist will give you some answers

I think you should see a neurologist as well.

My Ginger has MVD and they thought she had a shunt. Her bile acids were well over 100 and she had many tests and so they were positive it was a shunt but when they opened her, no shunt. Not that every case is the same but she didn't really act like what you are describing here.

I went to UT's hospital and you would think that they are more experience than some vets but they were actually MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than the emergency hospital that Ginger stayed in. They were able to run ANY test that they needed and they had all the facilities to do it as well as run the quickly. So I do highly recommend a university hospital (even if you have to travel).

I wish you the best of luck and I hope you keep us updated. I will keep checking in.

Btw... Debbie (dwerten) .... WOW you have done a lot of great research. Thank you for sharing those links, I have learned a lot. :thumbup: You are one those people who make YT a sweet place. :)

awe thanks Robin :) I always try to help others and really needed that as had a bad week on another group so this made my night thanks as it is nice to feel appreciated - just hate to see anyone hurt or any dog hurting :(

ok i went to see her again this morning. they have started her on the steriod finally and today it did seem like she knew me. this time i took photos of her and i am going to post them here for everyone to look and tell me what you think. i havent talked to the vet today he will not be in until later but i think the shunt is out as a diagnosis. these photos are not pretty but i have a couple of her in better times and now. i called the other vet and they can get her in but she has to have a referral and since the vet wont be in until later i am just playing the waiting game again. i will try to upload these photos.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...13-11201-1.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11211.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...kk/roriee1.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11181.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...91113-1118.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11181.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11191.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11191.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...1113-11201.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...id_image11.jpg

there are the photos.. my beautiful baby girl is very very sick. she did also have a yelping episode but totally calmed down when i held her. she did let me manipulate her to take these photos. i was very very gentle and talked very loving to her. i have prayed these last few days more then i have ever prayed in my life. i did join the gme group on yahoo so i am also going to post the photos there.

Poor baby! I hope you get some answers soon. I will keep her in my good thoughts and prayers

Please post the bile acids results.

her bile results were 34/39 :)

Hmmm, while it is possible that a shunt is present (or MVD), those numbers are reall way too low to be causing these types of symptoms.

But then, they are still too high for a normal dog, especially the pre meal.
Maybe there is more than one thing going on here?

Sure sounds like AAI/AAS - I would get the referral to the Specialist at the Vet School.

While it *could* be a shunt, it sounds more spinal (AAI/AAS), and I wouldn't want to mess around with AAI, they are very, very, very fragile, any wrong movement can break her neck. I would NOT let the Vet manipulate her neck again, not without an Xray to make sure :(

I am looking at these pics and OMG do they bring back memories of Babybear when he was having pain before he broke his neck.. Please Tell the vet that you do not think his diagonses is right and you want to look further into AAI/AAS.. This baby looks like she is in so much pain.. Which is not a good thing.. Please if you bring her home treat her like a litte china doll until you get to see the other doc. her little neck is what is causing her to yelp if it is AAI/AAS. IT is because the vertebra are pinching the spinal cord..That is when Babybear woud yelp I didn't know what was wrong.. he would yelp for no reason but he would want you to rub his neck he would put it in your hand to rub even if you didn't want to... This baby needs to see a Neurologist as soon as you can get the referral and please if you have your baby home for the weekend keep her calm and no playing.. keep her on the steroids but don't forget these will decrease the swelling in the spinal cord and will make your baby feel better.. you baby is not better.. it is like putting a bandage on a broken bone.. so keep her calm. this is from a AAI/AAS mom that has gone through a lot with my Babybear.. Please if you have time go to Dog profile for Wheelie Boy Babybear® , a male Yorkshire Terrier and read Babybear's diary.. You will then see why I am stressing keep her calm..
Please keep us updated.. I will be watching this thread for updates..
Prayers going out to your little one.

i got a message from the vet while i was at work. he said that he is now offically worried because she is not responding to the steriods and seems worse then she was before. omg how can this be happening to my baby? i am crying so hard i can hardly type. i dont know what to do. when i go up to the clinic tomorrow what do i tell him to do? i cant bring her home in the condition she is in. she cant even move. she is stiff and in pain and i am frantic. his words exactly were that he was worried that she is not responding to the steriods.. what is wrong with my baby? omg i cant lose her. i just cant.

She needs to go to the nearest vet school as an emergency tonight in my opinion. She can't wait anymore. There is one in Athens. A regular ER facility may not do much good because they can't do the tests that they need to on site. I'm very sorry. :(

i cant even get to her until tomorrow.. the doctor is not available until then. is there a vet school here in atlanta anywhere?