My poor Melody
 

I just don't know what to do anymore...

My poor baby is only 9 months old and she began shaking all the time after 3 weeks of having her. I was worried about it so took her to vet, ended up doing bile acid test and full body test. Found out she has Liver Shunt.

I am still paying off Melody. So I do not have money for the surgery or anything. Barely had enough for all the vet visits and tests.

I feel like she is suffering more and more every day. She is so tiny only 2 lbs. She drools, walks all the time into the walls like she is going blind. Trips over her own feet. She doesn't even seem to know what is going on. It breaks my heart to see her doing this daily.

I feed her a super low protein food and just try my best to make her happy. But she is just getting worse.

I told the breeder about her and she offered to take her for me and put her down but I just couldn't do that. So I kept her and the breeder gave me a healthy pup.

I wish I had the money to make her better but right now I am negitive money.
I am starting to think it might be best to just put her down so she is not suffering anymore..but that just breaks my heart to think of it.

I am not sure what to do..any advice would be wonderful.

I'm confused. You do sound concerned and I'm sorry about the Liver shunt :( that's so sad ....and seems to be happening more and more with all the people breeding now - but you took in another puppy when you can't afford the one you already had ? Why ?

I don't want to sound like a jerk - but you need to find a way to treat her. You said she's been sick now for a long time and you've known this

She IS suffering ....but taking in another dog when you had a sick one to me just seems...well.....wrong. (sorry) - cause I don't mean to be judging you but you asked for advise.

Mine would be find a way to treat her - sell things - try to raise money anyway you can.... and if you can't - CALL A RESCUE !! There are many that will take in a puppy that is in danger of being put to sleep for treatable illnesses and if they won't take her maybe can refer you to someone who will. You need to do what's best for the puppy.

There's alot of information on the net and here about Liver Shunt and I hope you can find it in your heart to do the right thing and try to find an alternative to having her put down.

Poor baby. I know you must be upset but you can save her. You just may have to put some effort into finding someone who will take her and get the medical attention she needs rather than letting her suffer.

Good luck.

I am so sorry about poor Melody. There is so much they can do for her if one had the money. If there is no way you can borrow the money to get her better, or take a out a Care Credit card maybe the best thing would be to have a Yorkie Rescue take her over and get her better and adopt her out to someone who can afford any ongoing care. I know how hard that would be but at least she would have a great chance of a long happy life. I would be mad at the breeder for not offering to help with the expenses rather than give you another dog , knowing you can't afford to treat Melody. SHe could have sold the new puppy and given you the money towards Melody's care. I hope you can work something out so Melody does not have to suffer. I feel so bad for both of you.

The longer she has gone without surgery....the more damage that has occurred to her liver. Yes, they do go blind from this. LS is not a death sentence if it's treated unfortunately since you have waited it will be likely she would never fully recover and the most humane thing to do is to end her suffering.

I'm just left tongue-tied over the addition of a second when the first one's medical needs can't be met.

I'm sorry to hear about your sick little Melody, I know it's scary and heartbreaking for you both. With surgery or the proper medication she most likely would do much better if you've not waited too long. The symptoms she's experiencing are all due to the shunt and if repaired hopefully her symptoms would too.

Melody needs to be treated if there is any hope of saving her. Patti suggested Care Credit and I would certainly check into that option. There used to be an organization that would sometimes help with the financial cost of LS surgery, but it could be you would have to surrender her to them. You could also contact United Yorkie Rescue, or other yorkie rescues.

Please don't wait any longer though, get that baby some help, it's not right to make her live in misery.

Btw, who is her breeder if you don't mind sharing? I've never understood how it is supposed to make anything right, when they just want to "replace" the puppy :confused:

There are several things you can do. There is assistance for Liver Shunt puppies. The other thing is to fill out an application at the vets for credit.
If none of these things are in your power, then I would highly recommend you turn your baby into a breed specific rescue.....My gosh she is suffering and you are killing her with everyday she doesn't get the surgery and care. If you wait to long she may not be strong enough to undergo the surgery and die anyway.......Do what is best for this puppy

You can google Dr. Susan Centers and/or Dr Tobias.....both will get back to you and assist you in the best path to take.

Did you know that California has some of the toughest puppy lemon laws in the US? Since liver shunts are hereditary, Melody's breeder is required by law to pay for her treatment up to 1.5 times her purchase price since her condition was discovered within one year of her purchase.

California Lemon Laws for Dogs

Are you aware that Yorkies are 36 times more likely to be born with a hereditary liver shunt than all other breeds combined? Since you took a replacement puppy from the same breeder, the odds are very high that this puppy could have a shunt also.

I am not sure why you would even get a dog when you are "negative money". Even the healthiest dog costs a considerable amount of money over it's lifetime. Toy breeds like Yorkies are especially susceptible to pancreatitis, knee and other joint injuries, etc. What you will do if this puppy has a shunt or needs knee surgery for luxating patellas as so many Yorkies do.

Liver shunts are correctable with surgery. There is no reason why Melody should be put to sleep for a treatable condition. If you cannot afford to care for her, I urge you to relinquish her to a Yorkie rescue group where she can get her surgery and find a family who is able to care for her.

Since the other puppy isn't even paid for yet, I would also urge you to rethink having a dog at this point in your life.

Yorkie angel patrol does not provide financial assistance....there is a lot of helpful info on their site though.

:(...oh man - I was hoping the damage didn't progress like this in such a young puppy - but given her size and symptoms - that does make sense.

To Jinxiee...it's a shame you didn't post here sooner - it could very well be that she'd have been treated and be ok. After reading this - maybe she won't be :(but you really do have to make a decision immediately for her sake if she's suffering so much :(

Please please please, for the sake of this helpless little girl, if you truly love her, turn her over to a rescue immediately, or put her out of her pain peacefully and lovingly. She does not deserve this. She is suffering, from all I can gather from what you have written. forget about yourself, and think about this precious little life, who is living in pain and misery.
Many options have been posted here for you, PLEASE do the right thing and do it immediately for your girl

I know that and the reason I posted it was for the information on it.

Thanks for posting this. I'd forgot about the Lemon Laws.....the owner can print out the lemon laws and present them to the puppy's breeder.

Damn and who is the breeder....it needs to be posted.

Yep, you are so right. This breeder should absolutely be posted. It mght help prevent others from having to go thorough the same thing.

Poor little thing. Hope she finds help.

Your first priority should be to get medical care for that poor puppy, in anyway you can. If you cannot afford medical care for one dog, how are you going to do it for a second dog.

I've never dealt with LS, so I can only go by what others have said on here, the longer you wait, the more damage that is done.

These cases are so sad.

My poor baby is only 9 months old and she began shaking all the time after 3 weeks of having her. I was worried about it so took her to vet, ended up doing bile acid test and full body test. Found out she has Liver Shunt.

ok am I reading this right? you have had the puppy for 9 mos or so and she been shaking for 3 weeks after you got her, you had her tested and found out she had liver shunt, and you never before now try to get her help? why did you wait so long? I am sorry but man I would already done something by now why make her suffer for so long? I can't stand to see my guys suffer for a few hrs with something minor much less a major sickness like this.

Please for her sake do something today and not tomorrow.

I agree; you should do anything in your power to help this puppy. IF you can't financially afford it (and believe me, I understand lack of finance); I would relinquish her to a yorkie rescue. That would be the most kind and loving thing to do for her if you are unable to properly care for her.

I'm watching my puppy suffer right now; and there would be no way I could add a new puppy while she is suffering.

Your breeder would have been better off to return your money in order to help you pay for needed medical care -rather than giving you a new puppy.

I can't see how the breeder would suffer financially to handle it in this manner; either way, she has lost the cost of a puppy - right?

So why not refund the money instead of giving a new puppy. I don't understand this logic.

I wish you the best. Sometimes the right thing to do and the hardest thing to do are one and the same.

OK, for the sake of your baby, you NEED to listen to the folks here.

I understand the pain you are in right now. 5 years ago, we got a puppy from a pet store before we knew about puppy mills. He had a seizure, and we took him to the vet, who diagnosed him with Liver Shunt. While they were going forward to get started with the treatment for him, he was experiencing these exact things that you are talking about now. 2 weeks later (the day we took him to meet his neurologist-vet), that night, he had a HORRIBLE seizure. he was rushed to the ER vet, who had to put him down because they couldn't take him out of the seizure.

You NEED to get Melody help while she can still BE helped. I understand tough financial situations (believe me). But if you can't afford to help your baby, as a pet owner, you have a responsibility to your dog to hand her over to a rescue organization who CAN help her - before it is too late.

Hi Im with the others PLEASE don't let her continue to suffer. if you can not afford her vet care please hand her over to a rescue who can. its the best thing for her. you may love her but cant help her, so please hand her over to a rescue that can they will get her the help she needs then they will find the perfect owner for her. let her have this chance of life. she has suffered way to long already.
the breeder you got her from should of took her back and did what she needed to do to make this baby well. you don't breed them then hand them over to someone and not care about them. as a breeder she needed to do the right thing for the pup she brought into this world.

you say she gave you another pup. how do you know this new pup from her breeding will not also have a LS? please have this pup tested too.


finding a rescue. there are many rescues out there some are wonderful and some not so good. so please research the rescue first before handing her over. you can pm me and I can give you the info on a few rescues I know that will help your baby.
keeping this little one in my prayers.

I applied her for a yorkie rescue.

The breeder is from Nevada, she had a warranty that said she would not refund money but replace puppy worth the same.

Only reason I waited so long was because I was not sure if I could get the money or not.

I love my Melody so much, I am trying to do what I can. I live no where near any rescues or anything but I will try to do something for her.

PLEASE.....Find your girl some help...TODAY!

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine - Liver Shunt Research

Small Animal Clinical Sciences Funds

Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Adoptions and Shop

United Yorkie Rescue - A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Yorkshire Terrier Rescue Organization

Rescue Me Yorkie Rescue

Welcome to Save A Yorkie Rescue, Inc.

Yorkie friends rescue

Yorkie Haven Rescue

Did you read the link I posted about California law? No matter what her warranty said, if she sells a puppy in California she must abide by its laws.

Since Melody has an inherited condition, you are entitled to a refund plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to certifying the her illness, up to her purchase price.

Great information, thank you for posting this!

Go to your vet and get her on medication immediately. She needs to be taking Lactulose ($30.00) (binds ammonia before it gets to the liver) and some kind of Liver supplement like Denamarin ($30.00). These may buy her some time instead of her becoming worse until you can make a decision. Do this NOW!

Don't worry about where you live or whether you are near any right now. Just contact all the rescues that have been posted here for you and go from there. Someone will be able to take her and give her proper care, you have to just act, and act now for the sake of your little furbaby

You need to call your Vet IMMEDIATELY and get this baby on MEDICATIONS NOW. This will help her I will explain later PM me.
call your Vet IMMEDIATELY
call your Vet IMMEDIATELY
call your Vet IMMEDIATELY
call your Vet IMMEDIATELY
call your Vet IMMEDIATELY

Go to your vet and get her on medication immediately. She needs to be taking Lactulose ($30.00) (binds ammonia before it gets to the liver) and some kind of Liver supplement like Denamarin ($30.00). These may buy her some time instead of her becoming worse until you can make a decision. Do this NOW.

Are you still online and on the phone with your vet? If a pharmacy is closer than your vet...have him/her call in a script for the Lactulose get this into her asap! Borrow the money for it from neighbors, family or friends....

do not put her down give her to a rescue and have them give her the surgery as she can have a normal life with the surgery and many rescues will do this no reason to put her down

What rescue have you contacted? Have you heard back from them yet?

Our group does not have any foster homes in your area, but I will be happy to help you find someone if you want.

Its sounds like she has now contacting rescues.


Hun please don't waste time by just applying to their surrender applications.
call the numbers I sent you and talk to them on the phone. your baby is suffering and can not wait any longer. who knows when they can get to their emails or applications. she needs help Today.... the link I sent you has many phone numbers on it. start calling until someone answers. if they cant help try another. good luck don't worry about how close or far they are, many will come and pick them up. if no luck call a few vets many will take them in and help them if you surrender them to them. ....keeping this baby in my prayers.

Please keep us updated on this baby.