I agree with this. I would be asking BOTH the Vet and Specialist WHY they want to do a Biospy??? What are they to gain? (beside more money for this invasive surgery :eek:). Because if they both come back and say, well to confirm MVD, then I would advise you to think long and hard about that. And then I would say, ok, if you did the biopsy, and MVD was confirmed, than what???? They would say Diet and Supplement....So you have to figure out if it is worth it or not :confused:

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Also, Liver Biopsy can be risky even on a healthy liver, risk of bleeding, infection, etc. If I remember correctly, the liver is one of the worst areas, if not the worst area to biopsy from, more danger of complications than any other biopsy procedure. You will have to weigh the benefits of info gained from the biopsy against the risks involved. And you don't have enough information to make that decision at this time, without speaking to your vet and/or the specialist.

My little one has liver issues too, but controlling with L/D food and she's doing so much better - only good thoughts and prayers for you!!! :animal36

Hate to keep bugging you, but

If you're like an A type personality, if you have an insatiable 'need to know' thing going on, that can be a problem for you. That was my problem. I was ready to see this thing through to the end... definitive diagnosis and treatment and/or surgery... whatever it takes. Sit back ...run all those tests and give me answers and fix my baby!

I have a good vet who likes to not spend my money unneccessarily. We did go 'round a bit till he got through my hardheadedness, and I accepted the fact that basically all liver disease is treated the same way. If it's inoperable (MVD), you use diet and medication, regardless of what it is. If it's operable, you operate and go from there. Now, if there's a shunt and they operate, at that point it would be helpful to know if the pup has MVD also, but even then, follow up bloodwork will tell you that.

Hope this was helpful to you, if not, then maybe someone following this thread can benefit... and the very Best of Luck to you... Liver Disease Sucks!

Ok, BUT, did you have the scintography (sp) to rule out a shunt? That's my big question too. Lucy's numbers are not over 100 - so certainly not a definitive shunt.

Suppose we re-test and they are the same - in the 50's.

Is Scintography my next step? Or just diet management?

I think you need read about the Scintography test, as it is pretty intense too. Personally, I have not gone that route with Roxy. Her post numbers IMO are not high enough to indicate shunt (60 to 100), plus she doesn't show any of the 'major' symptoms of LS, so I decided to medically manage, and she is doing fine.

Well that's very helpful. My vet is saying scintography after the next test and I'm wondering if that is necessary as well.

If her numbers indicate - we should just assume she has MVD and proceed accordingly. It seems simple and clear-cut and people have good results on the right foods with the right supplements.

A Scintigraphy is very accurate in finding a shunt, so if a shunt is truly suspected, than I say go for it, especially if surgery to repair the shunt is the next step. However, you can not repair or fix MVD. You can only Medically Manage MVD. It really depends on wether you need a 100% Answer that YES it is MVD. I was ok (so is my Vet and Specialist) with basing Roxy having MVD from her "numerous" high BATs, Protein C test, and the barely visible symptoms that she displays. I didn't need that "true" confirmation of MVD, because how we proceeded with her life long after care was going to be the exact same regardless. But that's me :p

Well that sounds quite reasonable to me. In fact, that's going to be my plan depending on the outcome of her next tests in 2 weeks. Hopefully, my Vet will be on board. Lucy has no real symptoms either - other than 1 isolated incident - and an elevated BAT.

I was using Animal Medical Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan... I was seeing Dr. Cook but they have a number of specialists there, it is a very large hospital... they have a website you can poke around a little if your interested.

I have also heard good things about Veterinary Specialists in the Hells Kitchen Area of NYC... I used their emergency service once with another dog and they were very nice but I have no experience with their specialists although I have heard when compared to AMC they are more expensive. AMC basically trained all their doctors though, so either way you are getting great doctors.

Okay, well I just got back to this thread... and hadnt had a chance to reply... I am not doing surgery on my dog for my own wellbeing... I am doing everything that is best for her. My vet is very good too... your not the only one with a good vet... my vet is not trying to get money out of me... she is not set on doing this biopsy, she has provided me with the options, she has consulted with specialists and she is telling me what she thinks is best.

You make the choices you think are best for your dog and I will make the choices I think are best for mine... go play psychiatrist with someone else.

wow did not know this as always thought liver was most forgiving organ as it can regenerate itself - good to know

if no symptoms and posts below 100 I would not put my dog through scintigraphy it is radioactive dye so i would only do if my dog was over 100

100% agree

i always thought scintigraphy was 100% accurate until Ginger as scintigraphy at dr tobias showed shunt they opened her up no shunt :( although i feel it is more accurate than ultrasound and protein c test I was shocked on Ginger that it showed yes and then nothing when they operated so that really bummed me out :(

what isolated incident ? What was pre and post bat? was it a seizure?