Elevated bile acid test, no physical symptoms My Little Yorkie/Maltese mix Casey is 8 months young. She was recently diagnosed with liver shunts after having a 109 post meal bile acid count and a 18 pre meal count. However, she shows no physical symptoms. She is not underdeveloped, she is not lethargic, no loss of appetite. Anyone know if it is possible it is something other than liver shunt causing the irregular bile acid test results ? |
I'm not sure but think some things can throw off the results. My Cali had Bile acid scores near 100 (92?) and on further testing, ultrasound and liver biopsy she was diagnosed with MVD an internal shunt. She had a very mild case with no symptoms or treatment necessary. She is almost 5 now. I do watch her protein intake. Other should be able to give you some more insight. Maybe retesting in 2 months to see if it is still raised. Hopefully she will be fine. |
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join this group--- Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support@yahoogroups.com go to yahoogroups.com put in Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support and join they will help you alot to understand it all my dog has mvd and i learned alot from them |
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Portal Scintigraphy in Veterinary Medicine |
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Please explain to us what other tests have been done? Have you seen a specialist yet? |
Thanks everyone for all of you insight and the referrals. I am going to schedule her for a scintigraphy test. What is the difference between liver shunt and MVD? |
MVD is when there are microscopic vessels throughout the liver that are causing some of the blood to bypass the liver and not get filtered though, this is what causes the elevated BA, alot of the time MVD dogs are asymptomatic and live normal lives,some just need a diet change, and there are others that are very affected. Portosytemic Shunt (LS) is when there is one larger vessel that causes all or some of the blood to bypass the liver. LS can also vary in severity but usually there are symptoms, and most cases it needs to be corrected for the dog to live a normal life here is a good link that explains more PSVA and MVD Research Summary and another http://www.yorkieangelpatrol.com/mvd.htm |
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MVD MVD My girls first BAT was Pre: 43 and Post: 100.9 After seeing a specialist, doing more blood work, more BATs and her history and lack of "major" shunt symptoms, her Vet and Specialist feel she has MVD. No surgery is needed and no further testing. We maintain her with a special diet, and supplements and special precautions during Vet visits, etc... Your baby may very well have a shunt, but I think you need to breath, do alittle research online about Liver Shunts, MVD, and all the testing involved, so that when you go to a specialist, you can be on the same page, and not waste time and money ;) |
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Since there are no symptoms, I agree with TLC I think that you should go to a specialist, and then redo the BA test. Then let the specialist guide you through the rest of the testing... It is good to know what other test should be done and be familiar with protocol, but it is better if you are working with a vet who also knows. |
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DODDS-RESUME my friend in cali has a liver shunt survivor and her dog did not have any symptoms until after her dog was 1 years old so just because the dog has no symptoms now does not mean they will not occur later :( |
my friend in cali has a liver shunt survivor and her dog did not have any symptoms until after her dog was 1 years old so just because the dog has no symptoms now does not mean they will not occur later :( This is very true - my dog Daisy was diagnosed with MVD at age 6 only when she became sick. |
the gall bladder can contract during blood draw thus showing higher numbers sometimes. The gall bladder contracting can throw off bile acids altogether. Daisy recently had a pre reading that was higher than her post and it was thought that her gall bladder was contracting rather than a change in her status (upon consideration of all the results of liver functioning) |
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Copper\'s BA test are all pre 0-10 and post between 100-120, we thought shunt at first. We had the scintigraphy done, no shunt was visibly, and we are not going to do the biopsy. He manages very well on diet change and suplements. |
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