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11-19-2010, 10:22 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: BC, canada
Posts: 117
| bile acid test, ultrasound, protein C test... so for the last few months i have been in and out of the vet with rex due to not eating, losing weight, throwing up etc. a few months back. well he eats like a pig now. and gained all his weight back since i have been cooking for him. no more throwing up of diarrhea. he eats extra lean ground beef brown rice and veggies. we started his test off with a blood panel witch showed a high count of white blood cells. so then that led to a bile acid test his results were Befor 23 high normal 7 After 66 high normal 22 the vet called and said well the numbers don't indicate a shunt. next step was the ultrasound...didn't show a shunt either. nothing has been abnormal . but there was still one more test they wanted to do a protein C test. so Monday i took him for that...well vet called me back today and told me his number showed he had a shunt!? i think she said it was 65%. i don't remember i was so annoyed when i heard "he has a shunt" i blocked everything out. why did 2 test come back showing no shunt? and the protein C came back positive! he is around 3.5 pound and a year and 2 months. :'( my baby means the world to me. im so confused as to what to think now. the vet said she was going to call an internal medicine doctor to see what the next step will be. i just want to know the simple answer YES or NO shunt? i have spent so much money on all these test now what am i suppose to think? what are your thoughts? thank you
__________________ My little man REX xoxo |
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11-20-2010, 08:26 AM | #2 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Those #s don't seem like a shunt to me in terms of a single portosystemic shunt as the postprandial readings usually are over 100 in a single shunt. Your dog may have microscopic shunting known as Hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia or "MVD" which is very common in yorkies. Your vet has given some great advice to see an internal medicine doctor! You should consider making an appointment and letting the internist evaluate AND examine your dog. They will likely recommend a diet change to moderate protein. Many dogs with MVD and even shunt eat Hill's prescription L/D diet. Our dog was on L/D for a while, but she has many other medical problems so did not do well long term on the Hill's. We now home cook for her and her numbers have gone over 100 to normal and she is age 10 Good luck - you'll get to the bottom of this soon.
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11-20-2010, 08:43 AM | #3 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Ultrasounds are only about 60% accurate for finding a shunt and a lot depends on the sonographer. Bile acids tests just give an idea about how the liver is functioning. Usually a number over 100 raises a lot of concern about a shunt being present. That doesn't mean that a lower number means no shunt though. Protein C testing is not the gold standard in diagnosing shunts though. There has been come concern about its accuracy as of late. Seeing an internist would be the best option. Beef should not be used.
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11-20-2010, 11:36 AM | #4 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| I third Ellie May and 107Barney to see an internist. The numbers you have posted tend to indicate MVD as opposed to a single shunt. The internist can help you define the problem and, if it is MVD, can assist you in managing the MVD. Many times, this is done with a special diet and supplements. Lots of us on here manage our dogs with MVD; it certainly is not a death sentence. In the meantime, I would avoid beef and red meat as well; it stresses the liver. Lucy manages on a diet of vegetarian kibble and some regular, but lower protein kibble as well. She can tolerate chicken and fish. Every dog is different and I hope you can find out how best to help yours.
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11-21-2010, 12:07 PM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: BC, canada
Posts: 117
| oh wow really no beef? i didn't know that. what do u suggest then other beef? i think he is allergic to chicken because he seems to get really itchy when he eats it. what kind of fish? or should i just put him back onto a dry diet? The Hill's prescription L/D diet- could i only get this thought my vet? well my vet is calling me back today she talked to an internis.i hope its good news. i will ask my vet if i can get a recommendation for an internis to bring rex to. Thank you all for responding !
__________________ My little man REX xoxo |
11-21-2010, 01:57 PM | #6 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: athens
Posts: 2
| I found out last year that my little guy has a liver shunt and after getting over that bump we were ok for roughly a year. Thursday night he was fine and Friday morning his skin was red with sores all down his spine and the he starts throwing up so off to the vet we go. It appears that we caught it in time this go round (keeping my fingers crossed) for he seems to be responding well. Still has discoloration of the skin we'll know more tomorrow. My question is "What is the life expectancy with this problem?" |
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