Thanks...Hoping the vet may have something good to say tomorrow...

Thank you... Tink is maybe the 2nd or 3rd dog I'm aware of with multiple shunting...

Thanks... I'll find out more when I talk to the vet tomorrow morning...

Thanks... Hopefully we'll have some time for fun...

Thank you...

Me too.

I thought the same thing. So sorry, and I am at a loss for words other than to say I'm praying for Tink still.

My heart goes out to you and Tink. I am so sorry that this is the outcome and am praying for a miracle for her.

Thanks.... It really varies in each dog, but he did say no longer than 6-7 years. Tink is 4 1/2 years now, so maybe 1.5 - 2 years longer, optimum.

Thank you... your post made me smile which was kind of hard to do today. Thanks too for the love, and caring for us, and your kind offer to help. Right now, all I can think of is that Tink is going to need a miracle...

Thanks... Multiple shunts occurs when the blood pressure in the liver is too high, so if any shunts are closed off (increasing the pressure even more), more shunts will pop out to relieve the pressure. I haven't heard of it happening to often on here, more frequently it is either MVD or a single shunt. Figures Tink would have to be different...

Thanks... prayers are much appreciated.

Thank you.

I pray that Tink will beat the odds and have more time.

Hi Kathy, My beloved dog, Vivi, also had liver shunt,kidney stones, and congestive heart failure. It was discovered a few months before she turned 2. Dr. Tobias reviewed her records and told my vet that she was surprised that she had survived to that point. It was inoperable and I was told to enjoy the little time I had left with her. I kept the details away from Vivi :)That was over 4 years ago and Vivi lived to see her 6th birthday. She passed away over Thanksgiving but she long outlived her medical diagnosis. It can and does happen so love and cherish your precious Tink and she will surprise you. Many hugs, kathryn

Thank you.

Thanks for sharing Vivi's story...

Thank you for keeping my Tinky in your prayers, my friend. Tink has been full of surprises so far, I can only hope and pray for just a few more...

Update from last night...
 

I intended to post this last night...

I spoke to her care tech, he said she was a bit vocal prior to having the surgery... and that she's doing as expected. They are keeping her quiet and she likes her pain meds. They were going to offer her some food a bit later last night... I'll find out this morning how she's doing and what can be done to help her...


When I dropped her off yesterday morning, she tried to entice strangers to take her home with them.... she even resorted to performing tricks of her own free will in the lobby...

Oh Kathy, I'm so sorry! I misunderstood also - I don't know much about shunts or MVD. Please know that you and Tink are with me in my prayers always.

She sounds like a little warrior, doing tricks and plotting ways to get people to take her home. What a character! When you can, give her gentle get-well YT kisses for us.

Hugs to you both,
Bonny

Thank you so much for the update. I had to smile in spite of myself at that mental picture of Tinkerbell trying to charm people into taking her home with her tricks. I pray that she recovers very quickly from her surgery and that her medical management for her shunts will keep her with you far, far longer than anticipated. Love can work wonders and maybe there is another Yorkie miracle out there for this precious girl. With advances in veterinary medicine coming at such speed, maybe a treatment is on the horizon. Tinkerbell sounds like one in a million. I will be praying that the she beats all the odds and you two have a bright future together.

Thanks... That's my Tinkymoose!:D

Thanks.... I still have hope that something can be done... and if not, we will have a fun time this summer... for starters....

Update from 3/9/11 9:00AM (Day 1 after Surgery)
 

I just got off the phone with Tink's surgeon, he said she did well last night, but is still a bit pinful so he's keeping her on IV fluids and IV pain meds for today. Taking it one day at a time.... Going to try to feed her later.

I asked some difficult questions, the first one I'm sure has been on some minds here too. And that question was: If this surgery had been done 2 years ago, would there have been any difference in the outcome of what we're facing today? And he said, 'No'. Absolutely not. She has Acquired Multiple Shunting, which occurs with Liver Disease, and is usually seen in much older dogs. He doesn't know what has caused this, he may know more when the biopsy results come back, either Friday or Monday. And until those results are known, he can't say exactly how to treat her, so one day at a time....

He said I could visit, but I don't think I should, because she gets so excited. She hates to be left, and thinks no one will be coming back for her. So if she sees me and I don't take her home when I leave, I think this would be more hurtful to her. Hopefully, she's been pretty much in Lalaland and has lost track of time, so maybe not missing me too much.

It's funny and sad, but even when they took her away to get blood the day before she was admitted, the look on her face when she sees me waiting for her is too much, she's always surprised to see I have waited for her. And then she gets so happy. And, yes, I'm talking about being separated for all of 5 minutes!

My other 3 pups are either scared to death that I got rid of Tinky and that they are next, or that Tink really is the bad actor, ring leader, master manipulator... they are on their best behavior, ever. They keep looking for her, and like me, when we hear a squeaky toy we think she is here! All the toys (all 5 million of them, lol!) she thought were hers, hers alone. Even though she's away right now, we don't want to play with them, because she's not here to police them and steal them back from us when we are lucky enough to get hold of one or two.

We kind of hold our own little mini G.E.s here. The other day, a box mysteriously arrived (haha) from PPE, and they all gathered around to check it out. First we got the bunnies in the hat toy, and that was great, except Finny's head got stuck in the hat and she was running around with it stuck on her face for a few minutes.... too funny. Tink is a Squeaky Toy Abuser, and needs rehab.

Well then I pulled out the wild cat cat hut, and I put it on the floor, and they all went over to it and at the same time all stuck their heads in it looking for more toys, like the hat toy (similar to Hide-a-Squirrel). I laughed so hard... then Finny was trying to drag it away with everybody's heads still in it... so I put a bunch of toys in it so they could pick them out. Then, Peek a Boo climbed in it for a nap.

Gosh, I do miss her so much...:(.

Kathy,
I'm so sorry the news wasn't better. I'm so glad that Tink has someone who loves her so much.

Though Tink has been dealt a tough obstacle here, she is blessed to have so much love from you and her siblings. I hope you will make many more happy memories with her, no matter how long she gets to stay on earth.

Hugs and Prayers for all of you!

It's funny and sad, but even when they took her away to get blood the day before she was admitted, the look on her face when she sees me waiting for her is too much, she's always surprised to see I have waited for her. And then she gets so happy. And, yes, I'm talking about being separated for all of 5 minutes!

I, totally, know about the look...Because I'm a wuss, they have to do all procedures (draw blood, give shots, etc.) in another room, from me...Apple makes eye contact w/me all the way out of the room, like she's saying "noooooo, wait a minute, why are you letting them take me"! She's not a very lovey dovey girl, but when she comes back, she makes this little whimpering sound, telling me how glad she is to see me, and fussing at me, all at the same time...Kathy, I've been following this thread, and I pray that tink will be all o.k., very soon...I know this is hard on you (and Tink), but I'm just going to thank God that she will make it through all this, and you'll have a wonderful story of healing for Tink, to tell us...Take care, and God bless You and little Tink...

Thanks..

Thank you.... hoping for a lot more happy memories....

Thank you.

Update from 3/9/11 6:00PM (Day 1 after Surgery)
 

She's doing well, but not showing too much interest in eating yet. If she's still not eating by tomorrow morning, I am going to go see her and try to get her to eat something. Keeping the IVs going through the night...

Bring her something that is her favorite. Think about you and Tink all the time. I am still sending prayers to the Big Guy upstairs.

She may not be eating because of the sedative. It may be making her tummy feel a bit yucky. Give her kisses from me if you go visit.

Hopefully, your visit, if necessary, will start Tink eating...So strange how one pup will do well on pain meds, and not another...Lisaly's description of crying, moaning and being especially needy, is exactly how Apple responded on pain meds...once I took her off them, she was just fine...Cha Cha, on the other hand, just chilled out, remained the same pup, and did just fine...

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. So sorry you both are going through this.

My little Jilly was fretful on pain meds but Tibbe just sleeps through it all to the point that I feel the need to rouse him just to be sure he's not in a comma or something. I pray Tink and you have a better day today. I'm so glad you two have each other. You are giving Tink the best chance there is of living out her many, many days to come with lots of love and special care.

Just checking in on little Miss Tink this morning.

Your post about Tink, her toys and your other babies brought tears to my eyes...she is a lucky girl to have you fighting for her. These special babies are given to us for a reason, and we can clearly see why Tink is with you. I do believe in miracles, and none of us know what is in store for Little Miss Tink - we all just know that you have done and are doing all that you can for her, and I believe she wll have many, many happy days ahead with you. Continued prayers and positive thoughts for both you and Tink ~~~

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers...

Sure will... :D

Thank you...

Tink's a tuffy on the surface, but changes immediately to a big baby when she's hurting... and always, always vocal about everything.

Thanks...

Thank you...