Baby Chan may have liver shunt!

[bobbigirl]

Hi all,

Sad to say the vet thinks my girl has a liver shunt. We are in the testing phases. Blood work, urine analysis etc. If anyone has experience here please send me your suggestions on what to ask the vet and make sure is done. For instance they want to do an ultra sound but I think I should get the blood work results back first. Maybe save some money because the bloodwork should tell me if she most likely has it or not right? This is going to be an expensive journey so any advice would be great on what to do and in what order! I'm just defeated once again by my love for Baby Chan! I've got lots of reading and research to do! Please reply if you've been through this! Please help!

[Monika]

So sorry to hear. I've been there with the same scare myself so I know the feeling.
I would definitely wait to have bile acid testing first before doing the ultrasound. Good luck to you and Baby Chan!

[bobbigirl]

Originally Posted by Monika

So sorry to hear. I've been there with the same scare myself so I know the feeling.
I would definitely wait to have bile acid testing first before doing the ultrasound. Good luck to you and Baby Chan!

Ok that's what I thought too. Bile acid test first. Are other blood tests required? Urine analysis?

Thanks!

[Ellie May]

Unfortunately, this is one of the major possibilities when Yrokesi present with neuro issues like that.

You would do the blood work. If the bile acids test is off, then you would go see a board certified internal medicine specialist for the next step. If the blood work is fine, this would probably be considered a neuro disorder and you would see a neurologist. Follow the vet's advice until you get blood work results. I'm very sorry. This is not uncommon in Yorkies.

[Princessgrace]

I have been all the way thru this. I did the bile acid test and then went to UT. Unfortunately their ultrasound was down at the time, so we went straight to surgery. Get the ultrasound if you can. When Dr Tobias opened Grace up, she didn't find a shunt (which could have been fixed). She found that Grace had no portal vein. If I would have had the ultrasound first, I wouldn't have paid $1400 for just a spay. Grace lived 4 1/2 happy/healthy years with basically no liver, so a shunt can be dealt with!

[Roxi Ree]

I am going through the same issue with Roxi at this time. When she went in for her spay, bloodwork showed some liver issues, so we cancelled spay. Next was bile acid test...came back a little high. Next we were referred to surgeon/specialist for ultrasound which showed normal liver and he redid bile acid test...still came back a little high once again. Now, because Roxi needed to get spayed, I chose to have exploratory surgery/liver biopsy done at the same time of her spay (August 16). No shunt was found during the surgery. I just got her biopsy results back this morning...mild microvascular dysplasia. I think surgeon and other 2 vets have agreed that all that is needed to do is put Roxi on low protein diet. No need for supplements.

This is just our story. I was a nervous wreck expecting the worst. And yes, it has been quite expensive, but I also have pet insurance (PetPlan) and have already received 2 checks for the bloodwork and ultrasound and waiting on the 3rd for the surgery (this all started July 28). I also applied for CareCredit (payment plan for her surgery bill). Stay positive. Roxi and I are hoping for the best for you and your little one.

[ladyjane]

I am happy that you took her in last night. I know it was stressful for you, but she clearly needed to be seen. So sorry that you are faced with some medical issues with her. Just take it one step at a time.
I will keep you and your pupster in my thoughts and prayers.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am happy that you took her in last night. I know it was stressful for you, but she clearly needed to be seen. So sorry that you are faced with some medical issues with her. Just take it one step at a time.
I will keep you and your pupster in my thoughts and prayers.

I too will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

[bobbigirl]

Originally Posted by Roxi Ree

I am going through the same issue with Roxi at this time. When she went in for her spay, bloodwork showed some liver issues, so we cancelled spay. Next was bile acid test...came back a little high. Next we were referred to surgeon/specialist for ultrasound which showed normal liver and he redid bile acid test...still came back a little high once again. Now, because Roxi needed to get spayed, I chose to have exploratory surgery/liver biopsy done at the same time of her spay (August 16). No shunt was found during the surgery. I just got her biopsy results back this morning...mild microvascular dysplasia. I think surgeon and other 2 vets have agreed that all that is needed to do is put Roxi on low protein diet. No need for supplements.

This is just our story. I was a nervous wreck expecting the worst. And yes, it has been quite expensive, but I also have pet insurance (PetPlan) and have already received 2 checks for the bloodwork and ultrasound and waiting on the 3rd for the surgery (this all started July 28). I also applied for CareCredit (payment plan for her surgery bill). Stay positive. Roxi and I are hoping for the best for you and your little one.

I hope Roxi is ok. My heart goes out to anyone going through this. It hurts so bad to see my girl suffering. She is very out of it and I know she feels like crap. I wish I had insurance. I wonder if it is too late to get on with something like that! I need to research!

[Roxi Ree]

Roxi is doing better. We were lucky because the only sympton Roxi had was her not growing. The surgery has been hard on her (pain medicine has made her sick) and she also had baby teeth pulled, so getting her to eat has been a problem (we had a rough 2 days). But everyday I see a little more of the presurgery Roxi!

Do your research on the insurance. I looked at 5 different plans. I chose PetPlan because they cover genetic diseases...some don't. I'm not sure about the preexisting conditions though.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your baby.

[Roxi Ree]

Oh, and I don't know if you have heard of CareCredit, but it's a credit card for health issues (humans and pets). The emergency hospital gave me the information and it only took 5 minutes on the phone to get credit set up. They have different payment plans...6 months no interest or longer terms but with lower interest rates.

[ladyjane]

The terms with Care Credit vary by provider. It is actually the provider who chooses what rates to offer and Care Credit manages it all.

CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures

It is great to have!

[bobbigirl]

Guys things are looking grim here. My pup is so sick that the vet wants to wait before doing any kind of surgery. She's too weak and frail right now. Also she does not know if Baby Chan will make a good recovery because of the level of toxins in her body and brain. One of the BAT numbers was over 300. She's dropped from 3.5 lbs to 2.8, she is skin and bone right now. Quality of life is compromised. I am faced with a most horrible decision. Please any advice here. I am considering euthanizing my girl. I'm just torn up inside.

[Ellie May]

I'm so very sorry.

Honestly I don't know why the vet said it was okay to feed plain chicken right now. It's not because her liver is having such a hard time. She needs to be on a very low protein diet. Maybe the canned L/D? Either that or an emergency consult with a veterinary nutritionist.

Yes, lactulose orally and an enema are all right. You will need to add in Denosyl and probably milk thistle.

Is this pup under the care of a board certified internal medicine specialist? No surgery would be done yet. She needs to be stabilized first.

[107barney]

I am so sorry to hear about Baby Chan. Is she in the care of a board certified veterinary internist???