Liver Shunts
 

If it cost 3000+ dollars to save your baby's life, would you do it? What if you didn't have the money? How do you do it then? Scooter is my baby. He is in the hospital now because of a liver shunt. Has anyone run into this problem and what is the prognosis? Any stories good or bad are welcomed. Before I beg, borrow, and sell my soul to the devil I need to know the outcome. Thanks for your time.

Liver shunt is not a death sentence. They can live long healthy lives afterward.

If anyone has had this issue, did you treat it with medicine or surgery? How does the medicine work?

If you can travel to TN, I believe that the University of TN does liver shunt surgery at a lower price than many. Something to think about.

Also, you could apply for Care Credit CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures to pay....but keep in mind that if you use that only some vets accept it. You definitely want a surgeon who is very familiar with LS surgery.

I would definitely beg, borrow and steal for one of mine. Your pup would have a chance at a long life if you get this repaired.

U of Tn does except carecredit i saw a sign posted there for it when my Micah was there

That's good to know! :)

We lost our 5 1/2 month old puppy this past summer due to her having a liver shunt. She got sick quickly and hadn't been diagnosed yet as having a liver shunt and our vet made an error in her treatment and we lost her that day. I would have done anything to save her had we known about the shunt and had the chance to do the surgery on her. I still miss her and think about her everyday!!

I know exactly how you fill. My heart goes to you. I was in your shoes last week. It has been a week yesterday that my baby tazzie had shunt surgery at univ. of Tenn. Dr tobias is wonderful. I didnt have the money either and called the lady i bought him from and ask if she would please take him back because i could not at this afford the surgery and only had him a few months. My umemployment had just ran out, i had just lost a 13 years yorkie MY baby Heidi RIP girl Momma loves you to heart failure, my heart could not take it. Well to make a long story short When i got to UT I told them every dime i had was 2,000. My son loaned me 1.500 and the lady i bought him from gave me rest. Had to stay there to see dr Tues. Tazzie came home fri. He was in icu for 2 days, cos for all was 2,000 at ut. Im like you , I was ready to bum borrow and sale my soal for tazzies. And yes they take care credit that is what i used. Tazzie is doing well. You will not regret it if there is any way to take yours there. Good Luck

Care credit, Credit Union personal loans, family members, health contracts from where you bought him from. These were all avenues then my husband and I considered when Gizmo is getting tested for a possible live shunt. We also have dog insurance on him too, so there are many many many options. Especialy considering, like another poster said, that a liver shunt is not a death sentence.

If it comes to it, you may also consider surrendering this pup to a resuce that can get her the best treatment. I know it's hard to think about, but if you honestly cannot manage the money for a surgery that will help the pup, then you need to put your feelings aside and do what's best for her.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your baby. Please keep us updated.

I was so, so happy that you took Tazzie to UT. I know we have messaged each other and I was out of town last week when you went, but how very lucky HE is to have you in his life! Dr Tobias and UT are wonderful, and the surgery will make a huge difference in Tazzie's little life. Hooray for you!!!

Thank you all for the input. Scooter is resting at home right now. I am taking him to a specialist tomorrow. Care credit is not an option for us. My husband and I just bought a house, and then I lost my job. I found a couple site for assistance that I will have my vet send in for. Giving Scooter up is not an option. My boy was rescued from horrible abuse. He is a 3 pound baby, my baby. I will proceed through with the ultrasound tomorrow and go from there. I've applied for a few jobs today, to take on a second job to try to get money. If his prognosis is good, I will find a way. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. It is truly appreciated.

I am certainly no expert, but please make sure that the ultrasound is the way you want to go in determining the Liver Shunt. If you decide to take your baby to University of TN, they suggest doing a scintigraphy on the yorkies rather than an ultrasound. I'm sure your specialist can tell you, just ask lots of questions! I think you are wonderful for getting your baby the help he needs - it will make a huge difference in his life!

shunt
 

read my message then you know all will be ok:
pennylaneo1

Penny, where is your message?

I just got my girl gabby on labor day this year and she will be one yr old nov 1, in a couple of days. last night we had a horrible night and she scared the crud out of me. she threw up one time and acted like she was having mild seizures. i took her to vet this morning and they want her back monday morning to run more tests on her after fasting, they think she might have liver shunt. I was shocked! especially since she is supposed to come from championship bloodline. i'm really scared and nervous about the whole thing. vet says he can treat her medically and thru special diet, but if it doesn't help her then they would have to do surgery on her. I just got done going through pancreatitis with my boy yorkie over the summer and that was heartbreaking... i cried and cried the whole weekend he was at vet. i went for a visit and leaving him was the hardest thing i had ever experienced. i know that sounds strange but i love my dogs with my whole entire heart and i'm scared and nervous over gabby possibly having shunt problem, but very hopeful that she is healthy enough to overcome this.

:aimeeyork:animal36 I have a little maltese that had surgery. I did ultrasounds & 2 or 3 bile acid tests, & the vet did a liver biopsy, poor sweet little girl, they used staples instead of stitiches so she would not be under so long, she was high risk for the surgery, she is fine now, just keep a watch on her diet & give them lots of love & cuddles, I know that this is a scary thing to go through, I wish you the bestest of luck & prayers that it will all turn out good for you, I know it is alot of money & that is hard also, but it is worth it.... the university of TN is awsonme & also research southern comfort maltese they have awsome information about the liver shunts, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. GOOD LUCK!!!:animal36:animal-pa

Liver shunt
 

Our Gabby had Liver Shunt surgery on Wednesday. We decided we didn't want to live our lives with any regrets and that we must do what we could. Of course the cost is a consideration. I joined some support groups for Liver Shunt and got some great information on diet and surgery. I will be thinking of you and your baby, take care.

Wishing Gabby a speedy recovery! :)

My husband doesn't understand why I have been crying so much over this. We don't have kids so our dogs are our babies. Scooter is especially dear to me. I rescued him from a neglectful home a little over a year ago. He is my little guy. Taren I understand how you feel, I'll keep you and your baby in my thoughts. I have applied for a few grants to see if there is hope to have a permanent solution for my little guy. I'll just pray that something gives somewhere, and I'll be able to pay for the surgery.
LVTYYORKIE....I hope your baby has a speedy recovery.

Just take one day at a time. They can probably get your baby on a low protein diet and some medications that will help until you can decide what to do. Of course you are scared and upset, lots of us have been in the same boat. Know you are not alone. Google Liver Shunt there is information there that you can use to make decisions that are the best for you and your baby. Be strong and educate yourself the best you can. Ill be thinking of you and saying prayers.

Very good advice :thumbup:

liver shunt
 

HAVE IT DONE you will be glad, I am going through the same we have spent over 2000euro for the surgery and she is on the mend a little horror at the moment but it is nice to see is getting back to her normal self we will now in dec if all is ok but she is no longer on medication for 1 mth now so the vet has said that all is good do not hesitate

liver shunt
 

I would like to tell you my story about my princess Penny. I live in Spain, in England I had a yorkie called pepi he lived to be 15years , always wanted another it had to be just like pepi, one day my dream came true found the double and fell in love, 2mths old a little dream, brought her home only to have her for 2 days, she became very ill, we took her back, he kept her for 2 weeks treating with medication, but not really knowing what was wrong, help from vets but nobody knew what was wrong with her she looked so poorly upsetting to see her, she walked and walked round the room with her head down bumping into everything she had that glazed look in her eyes as she was a druggy high she looked as she was dying, I said that is it, I am taking over I took her to my vets who had a look at her I am not sure but I think it could be meningitis so they rushed her in an ambulance to a large animal hospital she was in a week, they was doing test and my vet kept me informed it was a very upsetting time, I only had her a few days but there was a bond, blood test, xrays, scans the lot. came back that she had a liver shunt a vessel out of the liver so the blood in her body was not going through the liver and filtering but through the heart and brain with all toxins and bacteria no wonder the poor little thing was ill, she had to be on a special diet and medication till she was well to have an operation to fit a metal ring to close the vessel, this was very worrying so tiny, she came out very strong with a zip thats what we called it from her ribs to nearly bottom of her body with metal staples which looked nasty days later they stated to come adrift, back to my vets, she looked at them and said they would have to come out, had to go to the vets every day to be cleaned as it was an open wound, the cream was marvelous, you could see the skin generating new cells, she started to look better in herself started to play but still on medication helping her to fight infection she could get, her amune system not working properly she has been on medication for so long, we take her back for a special scan to see if the seal has worked and the blood is going through the liver, not been on medication for a month now, keeping our fingers crossed, but she is doing very well, if anyone deserved a diamond collar to be a princess she does which she has got SHE IS MY PRINCESS we have spent 2000 euro but that is nothing to see her ok

After many tests, a biopsy and ultrasound (done at the Univeristy of Mo at columbia), my Lexie was diagnosed with a liver shunt. We loved the doctors and care she received from MU. I'm not sure if you decided on going to UT or not, but Columbia may be closer for you. We took her in for the surgery and was home 2 days later. If you have not had her BATs done yet, have your vet do that and see how high the numbers are; it might be that with diet it may be manageable until you can afford the surgery - it cost us right at $2,500. Since her surgery in August, she is a new dog - I cannot believe the difference it made and am so happy we decided to have the surgery, although I know the cost is such a big thing; and we weren't guaranteed good results, but the shunt was operable. If her next BAT numbers stay as good as they last two times we had her tested since her surgery, she may even get to go back to "regular" dog food. She has been on Science Diet K/D (K/D instead of L/D because she took to it better and the doctor at MU said it was important to keep her eating.) I wish you all the luck and love in the world for your baby - Remember, we don't pick our puppies, they pick us and there's a reason for that.