Bile acid test tesults!!! :(

[aksm4]

Hello everyone i do not know who has been following my threads on Becky and her declining apetite for the past month biut Friday we did bile acod testing and the resultes were in this morning 9 before eating and 129 after eating im so sad and my vet sent me off to ultrasound immedetly waiting for those results anyone have experience with this ????? im very lost and confused ....



Aksm4

[orlnurse]

First of all I am sorry that you are experiencing this. The ultrasound will confirm or rule out liver shunt or MVD. There are a lot of people here with experience that can offer more advice. In the mean time though, check out the link I've listed here for you. I hope you get some answers soon.

Portosystemic Shunt (Hepatic Shunt) in Dogs - Page 1

[Patti]

My Cali has very mild MVD diagnosed with bile acid tests, ultrasound and a liver biopsy during her spay. Her bile acids were the first one 0/42 and the second was 0/87 ish. The liver biopsy comfirmed she had a very mild case of MVD. I just keep her on a low protein diet and she has dine fine. She is now 7 years old,and she has been fine. I hope you get some answers from the ultrasound and Becky is ok.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by aksm4

Hello everyone i do not know who has been following my threads on Becky and her declining apetite for the past month biut Friday we did bile acod testing and the resultes were in this morning 9 before eating and 129 after eating im so sad and my vet sent me off to ultrasound immedetly waiting for those results anyone have experience with this ????? im very lost and confused ....



Aksm4

There is also a liver shunt support group on Yahoo, that you can join.

Do you have the results of the US yet?

BTW where are you in Canada?

[kjc]

Originally Posted by aksm4

Hello everyone i do not know who has been following my threads on Becky and her declining apetite for the past month biut Friday we did bile acod testing and the resultes were in this morning 9 before eating and 129 after eating im so sad and my vet sent me off to ultrasound immedetly waiting for those results anyone have experience with this ????? im very lost and confused ....



Aksm4

Well at least you are getting answers now... looks like she may have a Liver Shunt... a common, congenital defect in Yorkies. It is a very treatable condition... this link will tell you all about them: Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

The Univ of Tenn has researched LS for almost 30 years, much good info on their site.

My Tinkerbell has LS.

Originally Posted by gemy

There is also a liver shunt support group on Yahoo, that you can join.

Do you have the results of the US yet?

BTW where are you in Canada?

In or Near Montreal

[gemy]

Originally Posted by kjc

Well at least you are getting answers now... looks like she may have a Liver Shunt... a common, congenital defect in Yorkies. It is a very treatable condition... this link will tell you all about them: Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

The Univ of Tenn has researched LS for almost 30 years, much good info on their site.

My Tinkerbell has LS.


In or Near Montreal

Awh Mtl is about 1 hr away from Vermont. Tennessee still the best and not so far I think from her. I know it would be about 11 hours from me in Toronto, but that is where I would hot footing to.

i would suggest Uinv of Guelph, which is 7 hrs from her, but I don't know if they have the expertise Tennessee does.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by gemy

Awh Mtl is about 1 hr away from Vermont. Tennessee still the best and not so far I think from her. I know it would be about 11 hours from me in Toronto, but that is where I would hot footing to.

i would suggest Uinv of Guelph, which is 7 hrs from her, but I don't know if they have the expertise Tennessee does.

She had trouble getting the dog diagnosed... here's her OT: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-anorexia.html

What are your thoughts about http://www.medvet.umontreal.ca/chuv/...ogie/index.asp

Guelph is the first place I thought of from your other postings, but it seemed too far...

[rubymoon2072]

i dont have any advice but wanted to say i will keep becky in my thoughts for a diagnosis that can be treated. hugs to you.

[aksm4]

Hello everyone ,


thank you so much for caring in this time of distress ,

Becky ultrasound was done by board certified radilogist he sees no shunt , so now she was tested for leptosirosis ......please please help me find a good specialist near by tenesse is way too far Vermont was mentioned anyone know anything about them???


if needed i am operating my baby

[bchgirl]

Shunts can't always be picked up by ultrasound. Have a protein c test done. This will confirm LS. It's a blood test.

[aksm4]

i told my vet she does not know what it is ????

[kjc]

Originally Posted by aksm4

Hello everyone ,


thank you so much for caring in this time of distress ,

Becky ultrasound was done by board certified radilogist he sees no shunt , so now she was tested for leptosirosis ......please please help me find a good specialist near by tenesse is way too far Vermont was mentioned anyone know anything about them???


if needed i am operating my baby

When will you know the results of the Leptosporosis test? Other things can cause the BAT to be high.

If you join the LS group: Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

They have a list of vets and can recommend someone close.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by aksm4

i told my vet she does not know what it is ????

Blood is drawn and sent to Cornell University in New York....

Protein C Activity Assay

[kjc]

What dog food do you feed her, and what treats? Is she having regular Bowel Movements? Did she eat well before this all started? How old is Becky?

Your vet can prescribe Lactulose, and you can put her on a low protein diet (15-20% protein). If LS is her problem the Lactulose will help her feel better and her appetite should improve. If LS is not her problem, the Lactulose won't harm her, nor will the Low Protein diet.

Has your vet done a full body xray on her? Dogs with LS typically have small livers for their size. Also a good tool to see what may be going on in her intestines.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by kjc

When will you know the results of the Leptosporosis test? Other things can cause the BAT to be high.

If you join the LS group: Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

They have a list of vets and can recommend someone close.

I checked here for you... no one is listed for Eastern Canada. Is New York City too far?

Another option is to find Yorkie/small dog rescues in your area and call them for a recommendation, as they use vets alot, sadly.

Or contact a few reputable local Yorkie breeders, they would know of a good Yorkie/snall dog vet.

Did you take her to the Uof Montreal? I would think they would have an Internal Medicine Specialist that could diagnose her. If you haven't gone there, a vet school is really the best bet, bc they have many different speciaties and usually more equipment/diagnostics at their disposal. Most times a specialist will initially cost more that a regular vet, but they can usually get to the root of the problem quicker. If they require a recommendation from your vet, I hope she would be willing to do that for you. Also many teaching clinics do have Emergency Services that do not require a rec from your vet.