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02-08-2013, 01:23 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| Portosystemic shunt Well, I've spent quite a bit of time on this site so far looking for something...anything to help with what we are facing. Our Sampson will have his first birthday in 25 days. During his neuter surgery in October, his heart stopped for 45 seconds. They were able to resuscitate him, and he took a while to recover fully. On Thanksgiving day we had to take him to the ER. He had an episode where he was stumbling, had barely any strength in his hind legs. ER doc gave him Nutrical, said his blood sugar was low. Said they were finicky eaters. He did mention a shunt, but Sampson got better so quickly that we put off those tests. We had no issues until Monday. He wouldn't eat or drink and slept all day. By the end of the day he could barely stand up without his hind end wobbling and falling over, staggering like he was drunk. Hindsight shows he's a poster child for a portosystemic shunt. We had the bile acid test done, and we are headed to the specialist on Monday, and they will likely do an ultrasound. Btw, Sampson is pretty normal today, although still a bit weak in hind end and staggering a tiny bit. The cycle is hard to understand. I found posts from 2008 and they consisted of people posting pre and post numbers of 19/147 or 20-something/260. Sampson's pre was 12 and his post was 26. That seems low in comparison to others. He truly fits every symptom of a shunt (minus head pressing). Is it possible that it's something else or that it's a small shunt? Maybe he will be in the small percentage that responds to meds/surgery/diet? Sorry for the long post. I just needed to reach out in hopes of comparisons, experience w/ this ... something to help me think positive. |
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02-08-2013, 06:22 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 664
| I'm sorry no one has responded to your post. I think your baby may possibly have MVD - tiny little shunts that can't be surgically repaired, rather than one large shunt that can. I am no vet and your vet can explain the difference. Here is a quick link that may be helpful. I think with MVD, babies can be medically managed with diet and medication. I would suggest that you go to a specialist so you don't waste any money on tests that won't give you answers. MVD Thoughts and prayers for Samson....... |
02-09-2013, 02:54 AM | #3 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| Thanks, Lolasmom. I will check this out as well. We are going to the specialist on Monday. I want to cover as much as possible with him. |
02-09-2013, 05:44 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Canada
Posts: 29
| Very sorry to hear! It sounds as though his bile acid tests are very low? Ours was recently diagnosed with a probable liver shunt but had BAT of 68/175. Hopefully you can work with your vet to stabilize him while you do more tests and search for answers. I am sure that you will find the help and solution to his troubles. All the best! |
02-09-2013, 07:53 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member | I am sorry he is going through this. I do not have any experience with it. I hope one of the other members can help
__________________ Teri . . . Galen Jameson Frazier Seraphina Luna Rosencrantz, Saber Tooth Tiger, Pussy Willow Pandora Guildenstern |
02-09-2013, 08:29 AM | #6 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: With CharlieBrown of course!
Posts: 1,403
| Quote:
__________________ Mom to Bug and Charlie-R.I.P my sweet Charlie 2021 | |
02-09-2013, 09:30 AM | #7 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 664
| My Lola had a very large shunt that was surgically repaired several years ago, but her bile acids were very high 43/247 before surgery and 2.5/46 after her surgery. I think (less than) 13/(less than) 26 is normal. Even though Lola had the surgery and is MUCH better (it saved her life), she has MVD and I have to manage her diet very carefully. Good luck with your baby - thank goodness you are taking care of this now before he gets worse! He's a lucky boy!!! |
02-10-2013, 11:11 PM | #8 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| Thanks, everyone. It's 1am and it's difficult to sleep. We made Sam chicken and rice tonight, and it just made things worse. He even became aggressive toward our 2yr old yorkie-bichon, and he absolutely loves him. The thought was to cut out all the extra ingredients in his food. The idea was a fail. I feel like I can't do anything right for him. Tomorrow is our appointment with the specialist. Hopefully we will get some answers. |
02-11-2013, 08:48 AM | #9 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 664
| Quote:
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02-11-2013, 03:27 PM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| Hey! Well, there's good news and bad news. At this point he sees no signs of a shunt (good news). He also checked all of his other organs, which are fine. Bad news is neurologically he's at about 85%. He either sustained brain damage when his heart stopped during his neuter surgery...OR he has some swelling in his brain, which is causing his neuro symptoms. We're going to put him on meds for a couple of weeks to treat that and see if he gets better Sadly, we are now on seizure watch. The specialist said, "Don't give up on this ship yet. There's still a lot we can do." So here I am...not giving up. Thank you all. |
02-12-2013, 03:45 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: With CharlieBrown of course!
Posts: 1,403
| Awwee Ooooh poor baby it is good that the vet knew to check for this type of issue. I will keep you in prayer hope ne has no seizures what meds did they give him to take?
__________________ Mom to Bug and Charlie-R.I.P my sweet Charlie 2021 |
02-12-2013, 07:49 AM | #12 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| The medication is dexamethasone (which scares me), but something has to be done if there's swelling in his brain. If he has seizures, we will try meds for that. Poor guy probably feels like, Hey, can I get some privacy? LOL We all keeps following him around and watching him like a hawk. I will continue to update...even if it's just for myself. This forum has been helpful. |
02-12-2013, 10:22 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 664
| I'm so sorry to hear about your little guy. I have no experience with neurological problems. Perhaps you should start a new thread with that title - you might get more help. Praying for you and your baby. |
02-12-2013, 10:25 AM | #14 |
Cedric♥Lola♥Keylo Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gilford, NH, USA
Posts: 9,209
| i am praying that the meds help sam and you see much improvement.
__________________ Cedric N Lola N Keylo RIP Punkee Princess |
02-12-2013, 12:30 PM | #15 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: McKinney, Texas USA
Posts: 7
| Thanks, everyone, for your words and prayers. Starting a new post is a good idea. |
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