All GTK info, Crystal. I had forgotten about LJ's baby!

Tibbe's never had any problem related to his 24 hr. period after Heartgard before but now, I'm a little fearful of using it again next month. And I'm scared to change. But Tibbe did so well on Interceptor as did Jilly her whole life.

Crystal, where are you getting Ellie's Interceptor now? Is it back generally on the shelves? You must think they have settled their problems at Novartis to be using it again so if you've that much faith, and now that Tibbe's had an "incident" after HG - all and all I may feel like it gives him a better chance of doing well after his preventative dosing now.

He seems pretty back to normal this morning though still lying about as he usually does most mornings, he is barking at the cat in the alley and jumping up into the den window which the couch backs up to when he hears anything - like normal. No more weird growling or whining or clinginess so far today. But I will go ahead and call the vet as soon as the morning rush is over and see when we can schedule his tests.

Update: The vet just called to check on Tibbe and she said we can do a bile acids anytime. Just fast him 12 hours and bring him in Monday and leave him. I think that is what I am going to do - and I'm scared to death to do it. I hate gutless people but I'm scared silly to find out he could be very ill. I'm just scared to death. I obviously have no spine now. After so much illness, bad news and horror stories all of Jilly's life, you'd think I would be tough as a boot but now I find I'm a mass of jelly. I'm sick to my stomach and feel butterflies.

I'm so glad he's home but so sorry you still feel like 'something' is off! I hope all is back to normal soon.

Glad Tibbe is home with you. Trust your instincts, if you think something is off you know your dog better than anyone else. Try to get some rest, I was on YT early this morning and saw you were on around 2:30 AM.

haha - yes, I was watching him sleep and just too amped to wind down and rest. I had been scared so badly it took the adrenalin hours to let go of me! When I did finally lie down, he got right in the nook of my neck and went back to sleep. It got so hot but I couldn't stand to move him for the longest time. It's kind of humid here and no air was coming through the window and there he was right on part of my neck and I was sweating after a while. But he was breathing so regularly and so asleep we just stayed overly warm for a good hour or so before I couldn't take it anymore. Was burning up. But his ears, head and belly and feet felt only normally warm so he didn't feel feverish. I did move him out some and finally, I did get a nap once I got the fan on, cooled off. But you know how they are, when they don't feel well, they want to be right on you when they sleep. Today, however, he's sleeping on my feet at the other end of the couch and when he's sick, he wants to be on my lap or shoulder or right on my neck if I'm stretched out on the couch. So that's a good sign that he's all the way at the other end of the couch!

Just checking in on you and Tibbe. Hope all continues to go well.

How long does he have to stay at the vet for that test? I wish you could take him and wait and take him back home. It is so stressful on dogs to be at the vet in a cage. At least see if you can bring his favorite blanket or soft bed. Hoping nothing is wrong and he is his normal playful self! We sure love our Yorkies!

Aww, he will be ok! He may just be a tummy trouble prone pup.

Ellie's bile acids have been very high. She does fine.:) She is almost twelve and you woudn't know her liver is unhappy.

Interceptr has been discontinued. Sentinel is back in production. Your vet can get it. Sentinel and HG are both great drugs, but both companies have their issues.

I was hesitant to suggest BATs. Last person kind of brushed me off. Guess I should not hesitate eh? :)
Glad you are doing it...because as Crystal said, it happens more than we realize.
Tibbe's may be just fine....just always good to know! And IF he did have something like MVD you would only need a diet change....and that would stop the issues IF it were that. And, if a shunt, easily fixed!

Oh, Tibbe's kind of different about the vet. He's one of the few dogs who loves to go to the vet, struggles to get back to where the other dogs and all the people are as they are carrying him back to the back - his ears are up and forward and he's already barking and engaging with the other dogs as they go through the door to the back. He's kissing the attendant that carries him back. You just mention "vet" to him and he's amped and barking and by the front door, ready to go. He loves all the attention and all the other dogs around and the action there, I guess. Where he stays when at the vet he can see them coming and going and I think he loves it, just barks for them to stop what they are doing and give him attention. They always tell me of his antics to get them to pay attention to him in his cage when I come to get him. I think he thinks of it as a play date or something. He's such a social creature he would get shots, exams, bloodwork all day and even sell his little dog soul to be in the center of things and getting noticed by lots of different people. That's why he loves crowds - he's such a little ham. If he were a person, he would be an entertainer or a politician or both.

Just saw this....sending prayers for sweet Tibbe.

That is so cute. Tibbe sounds like a real character. So sorry he is sick. Hope he gets better real soon. Wish mine loved the vet. They cry all the way there. Thank goodness we only live about 5min. away from our vet. lol!!! Give little Tibbe kisses from Lexi, Kayla, Rocky, and Dudley.

Glad to hear you agree, Linda. I've just had this undercurrent of worry about him for well over a year and telling myself I'm a worrywart and taking him to the vet a lot to try to help me feel better when actually, I just should have had the dang test done and found out. Even if he does have one of those bad diagnoses of shunt or MVD, he won't be way more likely to die or anything will he? From things I've read here and online, they seem to be manageable problems. When he's having a bad day, it usually doesn't last but half a day but even before his stretch of recent good weeks, some of those episodes lasted longer and he was just acting odd. IDK, likely I'm way over-analyzing but if your dog's not quite right compared with how they usually are, you watch everything and worry, huh?

I am sorry to hear Tibbe has been sick. Praying that he will be back to himself soon in your loving care, and that his BATs will return good results.

I'm glad Tibbe is ok, hope he'll be back to his normal self very soon. I can't sleep or do anything when 1 of my guys is feeling sick or a little off. I had a really bad migraine the other day bc of Mimi loll. Hope you'll get some much needed rest.

I believe it is always better to be safe than sorry! :)

Ive been reading today's posts to catch up on you and Tibbe. What is this "BAT" you are having done on Monday?

Just reading this thread.. Prayers for Tibbe and you are such a good momma taking care of him and making sure all areas are covered.

I'm pretty sure you're referring to me. I did not brush you off. I just followed my gut instinct and vet's experience in choosing not to do a BAT on Roxie. I have 43 years of experience owning Yorkies and have always done whatever is best for them health wise. I have one MVD dog and she gets the best care as all my dogs do. Money is never a consideration as I have insurance on all of them and money to cover any expenses they should need. I always appreciate people's input but I am always going to do what I and my vet of 23 years feel is the best for my dogs.

I hope Tibbe feels better soon.

Patti, does your girl have symptoms similar to Tibbe's or does she have something else going on? My head is spinning - I may have read that thread in the last week and lost sleep and worry have zapped my memory!

And, is the test really hard on the dog or very painful? I had thought it just a vein stick after fasting, with later, fatty meal and second stick? It seems it might be more than that if you choose not to get it? What are they going to do, do you know?

I so hope Tibbe is feeling much better soon. I am almost always overwhelmed when I read about our poor sick babies. I am feeling so sad right now for you and thinking this poor breed of dog has been so over/under/inter/ultra bred that it is so very hard to find tip top healthy dogs.
So much conflicting or confusing information and so many ill prepared vets.
Feeling so very sad right now for you, Tibbe and wee Alfie.

Sorry to hear that Tibbe isn't feeling well but I'm glad he's home with you. I definitely would go with what u feel....u know Tibbe better than anyone. I hope everything comes out fine....keep me posted

Bile Acid Test. It can tell how well the liver is doing removing bile acids from the blood after digestion of fatty foods.

He's quite weird again this afternoon and evening. Acts normally at times when dogs bark in the neighborhood or a bird lands in the back yard, he's barking a bit but didn't eat hardly any dinner, isn't really playful and isn't doing his tricks with any flare, and he wouldn't even do one of them. He just would not even attempt to roll over on his back and stay until released. Wouldn't even roll over at all. He stands in the floor and looks at me a lot but when I run through his usual list of wants, I get no reaction - just a stare. He's trying to tell me he's not right. When he had pneumonia he did the same thing - just stared at me until I took him to a vet.

After leaving the vet yesterday, I was hoping he would bounce back from this as usual but this time he just hasn't yet. He's not vomiting or having diarrhea now thankfully. He's gained 9 oz. in the last 12 months or so. He's 6 lbs. now.

Hope Tibbe feels better soon, my Yogi had the Bile Acid tests, it's just drawing blood so not to bad. His was normal, and he went on to several other tests before diagnosis of encephalitis. Taking a form of prednisone now and showing lots of improvement so keep on looking for what is wrong, so it can be dealt with and treated! Good luck, thoughts are with you both!

Jeanie, you know your Tibbe, and he's obviously not been himself. So don't feel bad for being proactive in figuring out the problem! I'm happy to hear his bloodwork came back normal, but I think you will have more peace of mind after the BAT comes back okay as well. Hoping the ex diet helps his tummy and he gets back to himself! I'm sure he can sense your worry and fear...I'll keep praying for Tibbe and mama!

I just watched that awful Ginger video on YouTube and am scared to death. Tibbe has rubbed his face on corners of the wall ever since I got him. He doesn't do it except sometimes when I go to the restroom where there is a sharp corner that sticks out around the linen cupboard or when I take him outside. He'll get all excited and sometimes rub his face against the corner of his doggie steps as I'm getting up and opening the door and then come running. He's not been doing it this week but he's always done that. That Ginger video is frightening. That poor little dog looked miserable and hopeless. She died. Tibbe doesn't drool or circle or wander around aimlessly or act blind like Ginger did. Or show weakness or a lack of coordination. He is restless and lethargic when his tummy is gassy and loud. I sure wish I hadn't seen that video or read any more about liver shunt tonight.

I believe the purpose of having the BAT test is to ease your mind. I don't have experience with liver shunt, but I've read so much about it here. I highly doubt he has it, but I don't think you'll rest easy without taking the test. What I do know about livershunt or MVD is that they can be managed and/or cured with diet changes and/or surgery that is very successful. I understand your fear, and I am afraid with you until we see Tibbe start acting more normally. But I know in my heart that he will be okay because he has you to love and care for him. You have given him such a charmed life, and he has reciprocated and given you that life, too. You are truly a beautiful person, a very caring, special mother, and a very caring friend. I have a deep respect for you because you care about others, and you have also created such an eventful, loving, active, nurturing, healthy, protective, proactive, and healthy life for Tibbe. You also work to stimulate his mind and work with him in obedience and agility. Tibbe loves you withall his heart and soul, and I can understand why. He also knows that he trusts you and that you will be there for him any time he needs you. You are a beautiful role model on YT, and you are a truly special person who I've grown to care so deeply for and also your darling Tibbe. If at any time you want to talk for some support, PM me, and I'll give you my cell phone number. Hugs and kisses for you and Tibbe,
Lisa, John, and Katie

How beautifully expressed, Lisa!

Jeanie, STAY OFF THE YOUTUBE! Don't you know - the trouble looked for is most oft found? ((Hugs))

Oh my gosh, Jeanie!! I know the exact video you are talking about because I just watched it a week ago to figure out exactly what head pressing looked like as I was unclear. I was not prepared for that video and I bawled and was a mess for hours.

Stay off of google and youtube and the like right now. You know we tell everyone that. Just know what you know and that is what the vet has told you. The BAT is just to reassure and rule out anything (hopefully) but not because it's likely Tibbe has liver shunt. I don't think it is likely. I just think it warrants checking. Until you have another diagnosis than the one you have, don't ask for worries so don't go searching the net. ;)

You are right. Blood draws before and after eating. It is not hard on the dog at all. You can even take pup home in between blood draws for the two hours if you don't give access to food.