Approx 5 yr old yorkie with liver failure??
 

I have a question...it doesn't involve my boys, but instead a son of my older dog. Apparently, the people bought 2 puppies(boy and girl )from the same litter which my dog is the father of. They've always been picky eaters and very skinny...both of them. But, I don't think the owners thought much of it because well, some yorkies are picky eaters. They've been vetted and were spoiled like only children. They were on a strict diet of dog food....no people food..and were taken care of well.

Anyways, they were at the vets a few months ago for boarding and everything seemed well. In the last month, the male dog has gained 2 lbs and a huge bulge in his stomach so he went back to the vet and they just found out he is in liver failure. They put him on medicine to take him home for a few days but will be taking him to the vet after the weekend is over to put him to sleep.

I am wondering if it's possible that a liver shunt could have caused the liver failure??

I don't know the people who own the dogs. My mom knows them, as she also has 2 of my sons puppies, and told me the news this weekend. BTW...I did not have my dog will he was being studded out. I adopted him after he was retired and neutered. I am curious because the puppies obviously carry half of his genes and the more I know about his lines, the more I know about him.

I would think that if it was LS it could be treated.

Your thread title scared me. Glad it is not your boys, but sorry to hear this involves a relation.

From petMD, some causes of liver failure:
Usually liver shunt would present symptoms, although not always, as Ladyjane found out with one of her pups. A shunt was discovered by accident while the dog was being treated for something else.

So it sounds like it could be caused by a variety of things. I am going to ask my mom again today if she found out anymore info. Whenever I hear of Prince's puppies getting sick with something that could be a genetic flaw, I wonder if he's got it too and passed it down.

I am probably a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to my boys...but I'd rather know his lines and the medical history in them because it could come in handy some day. With Ricky, I have no idea where he came from so he is a total blank slate. I don't know if I worry less or more because of it. I probably worry more...I just don't have a chance to conjure up specific illnesses and stress out about him getting it!! LOL!!

You could always do a BAT on him. Good results would give your peace of mind, bad results would allow early intervention...