Sending prayers to you and Bella. I worry sooo much about liver shunts and other illnesses. I am blessed so far but still I worry. I really feel for you.

Oh Russ, I'm really sorry to hear about your baby going through all this. Sunni is literally going through the same thing right now. Tomorrow morning will be the third fasting blood test for Liver Shunt. The first was slightly elevated..second one was normal, but she's showing symptoms now so tomorrow is a fasting blood test at 8 am. I've talked to a few people from this website for some advice, and it happens that I'm waiting to be interviewed by RescueMe Yorkie, for my home visit and spoke to the interviewer tonight. He's going to get me a list of Hospitals in NJ that may be better at diagnosing whats really going on with her, then my current vet. I'm just starting to worry that they may not have the expertise necessary to do the surgery on her little body. Seems like all I do with this little one is go to the vet:(. But as a couple of people have said...I do think she's in good hands with me. If something can be done to get her healthy, we will get it done. No matter what is going on, she stays so playful and funny. No one else would ever guess she has "issues":) I'll be praying for your little one.

I am so sorry you and Bella are going through this. I can feel how much you love her and how committed to her wellbeing you are.

Both Bella and Miss Sunni found such loving homes, and I will pray for your little girls and your families. In case you haven't seen this publication by the University of Tennessee Veterinary School on Liver Shunts and Porto Vein Hypoplasia, it has wonderful information by a doctor who is an expert on liver issues.

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs...2013-09-26.pdf

So sad this is happening to you & your little one. Prayers this can be fixed.
My last little boy did all the same things. He would pace, circle, not sleep, had this blank look. We went through all kinds of liver tests, spinal tests, brain test.
Thousand of dollars. Well, his liver was good, spinal tap was good, but the diagnosis was GME, brain disease. We were absolutely devastated. I have never cried so much in my life. He was treated @ The University of Tennessee Vet Hospital. They were absolutely wonderful. So full of knowledge. They got our little boy back to being a Yorkie, but for only just shy of 2 years.
He pasted at just 1 week of turning 7.
So, I'm really praying this is a shunt that can be fixed.
The University of Tennessee has the best liver shunt specialist in the country.
Wish you could See them.
Good luck?
🙏

Lisaly,
Thank you for posting that link. I have read that and know that University of Tennessee would be first class treatment for Sunni. I'm just not sure I can do that. I'm waiting to get some information from someone about Vet specialists in the NY/NJ/CT area...even PA is manageable. The blood work was done this morning, so now I have to wait and pray till they call with the results.

@Miss Sunni


Univ of Penn is very well respected and I am pretty sure you would get excellent care there!


I just hope that gosh am I going to say this(?) that it is something treatable like Liver shunt and or MVD. At least it would not be a neuro sourced issue.

As crazy at it sounds, I am praying for a liver shunt that can be operated on. I would be crushed to find that it is a neuro problem. Bella's appointment for her fasting bile test is in a couple of hours... needless to say, I haven't slept. Just praying for answers and fixes.

Keeping little Bella close to my heart, in my thoughts and prayers today for good test results.

Praying for little Bella today and hoping to hear good news!!!!!

I should get Sunni's results from the fasting blood test back today or tomorrow.

U of Penn, is not that far really. I'm praying so hard that we wont need them. She has no symptoms other then the peeing issue. And since being on the stronger anti-biotic she really does seem to be better. Not going nearly so often and making it to the door almost every time. I hope this isn't wishful thinking on my part.

Crossing our fingers and paws for good news!! (((Hugs)))

Now, like Sunni, we wait for the results. Her vet said that he is almost certain after looking at the ultrasound that it is a shunt that is outside the liver making it operable. If that is the result we get back from the BAT, then we are lucky that the University of Florida has an excellent vet team with liver specialists as well.
If it comes back positive for shunt, she will have an appointment to go next week for surgery. Not a cheap alternative, but it will be her best bet for a normal life.
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. As dumb as it sounds, I am relieved that this was the diagnosis because it can be repaired.
For anyone else going through this, the vet did say that the effects can be mitigated somewhat by feeding small portions more often. It turns out that the worst of the effects, the wandering and spacing out, happens because the body is struggling to process too much protein at one time.

Keeping your angel in my prayers:angel2dl:

Well, since she left the vet yesterday, she has been eating mainly fruits and cereal and in small quantities. She has not had an episode so far and even wanted to play a little this morning. So today, at least so far, is a really good day. Now just have to wait for the bloodwork to confirm what we got then off to the University of Florida to their team of specialists it isn't quite as good as UT, but they are damn good from what I have learned, and they might have an appointment as early as Tuesday. With a little help from God and the doctors at UF, we might have a fixed up Bella in a little over a week!!
But to see her acting like a puppy again this morning is awesome! Thank you all again for the wishes and prayers for Bella.

Oh, and it turns out, if they can save my little girl, I will let mommy dress her in Gator gear on any day she wants! For the first time in my life I can wholeheartedly say Go Gators!!

Sending best wishes to you and Bella, hoping that all turns out well and you can soon put all of this behind you. I love the picture of her in that lovely dress!

Keeping little Bella in my prayers.

Funny thing is, this little dog that I have accused of being a picky eater has been eating and apparently loving Cheerios, apples, cantelope, green beans...
Picky eater my hat.
So now we wait for Tuesday when my little girl goes off to college. :eek:

But she is acting like a puppy again and has found her voice. She is usually pretty silent, but last night at 2:45 am she not only decided it was time to play, but that it should be announced in full vocal splendor.

Off to the University of Florida this morning for her consult. Surgery tomorrow. Please keep fingers and paws crossed for the miracle that this little girl needs to have a real life.

Sending best wishes that it all goes well tomorrow.

Will be thinking and praying for little Bella today. I feel like you are doing the very best for this little one, to make sure she's well and happy. Lots of positive energy sent your way.

Sending prayers Bella's way!!

My thoughts n prayers go with you

Prayers for little Bella

Thinking of Bella and you and your wife. Hoping the surgery goes well tomorrow for Bella.

Praying for the best.

Well, she had a top notch contrast CT scan. The shunt is very apparent and it is so obvious that it is the problem that the Dr. thinks that they can go ahead and spay her at the same time they deal with the shunt. They are using a cellophane method where they wrap the offending vein in a cellophane material which causes scar tissue to form slowly, closing the vein and letting the liver come online slowly so that the blood vessels which have not been used so far can slowly learn to handle the blood flow. (Lot of slowly in that sentence when I re-read it...)
I got to see her after the CT scan. She was still a little funny from the anesthesia and was a whiny little girl. They had the vein in her leg tapped for the surgery tomorrow and she was not happy. God it breaks my heart to see her unhappy. That little helpless whine is the one sound that I will do anything I can to never have to hear.
The Dr. also said that during and after this surgery there are about 8% of Yorkies who will have seizures so bad that they either pass or have to be put down. I really just can not handle that idea right now. Bella (and her parents) just need to get through this next few weeks.

But in the "I'm not spoiled" category, while I am here in Gator territory for the next few days to stay close to Bella through this since mom has to work, mom has apparently hired a close friend to be a sitter when we have to be at work at the same time so our girl will not be alone until she is healed enough.
She will be with people who think she is the bestest lil terrier in the whole wide world at least until the sutures come out.

It is so hard to watch our babies in pain. How we wish we could take their pain away and put it on ourselves. Sasha was diagnosed with Leggs-Perthes and had the femoral head of her right rear leg removed 3 months ago. I went there after the surgery and just held her in my arms for 2 hours. She was so scared and confused. The IV still in her leg, rear quarter shaved and a 5 inch gash stitched up (5 inches on a 3 pounder is huge). But 3 months later she is running around enjoying life to the fullest as I am sure your darling Bella will be soon. You keep hugging her because I truly believe it is the best pain reliever when can give our babies.

I know right! Bella is 2.4 pounds and the incision that they are talking about to see the whole liver is so big. Plus, they are going into an area that has already been opened up before.... Just trying to hold it together for the next couple of days. I know that it will be worse for her, but I feel so scared and upset for my little girl.
Funny thing is that I worried less for my human friends having major issues like this than I do for Bella. But she is so young, and she can't articulate what the problems are. Plus she is so young and innocent.