test results...advice please!

[LoveMyGirlz]

Originally Posted by furbabyluv

My baby had a small seizure the other day and so the breeder suggested I get her tested for liver shunts...the bile acid test came back elevated but under a 100. Does anyone have any suggestions at all as to what could be wrong and is it a hopeless case when they develop liver problems like this I have read that diet and medicine can help Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! We have only had her for a month

I do not know about liver shunts but I do know about dealing with doggie seizures....this is managable!! There is a wonderful website with great information and real help from actual people. I will look up that site if you'd like the info-just pm me and I'll go find it in my emails.
The medicine we give Lexxi is very inexpensive and we have resorted to liquid because she is so hard to give pills too, and liquid is more expensive and I think i still only spend maybe $30 on that bottle, maybe once a month.
Seizures are scary - it makes me so sad to watch, but I'm telling you, they can be under control. And my baby clusters, which means she usually cannot stop but luckily they have not happend THAT much.

[Yorkieluv]

If she does have a liver problem, you might notice that she's most affected after eating...That's usually when they may have a seizure or rub their head or other behaviors like that may take place.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by furbabyluv

My baby had a small seizure the other day and so the breeder suggested I get her tested for liver shunts...the bile acid test came back elevated but under a 100. Does anyone have any suggestions at all as to what could be wrong and is it a hopeless case when they develop liver problems like this I have read that diet and medicine can help Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! We have only had her for a month

Rather than immediately thinking liver shunt, I would also check stool sample for parasites and bacteria culture on the stool sample as well.
Usually there is some diahrrea with these issues but I don't know if there could be a problem with no diahrrea. I have seen and heard of mild seizures from coccidia infection and also seen it with a bad bacteria flourish in the instestine. Both were cured with the correct medication and never looked back.
If you do treat with a wormer for parasites or meds for a bad bacteria, don't bother doing a BA test for a while as meds can throw off the results and Albon for coccidia is especially notorious for giving high BA results that come down once it is out of the system for a while.

[furbabyluv]

Callie has had two stool sample tests both coming back fine but I wonder if maybe her antibiotic that she is on for her resp. infection could possibly skew results????? We are seeing internal specialist Thursday and am very interested in what he has to say

[Lorraine]

I would bet it would. The reason you have to give medications a certain number of times a day is that the liver works to clear it from the system. That's one of the functions of the liver.
I would mention it for sure to your specialist.
When did you stop the meds? Some dogs and some breeds are sensitive to some antibiotics. it can show itself in various ways. Don't know if it can cause mild seizures but I wouldn't be surprised.

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Rather than immediately thinking liver shunt, I would also check stool sample for parasites and bacteria culture on the stool sample as well.
Usually there is some diahrrea with these issues but I don't know if there could be a problem with no diahrrea. I have seen and heard of mild seizures from coccidia infection and also seen it with a bad bacteria flourish in the instestine. Both were cured with the correct medication and never looked back.
If you do treat with a wormer for parasites or meds for a bad bacteria, don't bother doing a BA test for a while as meds can throw off the results and Albon for coccidia is especially notorious for giving high BA results that come down once it is out of the system for a while.

Good thinking!! When my yorkie was a pup, he had a severe case of coccidia as well, and he had seizures (not convulsions, but like staring into space, walking sideways as if drunk, etc.). Months later we found out that he also had a liver shunt, but the coccidia caused a lot of his problems earlier on as well.

[furbabyluv]

well the funny thing is she has been on antibiotics for weeks now...when we first got her she was being treated for coccidia and then two weeks later started on the clavomox for her resp. infection. she has to stay on the clavomox for two weeks (almost finished) but everytime I ask my vet if anything could cause false results on that test she keeps assuring me no ....BUT I agree with you guys that she needs to be retested at some point. Also I say it was a seizure...she was shivering/shaking and started foaming/drooling alot, lasted about 2min. max and then she acted like she was fine?????? Sound a like a seizure to you guys or something else

[Yorkieluv]

the drooling and so forth can be indicative of a seizure...Seizures happen in many different ways.

[furbabyluv]

ok so just to update everyone...yesterday Callie had an appt. with the internal specialist who was very knowledable and spent a lot of time answering my questions and going over everything in her file. Since her bile acid levels were lower (under 100) he said that he really didnt feel like a shunt was the issue but just to be sure he suggested a protein C blood test which we did. They sent the blood off to Cornell University for testing (does a lot of liver research there) and today he called with the news. Her protein C levels were normal He said if she had a shunt they would def. come back low. So that is the good news...but he also said that since we can now rule out PSS that he strongly feels that she has MVD which he said most dogs live without you ever knowing they even have it. The only symptom of it is higher bile acids. He said that her foaming episode (he wasnt convinced it was a seizure after all) has something more to do with a trachael abnormality that showed up on the x-ray..again supposedly common in Yorkies (tracheal collapse) and he said sometimes they grow out of it. Still I was quite surprised to hear this added bit of info. considering we had never even thought anything might be wrong with her throat that is causing some of these issues. For that he said he didnt think it was serious but of course to keep an eye out for more foaming etc. Anyone else have experience with trachea deformities/collapse As for the MVD he said to keep her diet the same and no medicine needed. I am still wondering though if it would hurt to switch to a lower protein diet? Anyone have experience with MVD (microvascular dsplysia) All in all he said that even though she does have a liver "issue" to consider this to be very good news since she can live a normal, good quality of life with no medicine etc.!!! We are so relieved and want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers going through this all . Now just to learn everything I can about MVD

[PANAMA69]

Prayers are going your way, Hope Calli does better.

[Patti]

I responded to your Pm as well but for others who may be interested, Cali has mild MVD and I just watch her protein level even though the vet said she didn't have any restrictions. I just try and keep her at 18-21 % protein. Some treats are very high in protein so I read labels before buying. I am so glad Callie is ok.

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by Patti

I responded to your Pm as well but for others who may be interested, Cali has mild MVD and I just watch her protein level even though the vet said she didn't have any restrictions. I just try and keep her at 18-21 % protein. Some treats are very high in protein so I read labels before buying. I am so glad Callie is ok.

I agree...I also sent you a PM. A food that is between 18%(Solid Gold Holistique Blendz) - 21% (Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice or Duck & Potato) would be good for her. In fact, I feed my maltese who doesn't have liver issues the Natural Balance. Remember, something caused her to drool and have a seizure, and you already know her bile acid levels were elevated. The easiest thing to adjust is her diet and treats. Some examples of treats that wouldn't be too high in protein are Vitakraft yogurt drops or Pupcorn. Good luck, and I'm so happy to hear that Callie is going to be just fine