Update from LaviniaHyacnth

[fourdez]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this. God bless you both, I will be thinking about you.

[myriamha]

Originally Posted by LaviniaHyacynth

Vivi has urate stones lodged in both kidneys....they are directly related to her liver shunt and even if removed would come back....she can't have surgery because the anesthesia would kill her....this is due to high pressure in her liver caused by the underdeveloped blood vessels....all of this is due to the liver shunt.....this is such an ugly disease and it is becoming an epidemic in Yorkies, I pray that a way to prevent this is discovered soon so that other yorkies won't suffer.

Royce has calcium oxalate stones and surgery is not an option as it will cause more damage than benebit to the kidneys . Also the vet is suspecting that Royce might have a liver microvascular dysplasia ( the only way to know is to perform a liver biopsy ) and it's very possible that the stones are related to the MVD ...However I think that urate stones can be dissoved by medication and diet ? You should ask the vet

[LaviniaHyacynth]

Myriam, I am so sorry to hear that Royce has MVD....I hope that diet will help him. Vivi was already on a diet for both her liver and kidneys....we were aware that kidney troubles were coming....her liver is so small that the kidneys are overworked...Urate chrystals and stones are common with LS...her diet is low in purine as well as protein which is what is needed to help stop the stones from forming...at the moment she is on antibiotics to fight her UTI and another drug to help her kidney stones....the biggest danger is that they will move and block her urethra...sadly that will be fatal because the only solution at that point would be surgery and she can't have it...we have talked to Dr. Tobias in Tennessee...she is a wonderful doctor that has devoted her entire practice to understanding and treating LS and was the surgeon who invented the constrictor surgery that has been so successful. She was amazed that Vivi has lived as long as she has because her numbers are so bad....we have been able to control the seizures with lactulose and diet and close supervision. I am lucky that I can take her to the studio with me each day. It seems that you and Royce are under the care of great doctors and I hope and pray that he will get better soon. Hugs to you both.

[myriamha]

Originally Posted by LaviniaHyacynth

Myriam, I am so sorry to hear that Royce has MVD....I hope that diet will help him. Vivi was already on a diet for both her liver and kidneys....we were aware that kidney troubles were coming....her liver is so small that the kidneys are overworked...Urate chrystals and stones are common with LS...her diet is low in purine as well as protein which is what is needed to help stop the stones from forming...at the moment she is on antibiotics to fight her UTI and another drug to help her kidney stones....the biggest danger is that they will move and block her urethra...sadly that will be fatal because the only solution at that point would be surgery and she can't have it...we have talked to Dr. Tobias in Tennessee...she is a wonderful doctor that has devoted her entire practice to understanding and treating LS and was the surgeon who invented the constrictor surgery that has been so successful. She was amazed that Vivi has lived as long as she has because her numbers are so bad....we have been able to control the seizures with lactulose and diet and close supervision. I am lucky that I can take her to the studio with me each day. It seems that you and Royce are under the care of great doctors and I hope and pray that he will get better soon. Hugs to you both.

Dr. Larry Adams at Purdue University performs lithotripsy ( destroying kidney stones by shock waves ) you might consider that to avoid that the stones
move and block her urethra...

[LaviniaHyacynth]

We looked into lithotripsy .... it is also performed at the University of Tennessee. Vivi is not a candidate for the treatment because her stones are too big, they are in both kidneys...they will not do this surgery if both kidneys are involved because of the risk of kidney damage...she also can not have any sedation due to her liver damage. Believe me, I have talked to a lot of vets....I am also a compulsive internet researcher...I would do anything to help this dog...I have been talking to a company that makes an herbal based product for humans that is supposed to dissolve kidney stones...they are trying to find out the dosage for a 5lb dog. I am not a fatalist...in fact I am an optimist..I have just had to accept the fact that this situation is terminal. Vivi and I are trying to enjoy whatever time we have left. I am not going to cut her time shorter than it already is.

[yorkieusa]

It's good that you are an optimist. You would probably be very surprised to know the number of little yorkies that have lived normal life spans in a healthy manner because their mommies wouldn't give up.