possible liver shunt

[kodibear]

Originally Posted by diggy4

What state are you in? If you are anywhere near Michigan....I would consider taking him....I dont know how rescues work and if this has to go thru the rescue or whatever. Lets start with first things first...Let me know if your still considering giving him up.

Sorry, I didn't see this message when I posted earlier!
I'm in Michigan
If his test results come back as a shunt that can be managed by diet and medication, we will probably keep him- he's doing a lot better right now, running around and constantly going to his dish for more food. If the vet says he needs surgery for sure, then he is going to be up for rescue. I'd love to give him to someone on here because you guys have been great over the last two weeks and I know he'd get good care. The New Buffalo Animal Hospital (where he was originally rescued) also offered to take him back and give him the care he needs but for now, we're just waiting to see how he does

Thank-you for all your help

[diggy4]

If the shunt is operable is the rescue willing to help with the cost?

[kodibear]

I think that if we brought him back to the rescue, they were going to take care of him and his costs (although they weren't real clear- they just said that the vet had specialized in the surgery in school and that they would take him back) However, I did some looking last night, and I know that the Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue has a fund set up for people who need assistance in the surgery costs (http://www.livershunt.com - there's a link for requesting funding)

[Yorkieluv]

Make sure they actually do diagnostic tests to determine whether or not he has a shunt. MVD and an extrahepatic shunt are different. Extrahepatic shunts need to be repaired, even if the dog is acting okay. With MVD, there is no surgery that can fix it, and they need to be maintained on a very strict diet, lactulose, and supplements, especially if the numbers are high.

[kodibear]

yes, we are aware of those things. Originally we were going to wait it out and see if it was MVD, but at this point the decision has been made to put him up for adoption regardless of what type of liver problems he has. It's hard for me right now to consider that we have only had him for 2.5 weeks and already have to say goodbye, but my parents have decided that it is going to be the best for him right now.

Please pray for my family as our little kodibear has definitely worked his way into our hearts already and we are really going to miss him

[Yorkieluv]

I'm so sorry that you have to give him up, but know that he will be in good hands...

[diggy4]

Originally Posted by kodibear

Cody went into the vet today because he just hasn't picked up after his vaccines last week. She ran some blood tests on him and his liver levels were high. She didn't do a bile acid test or anything so she couldn't say for sure that he had a shunt, but is a very real possibility right now. He took a bad fall two days before the vaccines, so she said the trauma may have caused his levels to be higher so she sent us home with lactulose because he's been getting wobbly and disoriented, an antibiotic just to rule out infection, an anti-vomiting medication, and i/d canned food. We're also supposed to keep up on the nutrical (we thought he was hypoglycemic) On Friday she wants to do another blood test and a bile acid test to see if it is a shunt.

So, I have some questions- If it is a shunt, what then? Is it something that he will need medication for the rest of his life? Can it be managed with a special diet? (he won't touch the food the vet gave us) Do yorkies usually need surgery for a portosystemic shunt?

My parents are talking about putting him back up for rescue if it turns out to be a shunt- more so because if he's going to be high maintenance and sickly they're not ready to deal with that emotionally... We all felt sick when the vet was explaining all the medications and restrictions she was sending us home with and with talk of hospitalizing him for an IV and observation and possibly having to go in all day when he goes for his next vaccinations so they can give him a steroid first and then observe him for a reaction and hearing hims scream in the other room as they were injecting who knows what into him after drawing his blood...

We just can't bear to see him this way We're shoving medications down his throat, he doesn't want to be by us, he's just sleeping and won't touch his food...

Any info you can give me on the liver shunt and its management would be very helpful to me right now. We have to be ready to make the decision about keeping him by Friday when we see if he's doing better or not...

Are you going ahead with the B.A.T. Friday?

[drawlins27]

I'm not so sure that it is a liver shunt or MVD. You said he ate quite a lot of the i/d and was doing much better? With liver shunt, the protein in the i/d would actually make him worse after he ate as his body is flooded with toxins. Yorkieluv would know the answer to this.

You said you were going to return him to the rescue? Did you mean the animal hospital where your parents got him or will you be giving him to a rescue organization? I would love to see diggy4 get him. I'm sure that the two of you could keep in touch so that you could see how he was doing.

Regardless, I think that you are doing the right thing. It takes a really special person to be willing to give up a dog they love so that he will get the care he needs. If he is getting worse quickly then he does need tests right away to determine the problem. You're doing a really good thing.

[drawlins27]

Originally Posted by diggy4

Are you going ahead with the B.A.T. Friday?

I think that she said that her parents did not want to put him through the tests and that they were going to rehome him. I'm hoping you get him!

[sasha1]

Just take one step at a time as alot of possibilities have been discussed and nothing appears to be confirmed yet. I would not like to have the make that decision but hopefully this website can help you through it. Keep us posted on developments!

[diggy4]

Well I can half update you....
I am discussing taking Kodi....he is being returned to the hospital this weekend. I am not convinced its even a liver problem. He may be reacting to shots. No tests have been ran to say for sure its liver. Here is what I am asking to happen.
If he is infact returned I ask that the hospital run some tests and narrow down diagnosis... A B.A.T. and some others that I am getting some advice on.
The diagnosis will not make a difference in wether I take him or not, I just feel I should at least be given a really good idea of what Im getting into. Its the unknown that scares me...as long as I know what he has and how to treat him I am willing to do what it takes. What I cannot do is take him on and not know....I have 2 skin kids and 2 yorkies already.....I just feel this would go MUCH smoother getting to the root of the problem first then things can fall into place.
I have asked that my name be given to the hospital he is being returned to so I hopefully will be considered for adopting him. I want to be able to go over his test results with some people on here and with my vet so she also knows what she is dealing with as she will be a vital role in this too. I have to make sure she is willing to take this on with me as I need to have complete trust in who is caring for him and basically put his life in their hands. If she isnt willing to (I am sure she will be) then try to get a new vet lined up. A lot has to happen but trust me I am trying to do this the best possible way to keep Kodi safe and comfy as he is my main concern right now, and taking him on with out having all these things resolved first would be a total injustice to him, he deserves the very best and I am trying to line that up for him! I will keep you posted as to what I find out and please pray with me that whatever happens, Kodi get better and keep thoughts with the family he is with right now.

[Tatiana11]

Originally Posted by diggy4

Well I can half update you....
I am discussing taking Kodi....he is being returned to the hospital this weekend. I am not convinced its even a liver problem. He may be reacting to shots. No tests have been ran to say for sure its liver. Here is what I am asking to happen.
If he is infact returned I ask that the hospital run some tests and narrow down diagnosis... A B.A.T. and some others that I am getting some advice on.
The diagnosis will not make a difference in wether I take him or not, I just feel I should at least be given a really good idea of what Im getting into. Its the unknown that scares me...as long as I know what he has and how to treat him I am willing to do what it takes. What I cannot do is take him on and not know....I have 2 skin kids and 2 yorkies already.....I just feel this would go MUCH smoother getting to the root of the problem first then things can fall into place.
I have asked that my name be given to the hospital he is being returned to so I hopefully will be considered for adopting him. I want to be able to go over his test results with some people on here and with my vet so she also knows what she is dealing with as she will be a vital role in this too. I have to make sure she is willing to take this on with me as I need to have complete trust in who is caring for him and basically put his life in their hands. If she isnt willing to (I am sure she will be) then try to get a new vet lined up. A lot has to happen but trust me I am trying to do this the best possible way to keep Kodi safe and comfy as he is my main concern right now, and taking him on with out having all these things resolved first would be a total injustice to him, he deserves the very best and I am trying to line that up for him! I will keep you posted as to what I find out and please pray with me that whatever happens, Kodi get better and keep thoughts with the family he is with right now.

YAY!! for u! let me know if I can help with anything. It could be a number of thing not just liver shunt (as u were so kind to point out to me previously!) Armani reacts badly to shots as well, goes straight to sleep when we get home. We have to remember how small these little guys are and honestly I myself do not tolerate shots well, so I can only imagine what they go through. Armani acts weird for a couple of hours (Sleepy, diarrhea) and then bounces right back. The vet said this is normal for the little ones receiving more than one shot at a time

GOOD LUCK!! i hope u get the little one :

[Yorkieluv]

Wow, I thought the bile acid test had already been done, and that's why they thought he had a liver shunt??? I'm totally confused now. Why do they think it's a liver shunt or MVD? Diggy4, I really hope that you get this little baby, and the animal hospital, in my opinion, should do the diagnostic tests before adopting him out again. They need to be able to tell the future owner what is wrong with him.

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by drawlins27

I'm not so sure that it is a liver shunt or MVD. You said he ate quite a lot of the i/d and was doing much better? With liver shunt, the protein in the i/d would actually make him worse after he ate as his body is flooded with toxins. Yorkieluv would know the answer to this.

You said you were going to return him to the rescue? Did you mean the animal hospital where your parents got him or will you be giving him to a rescue organization? I would love to see diggy4 get him. I'm sure that the two of you could keep in touch so that you could see how he was doing.

Regardless, I think that you are doing the right thing. It takes a really special person to be willing to give up a dog they love so that he will get the care he needs. If he is getting worse quickly then he does need tests right away to determine the problem. You're doing a really good thing.

You are right, the i/d would not make him better, but we have to remember that he was also sent home with lactulose.
The lactulose is more than likely pushing the toxins out of his body, therefore making him feel better.

[Yorkieluv]

kodibear, make sure Cody is getting his lactulose after his meals...The rice is good because you are reducing the amount of protein he's getting by adding it to the i/d, but it also binds up his stool, so he will need lactulose to push the toxins out of his body.