Liver Shunt in certain breeding lines
 

I have a question for anyone out there with any information. Does anyone know of a way to find out if a certain breeding line has a high insidence of liver shunt? I am so upset I could just scream!! If you were told your puppy came from such a line, and the breeder never told you, what would you do?? A year guarantee on such a line would not mean much would it? I don't know which way to turn. If my breeder is being truthful, why would someone say such a thing, and say it is ok to say her name? Please help if you can. Thanks so much:confused:

Have you talked to you breeder about your concerns? Do you happen to know anyone else that has a puppy from her? If so, you could always ask them about the health of their dog.

Tammy

I know yorkies and havaneese dogs are prone to liver shunts but if you go to this group they know everything about this condition. They were very helpful with me when I needed help learning about liver shunts in regards to my dog Teddi. Check it out. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/

I'm sorry I don't have any info for you, I'm sure others can give it to you.
I lost Molly, she was only 5 mos old to that, contacted the breeder and she guaranteed me a replacement. One year later I got Bailey from her, she is now 3 1/2.
I had purchased Maggie, my 5 yr old from her as a pup. Both my girls are very healthy. I know they have the same parents.
I'm so sorry, I wish I could advise you.

Liver shunt usually shows up before 1 year old. I would suggest you to talk to the breeder or if she gives you any names of where she got her dogs, try to talk to them also. You could also ask for references of previous clients and call them. Which line is he from?

In searching for other dogs to buy for myself, I have come to the conclusion that most famous lines have had Liver shunt at some point or another in the history.

If you want to breed then I don't know what I'd do.
If you bought from a line and just wanted a pet, just bile acid test (and make sure even if you bile acid test now, you do it again after six months...my opinion only). Any Yorkie can get an acquired shunt which really has nothing to do with breeding...

How sad. :(
The breed is so full of it and I don't like it.:( :( :(

Thanks to all who answered me last night. The phone call I received completely threw me for a loop. I have now had an e-mail from my breeder reassuring me that this was totally false. She explained Darbys test results (7.6) were a post test, as she doesn't feel it is good to fast a puppy that young, and the post test is the most important. I have a lot of accusations done in a phone call, and the answers in an e-mail that I printed out and added to Darby's file. I am not going toget into a name calling contest, or give names that could potentially cause problems for anyone. I just wish I had not received that frightening phone call. We all do what we can to check our breeders, but, honestly, most of our judgements are based on the breeders projection to us, and the look of our puppies.
As most of you know, Darby is a Biewer. There are a million books out there on Yorkies, and none on Biewers. Yes, the two breeds originated from the same dogs; but through the years, Biewers have been bred only to Biewers in an effort to perfect the breed, and make it its own separate breed. So some of the yorkie information, may have differences in the Biewers. I can only hope that the push and shove of the different breeders gets handled without all the misinformation being spread as gospel. Thanks again for listening to my ramblings last night, I was in a panic.:)

I agree with Sugar's Mom, it can pop in any line and has if they've been breeding for x amount of years.

Biewers are not as distant from the inbreeding as yorkies are, being a new breed. I understand your concern. I don't know what the percentages are but I'm sure it's not too high (I hope). We have quite a few healthy ones on YT.

I am fostering a 4 month old Yorkie that just had liver shunt surgery in March. He came from a breeder that did not have the mother or the sire checked for any genetic problems. He was the only one in the litter with the shunt.

I joined the Liver MD Yahoo group that someone posted the link to earlier. That site has a lot of information you should really check it out.

He is doing really well. He has to take Lactulose three times a day and is on prescription food. He goes next week for his six week check up and his Bile Acid Test. At that point, we will see if he will have to be on meds and special food for the rest of his life.

Thanks, I will check that out. My prayers are with that little furface. I don't think I could ever foster, I would never be able to let go:)

There are some very specific lines on the Biewers that have produced liver shunt puppies. There have been some specific dogs identified as being LS carriers. If the carriers are not mated, hopefully there will be fewer instances of LS.

It is important to know which dogs are carriers. A breeder should know what is in their lines. Unfortunately, when a LS develops in a puppy, the parents should be spayed and neutered and so should any siblings from the parents' matings.

Many times a puppy that dies in the first year, dies from LS. If a necropsy is done, the breeder frequently doesn't share the information with other breeders or buyers, because they don't want to remove parents, siblings, from their breeding lines. Or they don't inform the buyers of the siblings of this information.

You did the right thing by asking the questions you did.

Anyone thinking about buying a Biewer puppy, should request the pedigree and ask 3 or 4 biewer breeders about the pedigrees and lines. Ask the seller if they know which lines produce LS--if they don't know, this might not be the breeder for you. This is one time where the expression: Let the buyer beware is very true.

This is a sensitive topic. I hope this explanation is informative and educational.

I can only imagine your panic with receiving such a phonecall!
But my first question would by ... why is this person phoning you?:eek:

I do hope you have spoken to your breeder at length and that you have some valid answers and comfort.

Being the owner of a Livershunt Pup,that was imported from Germany, I can say through exsperience that having my little girl diagnosed with a shunt was very upsetting. Thankfully she has had the corrective shunt surgery and is living out her life here in our home.I am proud to say she is doing fabulously!
I do have her pedigree and have shared it freely with anyone doing research.
There is alot of update info that many breeders are willing to discuss and share.
Back to the topic at hand,
of late there has been rumors and innuendo's of certain lines having had livershunt.I myself have done alot of pedigree research and have gathered * Documented cases* Pedigree's and or necropsy reports.
However, we all have to remember the pedigree is only as honest as the breeder.Having said that,In my opinion always follow facts and documents not rumors.Always ask for Bile Acid Test Results on the Parents as well as the offspring.Make sure that any contract is iron clad and protects the buyer as well as the breeder.

Feel free to contact me and congrats on your new Biewer Baby!
Best Wishes,
Jan

Thanks for your prayers. Fostering is difficult at times. You're right it is hard to let go but by the same token, it's a joy you can't imagine when you place a furbaby in its forever home.