Liver Shunt Diet
 

My little yorkie went throught liver shunt surgery about two years ago. She is three now and doing great. My question is this....

Does anyone know a good diet for yorkies that have gone through this surgery? I have her eating the Hills Prescriptive Diet l/d dry dog food. I have heard rumors about a diet for dogs that is more natural and better for them.

I am fine with making her food. I feel sorry for her having to eat that dry food everyday..it is so boring! :(

Thanks...:)

Hi Lily Bear, I also have a liver shunt/mvd dog, and I actually homecook for him. L/D is a good food for liver compromised dogs, but I wouldn't recommend the dry version of this food because it does contain ethoxyquin which is a preservative that is said to be a carcinogen...Canned L/D is much better.

Actually though, I much prefer Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14 for liver compromised dogs. This is a highly patable food that most dogs love.

Is you dog doing well since the surgery? Any crystals, stones, lack of appetite, etc?

I highly recommend that you join the liver shunt and mvd group on yahoo groups:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/

Welcome to YorkieTalk:)

I'm glad your girl is doing well.
I thought that once a dog has normal bile acids after LS, surgery, they didn't need to be on low protein anymore.:confused:

Anyway, I don't like dry L/D because it has ethoxyquin in it.
If I had to feed L/D, it would be the canned.
Royal Canin makes a dry food for liver compromised dogs.
It is called Hepatic 14.
This is better than L/D kibble if you want to feed dry but Royal Canin has made several Yorkies very itchy (including mine).
Actually, this was the exact food that did that to her.
Also, if you are feeding dry, I would add equal parts water to it because the moisture is good for them (especially with bladder issues).
My Yorkie has high bile acids but probably not LS or MVD.
I make her food.
I got the recipe from a nutritionist but it is a bit higher in protein then what a dog with LS needs (according to some vets).
You could consult a nutritionist if you want to homecook or Dr. Dodds created a homecooked diet for the liver. Sometimes owners replace the fish in this diet with egg. This diet can be found on the Yahoo Liver Shunt Group. Have you been there yet? The diet I think is slightly unbalanced, so I'd talk to a nutritionist.

Also, Natural Balance makes a vegetarian food that might work for you.

LOL

Yorkieluv and I posted at the same time.:)
And that is the group I was talking about.

Thanks! :)
 

Thanks for the help Yorkieluv and Ellie May! I will look into the yahoo group. I use to have Lily on the wet l/d and then recently switched. It is good to know that about the dry food. I would like to make her food that she likes. I will need to do the research first.

I love her and just want her to have the best. Again, thanks for the advice!

Ellie May is also full of great information and experience!

:welcome4: to YT!

I am sure there are people here that can help!

other groups
 

I would highly advise working with a trained nutritionist and not JUST using yahoo groups and the internet but instead using them in addition to the nutritionist. Other groups that are good are the Liver HelpN chat group and the canine liverD yahoo groups.
did you notify the breeder so he/she can alter their breeding program accordingly?

Good point...If you're looking for a long-term diet to homecook, talking to nutritionist is a good idea...