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Urgent! Advice on Neutering & Liver Shunt My Porkie is due for his neutering on Tuesday but I'm not sure I want him to have it done :( He was suppose to go on July 24th but a test they gave said he had a kidney problem so we had to take him home and get a urine sample...it showed everything was ok, then we had to come in the following week for a blood test and something was wrong there too and now they are talking about a possibility of a liver shunt. It's very confusing because they say there is a chance he has this shunt but they still want him to have the surgery on Tuesday. It's all a mess and I feel like I'm going in circles trying to get some answers about the shunt. I don't want to take chances on the maybe's or might have's, I want to know for sure and then I want to have it treated! Porkie shows no signs at all of being sick, he is playful, gaining weight (from 2 lbs to 6 lbs) eating pretty well and voiding well too so I just don't get it....help!! Kat |
If they think he has liver shunt, a bile acid test may have been done. If it was, what were the results? Is a regular vet overseeing his case or a specialist? Neutering can usually be done on liver compromised dogs but for me personally, I think I would wait until test results came in. Since there is a chance that it is a shunt that will need repairing, I'd do the neuter at the same time to avoid anesthesia twice. Even if no surgery is necessary, some specialists like to do liver biopsies (some would rather not) and one could be done during the neuter in that case. Special precautions are taken in dogs with compromised livers. Quite often the dog is masked down with Isoflurane instead of using any drugs IV. My dog's bile acids were post 47 in the fall and post 106 in the winter and she was spayed with no complications.:) What was the kidney problem? What is your pup eating? Does he ever get shaky or lethargic? Does he like to eat? If a bile acid test was done, had he had any medications (including heartworm, flea and vaccines) about two weeks or less before the test? |
I agree with Crystal. Find out if you are dealing with a shunt before he is neutered. Has he had a bile acids test? If so, what were his numbers? If he hasn't had one done yet, he needs one. Shunts are so common in Yorkies. |
Urgent! Advice on Neutering & Liver Shunt Thank you for your responses and advice, they are so appreciated :) The original test showed a kidney problem but when we did the urine test it showed to be normal so no kidney problem...weird Porkie is eating mostly chicken & kibble, past 2 days some rice and hamburger He was only shaky when he ended up in the ER and was treated for anorexia & hypoglycemia the second day we had him...damned pet store :( He usually likes to eat but he's been teething so he wants to be babied and fed by hand. Of course he will eat anything we are eating..par for the course ;) We are not sure if a bile acid test was done but we will find out on Tuesday and get one if it wasn't done. What do the numbers mean? What is good numbers vs bad? Porkie was given Interceptor (heartworm medication) on the 26th of July and the blood test on the 28th. We are rethinking the neutering on Tuesday..thank you again for responding :) Kat |
I personally would hold off on the neutering until he is further diagnosed. If it is a shunt, I'd treat/repair that before I went through with neutering (or have it done at the same time). |
Normal bile acids values are less than 25. Bile acids over 100 is usually indicative of a liver shunt. Great than 25, but less than 100 points more towards MVD. Here are a couple of links for you full of information: Hepatic Vascular Disorders - WSAVA 2006 Congress Portosystemic Shunts FAQ |
I think we have pretty much decided to wait and see what the vet says on Tuesday. There is no rush for the neutering he will only be 7 months on the 13th and I would rather be safe than sorry :) Thanks for the links, I will surely give them a look as well :) In the meantime you can take a look at my sweetie by looking at the pictures I just downloaded :rolleyes: I think he is just the cutest little fella and I want him to stay happy and healthy with a very long lifetime as well :D My fingers are crossed :) |
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