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04-27-2009, 04:35 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grant, AL USA
Posts: 8
| Sick puppy need advice Hello everyone, I have just joined this site while researching information on my 9 month old yorkie, Charlie Brown. He started acting a little unbalanced Saturday, I just thought he had a long day playing outside and did not think to much about it until Sunday. When we woke he was acting as if he was drunk, walking sideways and just could not balance well. I took him to the vet this morning and she ran blood work and checked his liver and said everything was fine. She mentioned she thought it might be neurological and I have done some research and frankly it scares the heck out of me, mostly because I do not know what we should expect from here. I picked him up after work and will take him back to the vet tomorrow while I am at work, I am not sure what she intends to do from here but I feel better knowing he will be there while I am at work. I have a three year old female, Lucy and have not had any problems with her so I am new to the diseases/sickness of yorkies, any advice, prayers and ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks, Charlie, Lucy & Tonya |
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04-27-2009, 04:44 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | What test did she perform to rule out liver shunt? LS doesn't always show up in a blood panel until there is significant damage done to the liver. He needs a bile acid test...and the results of that will determine whether additional testing is needed. LS isn't fatal...many many dogs have LS treated surgically and live...long healthy lives afterward. I'm sorry Charlie Brown is sick.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com |
04-27-2009, 05:20 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Did you know that Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined? Charlie Brown absolutely needs to get a bile acids test. Here is some information for you: Portosystemic Shunts FAQ PSVA and MVD Research Summary |
04-27-2009, 05:28 PM | #4 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grant, AL USA
Posts: 8
| Thanks for info The bile acid test was on my list for questions tomorrow. I will continue researching tonight and learn everything I can so I can go in there informed at least. I will check out the sites provided and keep you informed of our progress. The part I find odd is his drunken actions are not constant, does this mean anything? He will be all wobbly and then he tears out like nothing is wrong with good balance, is this normal? |
04-27-2009, 05:32 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Quote:
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com | |
04-27-2009, 05:35 PM | #6 |
Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois
Posts: 9,666
| You definitely have my thoughts and prayers, for your baby...Charlie Brown (cute name). How much does he weigh? What does he eat, and does this drunken like state happen after meals? I would also be concerned about AAI...ask your vet about this too. Good luck, I hope you find out what is causing this and that it is very treatable.
__________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels |
04-27-2009, 05:39 PM | #7 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
Yes, that is typical. Do you notice he seems worse after a meal? How much protein is in the food you are feeding him? If his liver is damaged, it can't process the ammonia found in animal proteins. Red meat is the worst.
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04-27-2009, 05:53 PM | #8 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grant, AL USA
Posts: 8
| Charlie weights approximately 4 lbs. he had been eating science diet dog food except for the past two months has been eating purina dog chow. I am thinking we will go back to the science diet tomorrow as we had no problems. The past couple of days I have boiled chicken for him as he was not interested in his dog food. I will definitely evaluate his diet since this has happened. I have many questions for the vet tomorrow and she will get to observe him and test tomorrow, I am just trying to get all info possible as I feel ignorant on the subject at this time, will definitely know more as time goes by and I appreciate all your help and concern. |
04-28-2009, 05:35 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Dogs with LS feel sick after eating and it may be the cause of his lack of interest in his food. Keep us updated.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com |
04-28-2009, 06:58 AM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grant, AL USA
Posts: 8
| Charlie's status We took Charlie back to the vet this morning, the test performed yesteday were Chem 12 and CBC. I did not talk to the veternarian at this point, only the tech, I asked about the bile acid test and she said she cannot remeber ever doing one at this office. I also, had her make note of the Charlie's food change, just grabbing at all possibilities. The tech mentioned White Shaker disease, does anyone have any knowledge on this subject? She did tell me that they had given Charlie some Valium yesterday and asked if that seemed to help. I thought he was somewhat better but by far not his jovial self, still bouts of unbalance and drunkeness. He wanted to play but could tell that he was not up to the task just yet. |
04-28-2009, 07:06 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Did they give you the results of the chem 12 panel? Sometimes the bun is off in liver compromised dogs and often times liver function shows in normal range simply because there isn't enough damage present yet. He really needs to have a bile acid test performed and then proceed from there. There are many vets who are not familiar with shunts. You really need to seek out a vet or specialist in this area. Your vet can also contact Dr. Tobias for more information. Faculty ETA - Until LS has been eliminated...I'd be very leary of giving medications. His liver may not be capable of processing the meds.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com Last edited by bchgirl; 04-28-2009 at 07:07 AM. |
04-28-2009, 08:28 AM | #12 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grant, AL USA
Posts: 8
| bchgirl, Thanks a ton for the info, again I feel ignorant and really appreciate your guidance. I have another Yorkie "Lucy" and she is 3.5 years old and has never had any problems like this so I am truely a newbie here. I find the site you listed very easy to understand and will give me some more knowledge on the subject. The GREAT part is I live in North Alabama just a short drive from the University. I will continue my quest to find out what is wrong and spend some time with the vet this afternoon. I will pass along the info about Dr. Tobias to our vet. Again I can not thank all of you enough for the help in getting this resolved. |
04-28-2009, 08:38 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| If your vet knows nothing about bile acid tests, you need to take Charlie Brown to U of T. You can waste a lot of time and money with a vet who isn't knowledgable about liver disease. Maltese like my Lady are prone to White Shaker Syndrome. It usually affects white dogs like Maltese, Westie's, etc. as the name suggests. There is a generalized tremor, not loss of balance like Charlie Brown has. Liver shunts are the first thought when a Yorkie exhibits those symptoms, not White Shaker. |
04-28-2009, 09:35 AM | #14 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Quote:
There is a member here Lolasmommy1211 whose dog recently underwent surgery at UT to repair her shunt. She speaks very very highly of them...send her a pm. I'm sure she would be happy to discuss it with you....or use the search feature located in the banner up top. You'll find her posts.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com | |
04-28-2009, 09:41 AM | #15 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| I 100% agree with all that is posted. This sounds like Liver Shunt or MVD And as was posted above, you can really start to *waste* a lot of $ and time with a Vet that isn't familiar with Liver Disease. #1 - a Bile Acid Serum (BAT) needs to be done. If your Vet doesn't know what this is or hasn't done too many, then pls call around for another more experienced Vet. #2 - If you are close enough to U of Tenn - GO THERE ASAP - You will get the most accurate results that are very timely and cost effective. No more boiled chicken. At this point SD and Purina are NO GOOD for him. Can you get Natural Balance - Veggie formula ??? - until you get more LS results Last edited by TLC; 04-28-2009 at 09:43 AM. |
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