WARNING... Yorkie "Epilepsy" or Seizures...

[Yomom]

This week has been quite a journey for me and my beautiful Yorkie, Barclay. He has had seizures for a few months and because another Yorkie of mine some time back had seizures, I ASSUMED it was the same idiopathic epilepsy. My first Yorkie died at 16. I hold him quietly, never feeding during and it passes. I told my Vet and he agreed and was not alarmed because I was not alarmed. In addition, to make matters worse, because my fur baby is small, I give him Salmon and bits of chicken and steak- heavy protein to supplement his diet. Because my Yorkie is younger- I started doing research. Long story short- his seizure is most likely a symptom of a liver shunt. His Bile test is tomorrow AM- but the blood tests came back very poor. Giving him meat was killing him. Please don't make the same mistake I made. If your dog has seizures, tell the Vet you want a blood test and Bile Acid test. This can be fatal, so please don't wait because your next door neighbor's dog has had seizures it's whole life and puts your mind at ease. Liver Shunts are a huge problem, especially with Yorkies. And what ever you do, DON'T give your dog anything with protein if you suspect this. Give yogurt and no meat until you can get your pet to the Vet. Liver Shunt symptoms can be found on livershunt.com

[bchgirl]

Good advice...especially in instances with a symptom so serious as a seizure. The cause needs to be determined.

Liver shunt is not a death sentence. Many dogs have surgery performed and go on to live long healthy lives.

Wishing you and your pup all the best.

[Yomom]

You are 100% right- what could be a death sentence was my assumption that the seizures were not a big deal since my first yorkie had them. If your dog has a seizure, get their blood tested then do a bile acid test to know what you are dealing with. And don't give meat until you do. This could be making matters sooo much worse!

[Vinniedoggy]

Wow, so horrible that you're going through this, but thanks so much for posting! I never knew this and I've now had three yorkies. Good information.

[Ringo1]

Good Luck tomorrow; I've been following you thread in the S&I forum; I hope you get some answers.

My Lucy has MVD but no shunt suspected; we control her diet. She can have protein - just not protein overload and I stay away from all beef. She is able to tolerate chicken; some liver compromised dogs cannot.

Her symptoms first started after a can of beef Alpo given to me by a well-meaning neighbor; she had seizure-like activity and we did her first BAT.

I just want you to know LS doesn't have to be a death sentence; but you have been researching so you probably already know that.

[107barney]

Dogs with seizures due to epilepsy need to be treated.
My Teddy was just diagnosed with Epilepsy and was started immediately on medication to control and/or prevent the seizures.
His condition is mild, nevertheless, treatment is not optional.

I read on your other thread that the ALT was 160. I have an MVD dog whose ALT was over that at diagnosis. Recently her ALT was higher than 160 due to an infection not related to her liver. I hope the BAT testing provides more insight into what is going on with your dog.