MVD Information from Dr Tobias at UT
 

So many of us here have dogs who were diagnosed with having "MVD" or hepatic microvascular dysplasia. A few months ago, one of my vets mentioned to me that the term "MVD" was falling out of use and was now being called Portal Vein Hyperplasia or PVH. When I mentioned to another vet that my dog had long been an "MVD dog" she also commented that this was now called PVH.

I found this article from the University of TN written by Dr. Tobias fairly recently in 2013. I found that the term MVD really has been changed to PVH for non-shunt cases. I thought this was a good read overall. I was especially interested in the following points:

1. If bile acids are abnormal at 8 weeks of age, liver disease should be suspected, and the puppy’s blood should be retested at 12 weeks of age for abnormalities in bile acids and chemistries. Because congenital PSS and PVH-MVD are so common in Yorkies...bile acids and chemistries should be evaluated at 4 to 6 months of age for evidence of liver dysfunction

2. MVD-PVH is NOT caused by vaccines because it is an inherited disease

3. Dogs with MVD-PVH should be on heartworm and other preventatives just like any other dog

4. The prognosis is usually very good with many dogs living long lives

5. A random sampling at UT predicts that 50% of yorkies are estimated to have MVD-PVH.

6. Dogs with MVD-PVH who have clinical signs may need protein restricted diets, but those without clinical signs may not.

7. Although this is a genetic issue, and the recommendation is to never breed a dog with a PSS, the jury is out as to whether MVD-PVH dogs should not be bred since many healthy dogs can carry the genes.

https://vetmed.tennessee.edu/vmc/Dow...NAL-201304.pdf

That estimate that 50% of Yorkies have MVD/PVH is astounding but I'm ready to believe that figure or something very near it.

Thank you for the link. Going to read it now.

Correction
 

It's Portal Vein Hypoplasia (I had said hyper). Sorry for the oops!

I saved a copy to read after lunch. I hope everyone reads this article. Probably should be a sticky. Fifty percent of Yorkies!!! smh.

I actually totally agree! It is a great read, I've read it quickly myself, but plan to pour over it when I have more time. I think Ann would make it a sticky if others agree with us.

I say "Sticky"!!!

Too pre-mature. I have yet to see if this article is peer-reviewed. If we did have our research section it would make for a good link. Unfortunately right now the link won't open for me, but hopefully later I can get in and read it.

As you are aware only looking at data from one hospital and that one being a pre-eminent one in the field of LS and MVD / PVH can create bias no matter how randomly the selection was done. In this random selection how many actual breeding lines were examined? I also would be interested to know if they have reported back to the breeders in question who might have no idea that maybe 50% of their puppies have either LS or MVD/PVH.

I am happy how-ever to see the recommendation for breeders to test at 8wks on BATS and retest at 4-6months - something my breeder has been doing for 8yrs or so. And my breeder will not breed to any sire that has not been BATS tested. Yet still something could crop up in the puppies.

And let us wait to see if YTCA changes their CHIC requirements to make BATS testing on all breeding stock mandatory and not suggested/recommended.

I remember posting years ago I thought from various research I had read that Liver Disease is at about 1 in 3 in this breed and for this reason, make sure your breeder is testing not only their breeding stock, but the puppies at 8wks old.

Since when do articles we post have to be peer reviewed? Considering the author is internationally renowned for her work on liver shunt and leads the research, who do you propose peer reviews it?

I do too. I think many owners here would benefit from finding this article as their dogs are diagnosed with PVH. The article gives guidelines for treatment and diet that owners can discuss with their vets and the information is a reliable source -- Karen Tobias.

Since never and if I implied it should be, I am sorry, I just would like to see it peer reviewed.

I didn't know a Sticky article had to be anything but something soundly informative or an opinion or advice based on someone's reasonable thoughts and conclusions placed in our Library for ease in accessing. Each member reading them then considers the information or advice offered and makes up their own mind about it. I wonder at how many small dogs with recurrent iffy tummies, nausea and spitting up, vomiting, picky eaters, occasional lethargy, etc., go improperly tested due to their problems being associated with stress or something they ate, IBD, gastroenteritis, etc., as my Tibbe was for two years? He repeatedly had normal liver and other blood studies but eventually, thanks to Ellie May(Crystal) strongly suggesting it, had an abnormal Bile Acids test, obtained only upon my insistence and then further testing to rule-out liver shunt and was diagnosed with MVD. A change in diet has changed his life and he's a totally different dog now. Seems like this article would be something everyone should have easy access to in order to become more informed so they can push along a ill-informed or reluctant vet when routine liver studies keep coming back normal.

It's an informational handout for pet owners (and a very nicely done, easy to understand one at that), not an article that would be peer reviewed. If you scroll down to the bottom of the handouts, you will see the references from peer reviewed journal articles listed there.

Great Article! Thank you.

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Thanks and as soon as I can get this to load I will.

The YTCA is too busy trying to manage their three ring circus to care about BAT.