What R symptoms of liver shunt??

[myriamha]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

I've really been monitoring his water intake and some days he drinks a lot, I think more than the recommended amount, and other days he doesn't.

Do you know his exact weight ? Royce is 4 pounds and he should be drinking between 100 ml to 150 ml daily if he drinks more than that then something is abnormal . You should take him to the vet for an urie analysis to make everything is ok .

[GucciMyGirl]

Rebecca.. Gucci had liver shunt and was operated on if you remember over the summer. Gucci always was a water drinker and I wasn't really concerned. She developed sypmtoms over the summer to prompt my immediate attention. One was that she was throwing up one evening and afterwards was retching that is not normal . Then she started becoming legtharic to a point that she was one day walking off balance... So I knew something was up.

To satisfy your concerns on your next visit run it by the vet. They found Gucci's shunt with ultra sound and prior to that they did Bile acid testing. That is where they make them fast from food and water and then they give them food and so on. This shows a certain number that their levels should be at, and if there is any abnormalities. I am not a vet, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. But to ease your mind talk to the vet.... If you need to ask me anything PM, or go back and read my posts. I am always around here and the other hangout...lol Hope this was a little helpful.. Gina

[chattiesmom]

Rebecca-- I am not a vet, but if Hobbs is just drinking more water than you think he should, that doesn't sound like liver shunt. It is always a good idea to do a complete liver profile and have it on file with your vet so that they have a baseline to compare to later on -- so you might consider a good checkup and talk with your vet.

dizpatch mentioned Dr. Karen Tobais. She is the leading LS expert -- Yorkies are the central subjects of her study. When I had some serious questions about one of my kids, I sent an email to Dr. Tobais and she responded within 48 hours. She is the GREATEST!

These are some of the signs I was told to look for -- especially about 2 hours after eating a high protein meal: butting the head against the wall, walking in circles, confusion, acting like they are in pain, becoming legtharic, seizures......

LS dogs are generally (but not always) small for the breed and often are very poor eaters.

[chattiesmom]

Gina, how is Gucci doing now?

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Rebecca-- I am not a vet, but if Hobbs is just drinking more water than you think he should, that doesn't sound like liver shunt. It is always a good idea to do a complete liver profile and have it on file with your vet so that they have a baseline to compare to later on -- so you might consider a good checkup and talk with your vet.

dizpatch mentioned Dr. Karen Tobais. She is the leading LS expert -- Yorkies are the central subjects of her study. When I had some serious questions about one of my kids, I sent an email to Dr. Tobais and she responded within 48 hours. She is the GREATEST!

These are some of the signs I was told to look for -- especially about 2 hours after eating a high protein meal: butting the head against the wall, walking in circles, confusion, acting like they are in pain, becoming legtharic, seizures......
LS dogs are generally (but not always) small for the breed and often are very poor eaters.

Well, I know Hobbs doesn't do any of these things. I am definately going to measure his water intake. It might be somewhat difficult, however, because Hootie and Hobbs both drink water out of the same bowl. I have been monitoring him and somedays it seems like he drinks more water than other days. I dunno...it could be something other than a liver shunt or it could be nothing at all. Nevertheless, I'm definately going to run it by my vet when I take Hootie in to get her spayed in the next couple of weeks and if she wants to see Hobbs after I talk to her about it, then I'll definately bring Hobbs in for a checkup.

[GucciMyGirl]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Gina, how is Gucci doing now?

Thanks for asking, Gucci had to recheck her acid biles this past Friday, we should have the results in on Tues. <keeping fingers crossed> The surgeon took her off the Lactulose medication, which seems like a good sign. She is eating and acting her normal self. Thank God... Tues will we know whether she can go back on normal dog food also. Keep your fingers crossed...


Gina

[GucciMyGirl]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Rebecca-- I am not a vet, but if Hobbs is just drinking more water than you think he should, that doesn't sound like liver shunt. It is always a good idea to do a complete liver profile and have it on file with your vet so that they have a baseline to compare to later on -- so you might consider a good checkup and talk with your vet.

dizpatch mentioned Dr. Karen Tobais. She is the leading LS expert -- Yorkies are the central subjects of her study. When I had some serious questions about one of my kids, I sent an email to Dr. Tobais and she responded within 48 hours. She is the GREATEST!

These are some of the signs I was told to look for -- especially about 2 hours after eating a high protein meal: butting the head against the wall, walking in circles, confusion, acting like they are in pain, becoming legtharic, seizures......

LS dogs are generally (but not always) small for the breed and often are very poor eaters.

Gucci never showed any of the classice signs,,, butting the head, walking in circles, confusion, just became legtharic and hypoglemic twice over the summer . She never had any incidents when she was younger and grew to be a nice size. Gucci was spayed at 8 mts. and when through anesthia wonderully, her vet was baffled also. Dr. Tobia is excellent and they do respond quickly. Rebecca like I mentioned Gucci had blood in her urine once, due to a urine infection a year ago. That was her only problem. Never aware of this LS disease. Until this past August. She had one external portoshunt and has had the ameroid constrictor put in.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by GucciMyGirl

Gucci never showed any of the classice signs,,, butting the head, walking in circles, confusion, just became legtharic and hypoglemic twice over the summer . She never had any incidents when she was younger and grew to be a nice size. Gucci was spayed at 8 mts. and when through anesthia wonderully, her vet was baffled also. Dr. Tobia is excellent and they do respond quickly. Rebecca like I mentioned Gucci had blood in her urine once, due to a urine infection a year ago. That was her only problem. Never aware of this LS disease. Until this past August. She had one external portoshunt and has had the ameroid constrictor put in.

I am so happy to hear that Gucci is doing better. What a scare! Like Gucci, Hobbs went through anesthesia perfectly fine, TWICE, once when he got fixed, and a second time when he got his baby teeth pulled. I'll keep everyone updated on what, if anything, it turns out to be.

Another YT member has a boy yorkie about the same size as Hobbs and she said that he also drinks a lot of water it seems, at least more than her female who is about the same size as Hootie. She got a whole blood panel run on her male to make sure everything was fine and everything did turn out fine on him. Is it possible that there isn't anything at all wrong with him?

[Franco Andres]

I am so scare, my little Franco Andres have all of the signs. Im afraid because there is no great veterinary on my area. I'm from PR. Please if somebody know a great veterinary in PR. Help me please!!

[chattiesmom]

Franco, I can't help with a vet, but I can give you a few suggestions. Do your best with the dog food available to find a good quality food that is LOW IN PROTIEN. If there is a liver shunt problem a low protein food will help considerably.

hugs to you and good luck!

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by GucciMyGirl

Gucci never showed any of the classice signs,,, butting the head, walking in circles, confusion, just became legtharic and hypoglemic twice over the summer . She never had any incidents when she was younger and grew to be a nice size. Gucci was spayed at 8 mts. and when through anesthia wonderully, her vet was baffled also. Dr. Tobia is excellent and they do respond quickly. Rebecca like I mentioned Gucci had blood in her urine once, due to a urine infection a year ago. That was her only problem. Never aware of this LS disease. Until this past August. She had one external portoshunt and has had the ameroid constrictor put in.

What a little miracle girl your little Gucci is. I am so very glad that she is doing well. I sincerely hope and pray that she continues to improve. That makes ls an even more scary nightmare! Your story also serves to remind all of us to take behavior that is out of the ordinary seriously.

[luvdorkyyorkies]

If your dog is only drinking alot of water I wouldnt worry about it. All Dogs are different.
But if they have other signs such as drinking alot of water and peeing very concentrated or ORANGE urine, they have a problem.
Head pressing is never a good sign. Excessive watering, wet or mucusy mouth for no reason.......they have a problem.
Sleeping all the time, slow movement, clumsy, poor balance, they have a problem.
Not social, no appetite.........they have a problem.
If your dog is active, happy and playful, with drinking alot of water and thats it.........most likely they are fine.

[Franco Andres]

Franco is very agressive with strange people from august, he drink a lot of water, but sometimes i note that he walk without balance. Also he had a bad episode of seizures in last holly week. Thanks to lord, he don't have more seizures. He don't like to eat too much, but play a lot. He start to shake around 4 hours after no food so I try several ways to give him food but he don't want it. I try with the best food and he dont like it. I try with rice/chicken homemade mix and dont like it. I put nutrical force it everyday. I know that pedigree puppy is not a great food but the last 3 days he only eats pedigree. There is a very bad odor from his mouth. I don't know whats happend to him. Vet don't know, vet just gave me metronidazole,nutrical and a milk called Rebound. Right now, he is active. He just weight 2.8 pounds and is a very tiny dog.

[blondflava]

Dogs that get a lot of chewy treats like flossies or bully sticks probably drink more water than the ones that don't. Also feeding only dry doesn't provide water already included in canned food. Those dogs probably drink more as well.... Just a thought.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by luvdorkyyorkies

If your dog is only drinking alot of water I wouldnt worry about it. All Dogs are different.
But if they have other signs such as drinking alot of water and peeing very concentrated or ORANGE urine, they have a problem.
Head pressing is never a good sign. Excessive watering, wet or mucusy mouth for no reason.......they have a problem.
Sleeping all the time, slow movement, clumsy, poor balance, they have a problem.
Not social, no appetite.........they have a problem.
If your dog is active, happy and playful, with drinking alot of water and thats it.........most likely they are fine.

The only symptom I see is that he drinks a lot of water. His pee is not concentrated, in fact, it is practically clear. He has never done the head pressing, no wet or mucusy mouth (unless you count his wet beard after he drinks water! ), he certainy doesn't sleep all the time and he is not clumsy nor does he have poor balance. He is extremely social and has a good appetite. Hopefully it is just that he's thirsty!