Vets Specializing in Liver Shunts?
 

I used the search feature to look at previous posts, but I didn't find anything that specifically addressed my questions. (Sorry if I missed something.)

I have 2 yorkies. The one recently was referred for an abdominal ultrasound, because her blood test results suggest that she may have a liver shunt. Looking back on it, and particularly after viewing the posts containing peoples' experiences with this disorder, all the symptoms have been there for a while. We just didn't think anything was wrong until she started urinating so often that we thought that she had a uninary tract infection. She drinks excessively, is mildly disoriented after eating, presses her head (although not in a way that was ever alarming to us -- I thought she was just playing, to be honest). She also has vomitted yellow (bile?) here and there, but again, it was nothing excessive.

Her vitals are: 9 months old, 2.5 lbs. I don't have the details on the type of shunt (we are pretty sure that the ultrasound will confirm that she does, in fact, have one.) We want the best possible care for her, assuming the shunt is confirmed. We live in Chicago, but will travel or at least forward the test results to an out-of-state vet, if there is someone who is specializes and believes that they can help. Any recommendations/suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated. We, like you, love both our yorkies like children, and just want to make sure we have considered all of our options.

I'm so sorry to hear that your yorkie has a liver condition...My yorkie also has a liver shunt/mvd, and I know exactly what you mean about worrying...We have been through so much, and if you have any questions, please ask. Ultrasounds are many times inconclusive especially if they're being done by someone who does not specialize in liver shunts. A doppler ultrasound may be better or possibly a portography or scintigraphy may be more definitive.
If they do find that it is an operable liver shunt, I recommend that they do a liver biopsy because many times these babies also have underlying hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD/MVD). Has your vet put your baby on a low, vegetarian protein diet yet? Has he/she prescribed lactulose or recommended any supplements yet? My best advice to you is to join the liver shunt/mvd group on yahoo groups: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/
The people on there are extremely knowledgable and their files section has a wealth of information, including the top vets to go to for liver shunt surgery. They also have a database of all the members and where they have gone for surgery. Please join the group and post your situation, they will give you a ton of very helpful advice.

Dr. Karen Tobias is at the University of Tennessee and is one of the top liver shunt vets. She has extensive experience. There are a few others, but you can ask when you join the group.

Praying for your baby, and please ask any questions that you may have.

I think the doctor who specializes in liver shunt is Dr. Tobias from Tennessee. There could be others though. I believe that Michigan State University also deals with them. I don't know how experienced they are though.

what vegetarian diet are you feeding? My dd has mvd

Liver Scan
 

I heard the liver scan is best test to determine liver shunt - a radioactive dye enema where they take pics of how it travels through the body and if it bypasses the liver then there is a shunt - it is better than ultrasound and less invasive than biopsy- there are only two people in california that do it - I think the doctors name is Dr. Beemer - maybe ask about it in michigan-if i find the specialist name and number i will send

ok found it --- website is www.avmi.net and specialist is dr. broome and number is 310-477-4453 if you have questions

supplements for liver

same
milk thistle
vitamin e
vitamin c

I think the scan you're talking about is called a scintigraphy. And they do that at UT also, so if you're near UT, I would definitely give them a call. Or maybe a University vet in your area has experience with shunts as well. Good luck, and please keep us posted. And please try to join the group I mentioned earlier.

you are correct i just looked at website i gave below and that is the name - the site i posted looks very informational and they were very helpful on phone - i chose not to put dd through this as she had no symptoms just a high bile acid count but less than 100 but if she had symptoms this is the test i would have done as read a lot on this and that test is the best to determine and least invasive. They only stay for a day so the eliminate all radio active dye before leaving - the problem is only a few people can do the test - luckily they are only an hour from me but they said people fly here from all over to have him do this test as he is suppose to be the best. A local yorkie breeder who is part of ytcla mentioned his name as well independently of my vet who went to vet school with this specialist and spoke very highly of him.