Michele Jones writes:

Subject: Liver Shunt

Thanks sooo very much for your website. My puppy a(maltese) was diagnosed with a liver shunt last week. Mississippi State University will be doing her surgery on 01/22/2007. Your information has been very informative to me. She will be having the ring put in and also removal of a kidney stone in the bladder. They also put her on Hills L/D food. Thanks again!

Shannon writes:

Subject: THANKS!

Thank you Ms. Jones for your nice comment. I wish your Maltese well with her surgery!! You can post any questions you have here in the comments section and I will answer them!

Shannon

Shannon writes:

Subject: Bless you!!!

Nice name :)! My 16th month old Cockapoo, Bailey, just got back from the imaging center and they strongly advised surgery. Im contacting DFWvetsurgeons.com on Monday to discuss. I was told the surgery will cost between 3K and 6K (in Dallas) and got immediately sick to my stomach because I cannot afford to pay that. What now??

Shannon writes:

Subject: Response re BAILEY

I'm sorry to hear about Bailey. You have to shop around until you find someone who will do it sooner. Immediately get Bailey on L/D food and on lactulose. Those are cheap alternatives to maintain Bailey until you can get the surgery done. As far as cost, it costs about $1,600 to get the surgery done at University of Tennessee as of this date. Suggestion: save up the money as quickly as possible by getting a second part-time job. Then get the surgery done asap. You could also drive Bailey out to TN and camp in the wilderness area close to the University of Tenn to save money. It'll be about 4 days you'll need to be out there total. Or you could have Bailey "delivered" to UT and brought back home by delivery service. I would suggest shopping around though. Look to places outside of Dallas - and if need be - ligation could be cheaper (although more dangerous).

Fabiana writes:

Subject: Mako

What a beautiful article, very very informative. My puppy Mako is in the vet right now and they think he has liver shunt,they did xrays and discovered that he had an extremly small liver, tomorrow they are doing the Bile Acids test. He is only 3 months and I can't believe he might need to have cirgury soon. I am so scared and sad.

Shannon writes:

Subject: Mako

I am so sorry for your huge scare! I know it is absolutely terrifying. Just know that if Mako has a liver shunt that most likely it will be easily operable and fixable.

Also keep in mind that this is the heartbreak that a lot of people go through if you don't buy your puppy from a breeder (and go to a pet store instead)... grrrr. Wendy was from a pet store, I didn't know any better back then....

If you get the surgery where they use an ameroid constrictor - the surgery is less invasive than getting a female dog fixed!!! It's pretty safe :)

In the mean time - definitely get the bile acid test done and make sure you put Mako on lactulose (cheap) and Hill's L/D and DO NOT give Mako any extra treats or people food with protein in it. The less protein the better - because protein is toxic to dogs with liver shunts :) Good luck!!!

Jackie Walters writes:

Subject: Dolly

Hi Shannon - Great article! My little min pin, Dolly, was diagnosed when she was almost 3 with intrahepatic liver shunts. She did have surgery in hopes that her shunt was operable, but it wasn't. We have maintained her medically for almost 6 years - they say the HMD puppies do pretty well that way. Last week in a routine urinalysis they found a tiny tinge of blood, so they're worried about bladder stones. I hate to think she may have to have surgery for that- she has had such a hard time. We have dealt with illness after illness - seizures - you name it - she's had it. But all in all, she's done really well. She is up to almost 5 pounds - the biggest she's ever been! Her fur is shiny and thick and she seems to feel good, so we're happy. We have been lucky to have great vets who have worked with her AND us, because we are demanding pet owners. We go tomorrow for an ultrasound of her bladder - hopefully it's just a minor infection we can treat with amoxil. Just so everyone knows - she immediately started eating Science Diet L/D and taking lactulose when she was diagnosed - she now also takes metronidizole. If she has a "flare up", she'll take amoxil. We have supplemented with Milk Thistle, which is an herb that promotes liver health and rejuvenation. Good luck with your Wendy - she sounds like a sweetheart. Keep my little Doll in your prayers.

Shannon writes:

Subject: Dolly

Hi Jackie, I hope Dolly is doing well! Dogs who have inoperable liver shunts can often lead full healthy lives as long as they are on Hills L/D, Lactulose and are not given any protein based treats (including people food with protein). As we know, dogs that have liver shunts are prone to all sorts of related illnesses. Before we had Wendy diganosed and fixed - I was always dragging her in to the vet (and ER vets for UTIs, vomitting, etc...). I feel your pain. Just know that you have greatly improved Dolly's quality of life and 5 pounds (WOW) that's great!!!! Wendy finally gained another pound during this past year (which we were so happy to learn) because liver shunt dogs are often undersized and too skinny... (due to lack of nutrient absorption). Your Dolly is in our prayers and thank you!

George writes:

Subject: Graham

Thank you so much for your wonderful informative article. My miniature schnauzer named Graham has been having urethra blockage repeatedly. He exhibited many of the symptoms you listed- shaking, tiredness, frequent urinating, vomiting, crystals, etc. Our first vet told us it was a UTI from bacteria and it formed struvite crystals. We just found out from a specialist after a bile acid that he has a liver shunt. We will be getting an cost estimate on Monday but we expect it to be something we prob can't afford since we're in NYC and we're going to a very reputable specialist. We are def thinking about the Tennessee option. By the way, occasionally Graham would growl and bark at us for half hr episodes when he is usually very quiet and tired. Does that seem like a symptom of liver shunts too or is that some other behavior issue? Once again, thank you for all your information

Shannon writes:

Subject: Hi George

Sorry to hear about Graham, definitely do the Tennessee option if you can. It's possible for the barking and growling episodes to be part of it. The toxins build up in the blood because the liver is not filtering them out. This can cause behavioral changes like you described. The only way you will know is if you get the surgery, the surgery is successful and his behavior changes. For example, with Wendy, her head rubbing disappeared just about instantly after surgery. Another way you can tell is if you ask your vet to put Graham on Lactulose right away and switch to the Hills dog food (I think it was L/D if I remember correctly). Graham may get some loose stool for a couple of days as he gets use to the new food and lactulose, but the sooner you switch him over the better he will feel until you can get the surgery done. His behaviors may change as well and he may still do the head rubbing or growling and barking - but it may greatly lessen. Good luck!

Jan Parks writes:

Subject: Pup with possible PPS

It's breaking my heart reading your articles, but they are SO helpful! Roy was the runt in a group of 7 germ. shep. mix pups rescued from the woods and taken to the shelter where I volunteer. Seeing Roy sick and so much smaller than his siblings, I took him home and he had bronchitis and coccydia (sp?) parasites. He was treated for those and felt much better, but I KNEW something was still wrong. He has many symptoms you have described - throws up anything high protein and becomes lethargic. My vet had me feed him sweet potatoes and he tolerates it well and has play spells. I am happy to hear about Hills L/D and lactulose. Hubby is picking up some while in Tulsa (we live in a rural area) today but they won't give him lactulose without first seeing Roy, so I hope I can get it from a vet near here tomorrow (it's now Sunday and it's the pits having so many problems over a weekend!). He is only about 10 weeks old and was 3 lbs. when I got him but now 5 lbs. Probably down a bit from that cause he's been very lethargic for the last couple of days. His brothers are HUGE and one is already adopted out - they weight about 8-10 lbs. already! Vet gave me Hill's A/D to help diagnose PPS and he loved it and then got real sick - so that's as diagnostic as I want to be with that - it's high protein and he said if he got lethargic we would have a partial diagnosis. Well, he did! Seems like torture to me, though. So I have all this A/D food and NO L/D food at my house - until hubby gets home tonight. Thank goodness for sweet potatoes which are readily available. Do you have a contact number/name for the UTK vet program that does the diagnosis and surgeries? The U/D food actually has much less protein and NO listed iron or copper which I've read should be low. But is the L/D still better for them? Thanks for your help and I hope all our furry friends I'm reading about in your comments do well and have good, happy lives. When we are all broke from vet bills I know one lick and one waggy tail will help do the trick to show us it's all worth it! Thanks to each of you for all you are doing for your special guys/gals! = )