We got the bile acid test results back on Mia.

[littlelizzy]

The vet finally called us this evening with the bile acid test results and they were not good. I was so upset while I was talking to him that I forgot to write down the exact numbers, but he said her pre and post meal levels were both very high. He explained that with these results and the results of the complete blood work done earlier that he did in fact suspect a liver shunt. He refered me to Gulf Coast Vet Hospital in Houston and he faxed her test results to them. I called them to make an apointment and was told that they would want to fist do an ultrasound then most likely, depending on the results of that, they would then do a portal scan which is where they inject her with dyes to see how the blood flow travels through her body. From what they explained to me, the portal scan could determine what % of the blood is being filtered through the liver and what % is bypassing the liver and going to the heart unfiltered. When I asked them about price, they said that both procedures together would run close to $1000, and if there was a shunt the surgery for that would be aproximently $2000.
If anyone has been through this type of situation, I need your advice. Would you go ahead with the plan the way my vet has laid it out, are would you take a different route. My vet did say that all the arrows were defently pointing to a liver shunt, so should I skip the ultrasound and just have them do the portal scan? I don't even know if it would be an option to do that or not, but sometimes it just seems like they want to take so many steps and I had just rather skip all of that and get to the final one that shows us exactly what is wrong.
I have been given some referals from some of you that I intend to follow up on in the morning before I make my final decision. I am going to start with emailing Dr. Tobias in Tenn. after I call my vet and get the exact #'s on her bile acid test. I already put in a call to the clinic in Dallas that was recomended to me and hopefully they will get back with me in the A.M.
If she does have to have the shunt surgery I just don't know if I should let them do it in Houston are try and take her somewhere that specializes in this.
Well, as you can see from my very looong post, I am most confused and scared. Please feel free to pass any advice that you have my way. I would appreciate it so very much.

[StewiesMom]

Hi Kim. I'm sorry about the news. I have no real advice for you except definitely get a second opinion about the liver shunt diagnosis. My heart is breaking for you. I don't know what I would do if I were in your situation. You and Mia will be in my thoughts.

[bettyeanne]

So sorry about little Mia's test! The only hospital that I am familiar with is Alameda East in Denver and the University of Auburn, Auburn, Alabama. I know there are excellent "human" hospitals in Houston, I hope their veterinarian hospitals are too. Whatever your decision for Mia, just know that our prayers will be with you all!

[sunshine22]

I'm new to Yorkies and their health problems so I have no advice. They've stolen my heart and I hate to hear of them suffering.
I know you just want Mia to recover as quickly as possible.
I'll be praying for you.

Hopefully you'll get lots of good advice and Mia will get excellent care.
We're all pulling for you.

[YorkieRose]

I am sorry to hear about your Yorkie. Is she having symtoms, whAt made you decide on testing?

[jennifermcb]

I wouldn't skip any of the tests. Dr. Tobias told me that liver shunt can't be diagnosed with a blood test, even though that is the first clinical indication. I would go through each test, find out the extent of the problem, and make any decisions from there.

Also, I agree about getting a 2nd opinion.

My heart goes out to you. We had that scare when Sophie was 2 months old. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[littlelizzy]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I am sorry to hear about your Yorkie. Is she having symtoms, whAt made you decide on testing?

Her symptoms were not that severe. I just thought that she seemed really small for her age. She weighs less than 3 lbs and she is 8 months old. Her parents and other litter mate are not near that small so that was of concern to me. She is also a VERY picky eatier, and she had began to throw up from time to time after eating. She also would throw up if she ate a greenie or any other type of dog treats or human food treats. After reading so much about liver shunt on this forum I just started to get alarmed. So I took her to the vet and explained what I thought was wrong with her and his first reaction was just that she was a tiny dog. But with a little more pushing he decided to run blood work, and then it all went from there because her blood work was really off.

My advice to anyone with a tiny picky eatier that tends to throw up after eating, especially anything high in protein(like a greenie), go ahead and have a complete blood panel done just to make sure everything is OK. Had I not of been overly pushy about having this done, I don't know how long it would of progressed before syptoms turned more extreme(like seizures).

[Olivier]

I am so sorry for your little Mia , I'll be praying for the little one .

[ecucurlyq77]

my little puppy, max, was diagnosed with a liver shunt when he was 4 months old. he started having seizures so we took him to the vet and they ran blood work and his liver enzymes came back elevated. so then they decided to have his bile acids tested and those came back extremely elevated...i think the fasting was in the 90's and 2 hours after eating in the 300's (i can't remember the exact numbers). my vet referred us to a vet surgeon and he recommened to go forward with the surgery because he was fairly certain it was a shunt. he didn't feel it was necessary to put max through all of the tests you were talking about to get an exact diagnosis since he had the clinical signs and elevated blood work. he gave us the option of choosing what to do, so we decided to just go forth with the surgery since this vet has worked with lots of dogs with liver shunts. plus he said he wanted to operate to get a liver biopsy anyway to check for other liver disease. anyway, he had the surgery and sure enough there was a big shunt they had to close off. max had the surgery about 3 months ago and is doing great now! he has not had anymore clinical signs and is a happy puppy. he is still on the low protein diet, lactulose and antibiotics. we did have his bile acids tested about a month ago and they were still elevated. but my vet said it could take 3 - 6 months for them to come closer to normal. so we will have the bile acids tested again in a few months.
i know how scary it is to go through this. if i can help in any way or answer any questions, please feel free to email me!!
brooke & "max"

[littlelizzy]

Originally Posted by ecucurlyq77

my little puppy, max, was diagnosed with a liver shunt when he was 4 months old. he started having seizures so we took him to the vet and they ran blood work and his liver enzymes came back elevated. so then they decided to have his bile acids tested and those came back extremely elevated...i think the fasting was in the 90's and 2 hours after eating in the 300's (i can't remember the exact numbers). my vet referred us to a vet surgeon and he recommened to go forward with the surgery because he was fairly certain it was a shunt. he didn't feel it was necessary to put max through all of the tests you were talking about to get an exact diagnosis since he had the clinical signs and elevated blood work. he gave us the option of choosing what to do, so we decided to just go forth with the surgery since this vet has worked with lots of dogs with liver shunts. plus he said he wanted to operate to get a liver biopsy anyway to check for other liver disease. anyway, he had the surgery and sure enough there was a big shunt they had to close off. max had the surgery about 3 months ago and is doing great now! he has not had anymore clinical signs and is a happy puppy. he is still on the low protein diet, lactulose and antibiotics. we did have his bile acids tested about a month ago and they were still elevated. but my vet said it could take 3 - 6 months for them to come closer to normal. so we will have the bile acids tested again in a few months.
i know how scary it is to go through this. if i can help in any way or answer any questions, please feel free to email me!!
brooke & "max"

Brooke,
I am so glad to hear that Max is doing well. Your post was just what I wanted to hear. I would rather take the same route you did and go ahead with surgery since all of the blood work and bile acids were so high. I am now in the process of having my vet fax all of Mia's reports to Texas A & M so that I can set up an appointment with them. He had suggested a place in Houston, but my gut feeling is telling me to go to A & M.
Wishing you and Max the best.

[ecucurlyq77]

we will keep you and your little on in our prayers!!! please keep us updated and let me know if you have any questions!

brooke & "max"

[Connie]

I'm so sorry to hear that Mia's test results weren't good. I will keep you and your little sweetie in my prayers! Best wishes to you and yours!!! Kisses from Maddie!

[centralnewyorki]

I'll definitely be keeping you and Mia in my thoughts. I hope all goes well with the surgery. Please keep us updated.

[Stitches29]

Kim, I'm so sorry to hear of the test results. I too went through a similar experience this past March. My 14 year old baby was diagnosed with renal failure, (kidney failure). The cost was incredible, but we would do anything for our fur babies, as you would too.

[alexandnugget]

we are really sorry to hear about the bad news. keep your head up because it could be anything. nugget, kendra, and i hope for the very best! give mia a kiss from nugget