Dog Community

We have a liver shunt...

Posted : 3/16/2006 4:26:32 PM

I haven't posted on here in quite sometime. The last time I posted little Dexter was having accidents...I thought it was behavioral..turned out to be a UTI that we could not get to go away. The vet was concerned about stones, so we did X-rays and when nothing showed up but the problem persisted, we did an ultrasound. Well nothing showed up in the bladder or kidneys...but it did show a liver shunt. Since then we've learned that continuing UTI's are a symptom, so he is on antibiotics and special food to help with that. I know about the surgery, the procedure...and the huge expense. His liver function test came back with high levels...but not insanely and short of the urinary problems he is showing no other symptoms...yet. The vet said this is good because we have some time to come up with the money for the procedure. I am not just putting this off, he is having his levels checked once a month and is on a very strict diet. My vet cannot do the procedure, just gave me a guesstimated cost and the names of a few doctors in the area that can do it. I have called them, but they have all said they can't give me an estimate, or any information, until they see him...which I can understand...but I cannot afford it right now. My vet is being so kind and helpful with the expenses involved. I will graduate next month, and once I start working, this can all happen.

Does anyone have any stories to share? Can anyone give me a cost range? My vet told me in the 2000-3000 area [&o] is this accurate?

I just really need a hug...

jennie_c_d

Posted : 3/16/2006 4:31:31 PM

Emma has a liver shunt. I was told to expenct $3000-5000, for surgery to fix it, and she may or may not survive the surgery. I didn't do it. She was diagnosed at 10 months. I started her on Lactulose, milk thistle, SAMe, and a home made diet, balanced for liver issues. She's off of the Lactulose, and now eats a normal diet. Her blood values have been perfect for over a year, now. She's 1 1/2.

llps

Posted : 3/18/2006 6:22:33 PM

Hi, I'm a vet. I've seen a number of these. They vary a lot in severity. The things Jennie mentioned are very helpful. One of the liver's responsibilities is to process proteins after they are digested. Nitrogen by-products are excreted in the urine as urea. If the liver can't process the nitrogen in the protein properly, it ends up as ammonia, which is toxic to the brain and can cause dullness or even seizures. Lactulose encourages intestinal bacteria to break down excess ammonia so it causes fewer problems. Low protein diets (with just the minimum required for body functions) and smaller, more frequent meals (so the liver doesn't have to handle too much protein at any one time) can minimize the symptoms of a liver shunt. The liver also makes substances that allow blood to clot, so it is important to monitor for bleeding tendencies or problems with bruising.
The cost of the surgery in our area (outside of Philadelphia) would probably be more like $4,000 - 6,000, and might not even fix the problem. It also carries significant risk. I think it is a very reasonable decision not to have the surgery done.
--I hope that helps.
--Lucy Schroth DVM

jennie_c_d

Posted : 3/19/2006 12:35:38 PM

Lucy, the risk and cost and all of the other things that are wrong with Emma are why we decided against pursuing surgery. Emma was in such horrible shape, by the time she was diagnosed, there was no way she'd have survived. She's doing great, now. She ate five small meals a day when she was recovering. I'd forgotten how important that was. Now, she eats three meals, with treats in between. I read that dogs with liver shunts are very prone to hypoglycemia, and she's thin, anyways, so I like to feed her frequently. Emma was diagnosed as a last ditch effort. She was ten months old, and violently, blindly aggressive. Turns out, she was in severe HE and having seizures almost constantly. Even though her liver numbers are great, now, she still has occasional seizures, and is on a gluten restricted diet, to help with that. I'm guessing (since she hasn't been to a neurologist to have her head examined, LOL) that she's epileptic due to all of the ammonia that was in her brain, and the seizure state that she was in.