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I have liver shunt diease 6/13/2010

Liver Shunt in Pug Yoda PLR

Liver Shunt in Pug Yoda PLR 6/14/2010

Hot of the press to answers to questons we have been getting!

If your like us, you probably never heard of a liver shunt in dogs mostly Yorkshire terrier , well thats exactly what our little pugger YODA has.


He was sick showing symptons at 3 months. His ownerd ask for him to be put to sleep .. They siad it was cheaper to buy a new one but the nice vet ask if I could go to Pug Lovers Rescue if that would be ok with them they said yes and there my story starts... (Yoda is 3 now) they noticed he would be sick after her normal meals Vet said he had Liver Shunt's Diease after testing and all my behaviors were classic signs of this diease.


Whne he got here he could not keep food down very much or none sometimes , was very slow and clumsy for a pug we noticed Yoda behaving slightly strange, she wouldn't come when called and seemed to be staring into space, with a glazed look in her eyes. Now Yoda was always wondering off upstairs to get into my bed what we saw was him staring at the wall and could see that he had chewed through toys and was trembling as though he was scared and staggering as if was drunk ....panic...vets.


On arriving at the ER vets We told them about the way he was beahving and the food problems the vets said they had seen this behaviour before it was a liver shunt! Yoda had to stay at the vets. The specialist who wanted to keep Yoda in to do some tests like ultra sound X-rays etc. So cryinging my eyes out through out the journey home, we wondered if that was the last time wewould see my precious little Yoda.

We rush back to the vets for them to explain the liver shunt dieaseas completely and to see Yoda before he was anaesthetized.They told us that he was probably born with it and was surprised she had lasted so long.

A portosystemic shunt is a blood vessel that bypasses liver tissue, carrying blood from the intestines, stomach, spleen, and pancreas to the heart before it can be filtered and cleansed of proteins, sugars, bacteria, and toxins. Shunts are present in all fetal mammals and usually close down shortly before or after birth so that the baby's liver takes over the functions of filtration, storage, and production. In some individuals the shunt doesn't close down or develops in an abnormal place, and the animal's liver doesn't get enough blood supply to grow or function properly.
Proteins in the food are broken down by intestinal bacteria to ammonia and other toxins which are absorbed and, instead of being filtered by the liver, are allowed to reach the brain.


This was Yoda's case, all the toxins had built up which in turn made her stare at walls with glazed eyes and chew through all our wires in the room. Vet said we were lucky she did not electrocute herself, the burns to her mouth were small and would heal in time.


The vet didn't really know what to expect until he actually got in to have a look, we were told it was a big operation and not to hold our hopes up. Once again, I gave him a hug and kissed him, telling him that mummy would be coming to to het him as soon as they would let me soon and to be strong, I cried all the way home.

Eventually the next day the vet rang with good and bad news. Yoda was fine and had come through the operation well but instead of one shunt, Yoda surgery was not sucessful he had the one which was on th eoutsie they tried to fix and then he started multi shunting and over 60 small ones, the smaller ones not being operational on.

Because the liver does not develop properly, many dogs cannot tolerate rapid closure of the shunt. Ths was Yoda case he mutli shunted that was bad but was keeping he alive. The vet was surprised she had lasted so long

After several days we were allowed to bring him home, he was givin gthe sad news that he would not live alon glife and that he could die any day from it ...

Suffice to say, Yoda is now on several medications and a special diet for life, we don't know how long we will have with him, so every day is a worry. He again repated all the signs & not eating again so he was rushed back for more surgery they suggested putting him to sleeo that was at 6 months old now remembr is is 3 year sold noe .. Thank God I didn't ;liten to them I siad he doesn't mak eit it's in the lOrd's hands ..He is a blessing every day we wake up he is alive !!!!! Every time she stares at something or is sick, we panic and rush her to the vet. Yoda has a scan& Blood work every 2 months to check on the shunts.


We thank God everyday for that Specilaists, if not for them, Yoda would no tbe here , We cherish every single minute we have with him. Yes...he is a very spoil little puggie boy but deserves to be for what he has to go through. You can see pictures of him.

So, if your dog/cat has any of the above signs get thenm to a vet right away !!!!

Love Yoda & Mamma June FOSTER/PLR

I will be in hospice care at PLR

Please visit Pug Lovers Rescue for Yoda

That's my story and I am sticking to it any suggestions are welcomed or if you knowof any vets who are advance in working with Liver Shunt Diease let us know..

We tried the site from Yorkshire Terriers got no response from them