Bile Acid Test

[Ladysmom]

QUOTE (YumYum @ Jun 17 2009, 02:12 AM)

QUOTE (Dr.Jaimie @ Sep 28 2007, 10:50 AM)

yes for those of u that havent run a bile acids on ur malt..i suggest u do so..... it will be interesting to see how many out there have a high BA and are not symptomatic. if ur malt does come back with a high BA i suggest u contact dr. center with ur bredder/ pedigree info to help her out in her research.[/B]

Please, who is Dr. Center. I am looking for help getting my service dog the liver shunt surgery.

I purchased a one year old Squaw Creek Kennels bred Maltese from Sportsman's Kennels on May 18, 2008 for a service dog. She came with 3 health certificates. In March 2009, I took her to be spayed. Blood work for anesthesia revealed 3 elevated liver enzymes. Bile acid tests were elevated and revealed her liver function is abnormal. These indicate either a portosystemic liver shunt or microvascular shunts, both Congenital Conditions that would be undiscoverable until symptomatic, without specific blood tests.

Several professionals believe that Pollyanna was sold and returned, and perhaps her condition was known, partly because the kennel only produced 4 months of vet records ending in September 2007 for a year of residence. They also sold her for less than half the original asking price.

I went out to Sportsmans Kennels on Friday with Pollyanna to ask them to pay the $1800 diagnostic fees and $3000 surgery fees I was quoted. Helen, the owner, told me I was legally entitled to nothing because of the Lemon Law that protects the Kennel after 2 weeks. After 2 hours discussion, Helen, said she would pay for the portogram and necessary surgery. She reiterated this over and over.

On Monday, I called my vet and told him Sportsmans Kennels had assured me she would pay for the care. He called Helen and she shouted him down and told him that she had reconsidered and would not honor her verbal commitment to me.

She called me the next night yelling. She said her vets said it was "overkill" to treat this dog. She said that the dog is too small and will die in surgery. She said she would give me $1300 for the dog, I could keep her but don't treat her, and a puppy: because Pollyanna “would have a short life and I could train the puppy to be a service dog and then when Pollyanna dies you well not feel bad.” I told her Pollyanna could be saved if I had the money. She said I was entitled to nothing; she said her vets said it was probably just an infection. I told her that her Web site claims a 2 year Genetic Guarantee and she said that only reimburses the price of the dog. . I told her I would contact Squaw Creek Kennels if she didn't feel it was her responsibility, and she warned me not to contact "Ed", "If you call Ed, you are done with me."

My vet sent all the blood work to her vets by Friday. On Saturday she called me and told me she had no legal obligation. I reminded her repeatedly that she had made a verbal contract with me to pay the portagram and the surgery. She said she never said she would do the right thing. "I don't talk like that." She was furious. She said her vets said it could be 100 things and was most likely a bacterial infection. She said I lied when I said the dog was going to die, and that I committed slander against her. I said that is what I was told.

After insisting that she would not pay, she said she wanted the dog on antibiotics for one week and then wanted the blood work (which was done twice) redone by her vets. She said she wanted the sonogram and portogram by her vets. I said, by somebody impartial, and she said no, her people. She was supposed to call on Monday but never called.

Since my dog is getting worse and since my vet and blood work say she does not have an infection, I decided to borrow the money and have a sonogram done. Unfortunately, the sonogram (only 25% reliable to reveal a shunt but necessary to see if the other organs are normal. The portogram is 100% reliable and more expensive.) showed that Pollyanna has an "extra vessel" which could be a true shunt or a vessel caused by microshunts. A portagram will specify. Her liver is normal size on the right and extra small on the left.

Read "Puppy Mill Probe .." on Topix. http://www.topix.com/forum/city/east-north...PGKDT0GOJ2F6O03
[/B][/QUOTE]


Dr. Center is at Cornell. Here is her contact information:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/faculty/Center/

Where are you located? Dr. Tobias at the University of Tennessee is also an expert on liver shunts.

[jmm]

It is not always a good idea to surgically correct a shunt in a Maltese. Have your vet call and page Dr. Center to discuss the case. Many dogs do very well on special diet and medication for many, many years.

[yumyum]

Hi LadysMom and JMM,

Thank you so very much for the contact information. I am desperate to save Pollyanna and really appreciate your kind help.
The Kennel told me don't treat her, just let her die; that she will die in the surgery anyway because she is too small. She is only 2 years old.
And so very sweet, energetic and imaginative. She is a trained service dog. I can't believe that God sent her to me after I lost Yum Yum, just so she could die. I believe that he knew I would fight for her with the same conviction I fought my own multiple melanoma.

[CJ Maltese Mom]

Our one year-old, male, 3.8 pound maltese was diagnosed with a liver shunt last week. We are trying to medically manage this with ld food, metamucil, lactulose and metriniazole. Surgery is to costly for us. Is anyone managing their maltese this way?

[Pure Paws]

Since the subject of the liver has come up. Have you ever seen this site The Rabies Vaccine for Dogs: Side Effects and Precautions You Can Take

[Ladysmom]

Originally Posted by CJ Maltese Mom

Our one year-old, male, 3.8 pound maltese was diagnosed with a liver shunt last week. We are trying to medically manage this with ld food, metamucil, lactulose and metriniazole. Surgery is to costly for us. Is anyone managing their maltese this way?

I'd suggest starting a new thread to get some feedback.

Was surgery recommended and just too expensive or did your vet feel it could managed without surgery?

[tamizami]

also, not to second guess your vet or specialist, but how was the shunt diagnosed?

[Nikki's Mom]

Yes, please start a new thread about your dog's shunt. Some folks might miss this thread.

[bfab116]

Hi, i'm just reading this thread about liver shunts and bile acid tests. My little guy just had a bile acid done and it was 238. The vet says it is liver shunt. I'm in the investigational stage right now. I'm also in PA. Could you tell me who did your surgery and how is your precious malt now? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Please e-mail me at bfab116@yahoo.com
Thanks Barb Fabrizio

[Chri77pher88]

I think that most of the time it is congenital, but they can develop shunts over time due to liver disease.
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