? Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt ?

[kuhio98]

Mya's family posted this update in her thread on iMOM: http://www.imom.invisionzone.com/com...showtopic=2619

Mya is getting the same procedure where they go in and put the coil in to close the shunt. This procedure for sure is safer than the open surgery. As you know with any surgery the chances are higher for something going wrong when they have you on the table longer. This at least is done from the jugular vain in the neck. When talking to the vet they have been doing this for a number of years and the outcome is much much better. The biggest concern for us was that Mya was not gaining the weight like we hoped, but yesterday I stopped in the vet's an the scale showed 20 pounds. I sure hope that scale is wright. When I saw Anna on here I thought she was alot bigger and for sure knew she weighed more. I hope all went well with her. Now that Mya weights 20 pounds I am getting more nervous about the funds because they may want to do this very soon. Whatever is best for Mya is what we need. I am sure things will work out.
Last night my brother stopped by because his cable went out and he wanted to finish watching the redwings game. He was laughing so hard at Mya because she was on hyper trip. She was trying to chase the cat, and when that backfired she started up on Sandy doggie. She runs around so fast and does a power slide around the corner. Bammm.. He says my house is like the movie HOMEWARD BOUND. Mya reminded him of chance. The cat doesn't look like sassy, but he does have the attitude. I never thought of that before, but our bunch could be just like that movie. He had seen Mya before during the day, and wow what a difference. I told him we upped the meds and when she doesn't have food in her you would not believe the difference. I am glad he saw the two sides to her and how much this surgery will make her the puppy she deserves to be.
take care.
cindie

May 21st is right around the corner. Angels we still need to raise $940.00 for Mya before she can begin her second Phase. Mya has been here for almost a month and truly needs help, she is just a puppy. Please consider making a small donation to Mya.

[sandragonfly]

I was gonna to donate but happy happy news -- mya is now at ALL FUNDS RAISED!!

now time for prayers, going out for this little mya that she'll survive this surgery smoothly.

[kuhio98]

Update from Mya's mom today: cindie Today, 10:55 AM Post #188

Hey everyone,
Dr. Beal from MSU called today to let us know that it is on for Mya tomorrow. He is doing PhaseI and if all looks goods would go on to PHASE II. I am so excited that soon she will be fixed. YEAH!!! SPRING IS HERE FOR MYA!! Please everyone pray for her.
Cindie & everyone here at CCRL

[kuhio98]

Well, Mya had her surgery. I'm not quite sure what to make of the update. If I understand it, it turns out that Mya has more problems -- or different problems -- than first thought. Anyone understand the medical part of it?

Diana C. IMOM Yesterday, 07:01 PM Post #198
I know everyone has been worrying about Mya and wondering how Phase I went yesterday. IMOM received the below email from Cindie this evening. Please keep Mya in your thoughts and prayers, she still has a bumpy road ahead of her.

Cindie's email:

Have to update you guys on Mya, although I am having a hard time digesting all of this. I went in and felt so good to hear that a black lab was done on Friday, and all went well. I also asked Dr. Beal about little Anna from on here, and he was assisiting her at Penn. All seem to be good. I was so happy to hear this. The percentage for dogs going back for phase III went down from 30% to 15%, and that was promising for us. The cat scan was done and Mya did well with the anesthea, but unfortunately they find a congenital vascular anomaly. Mya does not have a vena cava. All of the systems were consisitent with a dog with liver dysfunction and portosystemic shunting. The cat scan revealed an extremely rare (possibly never reported) vascular anomaly characterized by agenesis of the intraabdominal caudal vena cava. As a reslut, the portal vein merges with the hepatic veins to form the intrathoracic caudal vena cava. All other venous return travels through a large right azygous vein. Dr. Beal would like to consult with the doctors at Penn and other experts from around the country to see if there is anything that they can do for Mya. He already can up with a possible try that he thinks would work. This of course is something never done before, but he will get ahold of you guys very soon. This is all too much for me to handle, but I am keeping positive. For now Mya is on her meds and we are enjoying every moment with us. The cost would not exceed what we already have so that is good at least. For know I guess we just sit and pray. thanks for everything all of you guys did for mya!

mya & her family
cindie

[kuhio98]

Update from today:

cindie Today, 08:25 AM Post #200

Nancy,
All of this to me is very hard to swallow for me too. What Mya has has possibly never been reported according to her doctor. Dr. Beal felt so bad for us because he was saying how the people that had picked up their dog with the liver shunt were far from appreciative, and how we were so nice compaired to them. Mya does not have a vena cava, which is an important vessel that carries blood from the lower extremities. the portal vein and the vena cava both meet up in the liver and filter out the blood. Mya was born without a vena cava, and a vein has taken it's place. Mya has all the sympthoms of a liver shunt because that blood vessel still is going around the liver instead of through it. Dr. Beal thinks he may have a procedure that would work. He is consulting with doctors at Penn and others throughout the country. I am trying to get over all of this disappointment, and think positive. Just think Mya could make a medical discovery that will help many other dogs in the future to have a future. I will keep the faith and wait for the doctor to get back to us. Dr. Beal said he would be talking to IMOM soon.
thanks to all of you guys for everything.
cindie & mya

[sirrahbed]

Just found this thread as I am looking for any information about the shunt because my best friend Darla is trying to find anything about the condition, surgery and how to care for the pet up until the procedure can be done. I had never heard of it at all and will try more research later today.

Can anyone offer their experience about having this porto shunt??? She mentioned plenty of water and low protein diet but this little Yorkie Dudley is very sick. I think that being so small also affects the outcome???

Thanks for anything you could add here?

Here is a portion from Darla's email to me: Dudley is the puppy that belongs to Darla's son Chris and wife.


Poor little Dudley is not doing very good. They had more test today on him and they will find out more tomorrow the test today is to see if his liver is functioning good enough to go ahead with surgery. He is pretty sick little guy and if he can go ahead with surgery they will do it next Wed. in mean time they are wondering how to take care of him. I told them to feed him very low protein dog food and Blair found some today and then I also told her to maybe feed him small meals every couple hours instead of two meals a day. She said one of the Vets she talk to today told her this too. Also told her to keep lots of water down him and maybe this will help flush some. He is so tired sleeps most the time. The surgery will be done at a college by a Vet that has done them. I would ask on Pet Talk but I don't know who will answer me since no one really knows me. Just want to know how to keep him comfortable till surgery. He was so bad last night they did not think he was going to make it thru the night. But then this morning he walked around and was able to drink out of bowl without his head falling in it. Guess this is all sign of this. But once he gets surgery done things should be ok and he will have to be kept quiet and no running or jumping around for 2 weeks. One of Pam's dog had this but she had surgery right away and her dog was not this sick. Dudley is around 5 months old and they talk to the person they got him from it is someone that works with Chris and they said they have never had this problem with their Yorkies or any of the other puppies in the litter.

[Darla_6]

Thank you Debbie for posting this for me. Dudley has his moments that he runs around some. After he eats he is really tired and then in morning he runs around and plays some and just now when I was talking to Chris I could hear him barking. The Vets just say he is very sick dog.

If any one has any more information on this I would really appreciate it my son and daughter-in-law just do not know what to do. Dudley is a Yorkie and only 5-6 months old. Thank you

[ramanth]

I know this thread was bumped for other reasons, but how is Mya? Dr. Beal at MSU was one of the vets working on Chipper's case. He's a very sweet guy.

I have no experience with shunts, but I offer prayers to Dudley and his family. It is not easy seeing your pup sick.

[kuhio98]

Oops, I see that Debbie and Darla have already found this thread. Sorry about that.

Last posting on iMOM said that Mya is doing well and is still looking for a permanent home.

Sep 5 2007, 06:46 AM Post #299

Diana,
Just want to let you know that Mya is doing well so far!!!!!!!!!! I have been buisy with back to school for the kids, and we had to move our daughter into her college dorm. That was stressful for me anyway, but she is all settled in. I hope everything continues to be good. I have to get back to Dr. Beal about how much longer we have to give Mya her injections. I am not pushing anything so whatever he says works for me. It was funny when he sent us an email that started out "hows our little girl"? haven't had a episode in a week! I tell people not to bring up how Mya is because it seems I jinks myself when I reply she ids doing better. Today Mya scared me a little because she was like coughing or choking like she had a hair ball. All is good know though, and I had to seperate her from our golden because she was playing a little too hard for my liking. It should be no surprise to us that she would have hair balls since she takes sandy's tale and pull on it. I now know where they get the saying "YOU CAN"T KEEP A GOOD DOG DOWN! I am just so lucky that Sandy is so easy going and loves to play with Mya.
Well enough for know and we will keep in touch.

Mya (little trouble girl) & gang