kayc
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Post by kayc on Mar 12, 2010 15:01:04 GMT -8
Tricia I am so sorry. I have been thinking about you often. I am glad Holly is not showing any of the signs of a shunt. Hopefully you can get her on the right diet so she won't develope symptoms later. Keep us posted. I will praying for a good outcome from the ultrasound.. (((((HUGS)))))
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Jen
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Post by Jen on Mar 16, 2010 10:53:59 GMT -8
Any update about the ultrasound?
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Post by Tricia on Mar 17, 2010 19:19:36 GMT -8
Thanks for asking. No update yet -- had planned to take her this week, but her tummy seems a bit off (I'm guessing from nerves), so I'm planning on getting it done next week. I'll definitely let you know what they find.
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Jen
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Post by Jen on Mar 18, 2010 13:43:21 GMT -8
Aww poor Holly. She's been through a lot lately so I can imagine she'd feel stressed out. I hope the ultra sound next week can identify what's going on
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Jen
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Post by Jen on Mar 24, 2010 11:02:20 GMT -8
Any update on the ultrasound?
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Post by Tricia on Mar 26, 2010 11:50:13 GMT -8
Holly had her ultrasound yesterday and she did very well. He did NOT see a shunt and said he was able to see all the normal areas where shunts occur because she behaved very well. He did think that her liver is a bit smaller than he expected, but said it was not lumpy and there were no nodules or anything, so she could just be a dog with a smaller liver. MVD is also a possibility, which would actually make a lot more sense to me than a shunt based on the fact that she's never had a single symptom of a shunt. We go back to our regular vet next week for an anal gland check (this poor dog has been through so much in the last 6 months) so we'll discuss the next thing to do then. The doctor that did the ultrasound said he felt we should probably just re-check the bile acids in a month to see if they're still elevated. If they are, then we can decide if we want to do more invasive testing (NO) or just keep an eye on all of her blood levels to make sure nothing bad is actually happening. Thank you all for your concern. Last night I felt like I could actually relax for the first time in a long time!
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Jen
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Post by Jen on Mar 27, 2010 12:18:19 GMT -8
Well that's good news! Did your vet say how they test for MVD?
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Jaynie
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Holly,Tyson & Amigos mummy
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Post by Jaynie on Mar 27, 2010 12:22:38 GMT -8
Oh Tricia that sounds like its much better news.
Sorry you have been going through such a worrying time big hugs to you and brave little Holly xxxxx
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Post by Tricia on Mar 28, 2010 16:35:53 GMT -8
Thanks ladies Jen, there isn't any test for MVD -- basically they just assume dogs have shunts until they prove they don't There is a new cutting-edge test where they put a radioactive material up the bum of a dog and watch it travel through the system. If it goes to the liver first, the dog doesn't have a shunt, but if it goes to the heart first, they do (I think I got that right). They do that at the university, and it's the most definitive test for determining the presence of a shunt, but not something I'm willing to do. They could also do a liver biopsy, but if there aren't any bad vessels in the section they remove, it would be inconclusive too, so that's way too much to put her through to not find anything out either. And basically, many dogs with MVD live their whole lives without even needing medication or the liver diet, so I think we'll just keep watching her blood levels to make sure we don't see any damage happening. She acts perfectly healthy and happy, so that's all I can ask for.
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Jen
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Post by Jen on Apr 8, 2010 10:51:04 GMT -8
How is Holly feeling these days?
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