Info on Zoey (Long)

[kayc]

Zoey was due to be spayed in Oct. Her liver function (ALT) came back slightly elevated at 83 the vet suspected PSS Portosystemic Shunt. I did not want to beleive this so I contacted another vet he said to wait until Jan to have her labs retested. She came into heat Nov 15th and it lasted about 5 weeks. Every since she has been in heat she has been leaking urine after she urinates. They were treating her for a bladder infection. It would get better with 14 days of clavamox and then come back 3 days later. I took her to a 3rd vet same thing probable PSS. She was just going of the Oct. labs. Finally I took Zoey in and demanded bile acids testing full blood panels and a cystocentesis (taking urine directly from the bladder). He had to use a ultrasound for this and did notce the the bladder and uterine wall were thick so this has been going for awhile, DUHHH. Her pre meal bile acid was 3.2 (good) her 2 hours post meal was 54.9 not good at all. Most likely PSS. Zoey has no signs or symptoms at all other then the urine leaking which he said could be fixed if I get her spayed. She has an appointment for this on Wed the 25th. I was going to take her to a specialist in Seattle for a consultion and her spay. The surgery just to spay and look to see if there is a shunt 2-2400$ if there is a shunt and they fix it 26-3600$ But then my husband comes home and tells me he may be getting laid off. I was going to get her on a low protein diet and liver supplements to see if that prevents her from getting of the symptoms. And I was going to try to manage Zoeys condition with diet, which my vet didn't even think I need to change her diet as she has no symptoms. But I want to due to the research that I have been doing. This is why I have not been on for awhile as I have been doing research on line and chatting with the Yahoo liver group. I still don't want to beleive that my perfect little Zoey has a problem. She is happy funny and full of engery and talks to us like crazy when we talk back. It's so funny we have whole conversations. That's our story,

AS I said I didn't not want to beleive this about Zoey so I contacted Dr Jean Dodds world Canine Liver specialist and here is the outcome

I am SOOOOOOOO excited I could just pee myself. My hours and hours of internet searching has paid off. I some how came across an E-Mail address for Dr Jean Dodds the world specialist on canine liver disease. I sent her an e-mail and she replied (can you beleive it) here is her reply to my e-mail.
Zoey goes in on the 25th for her spay. Yaaaaay. If I would have gotten her spayed earlier I would not be going through this. Kay & Zoey

Dear Kay: You do not need a liver biopsy. Her pre-bile acids are normal, and post-bile acids are high [over 80 is clinically significant], but this likely reflects the secondary effects of the reproductive/urinary tract inflammation.

She should be fed a liver cleansing diet now -- without grain. Suggestions would be Wellness CORE Reduced Fat or Wellness CORE Ocean, or Eagle Holistic Select, or Canidae Grain-free or Wysong Anergen. Best wishes. Jean

I will still have her bile acids tested 2 3 months after her spay to make sure.

[Jen]

Wow Kay that's awesome that you were able to get in touch with a canine liver specialist

I'm so sorry for all you've had to go through I can just imagine all the stress and worry not to mention seeing poor little Zoey go through all of this

Does the specialist feel her spaying will help stop the leaking?

Praying that all goes well with her spaying and that she is 100% very soon

[Jaynie]

Oh that's such great news.I'm so pleased for you

Well done for doing so much research

[Jen]

I hope everything goes smoothly with Zoey's spaying tomorrow