A liver shunt is a blood vessel that diverts around the liver and is necessary when the Yorkie is in the fetus because it supplies oxygen, blood and food from the mother. If the liver shunt remains intact within the first year of the Yorkie's life, then blood bypasses the liver without filtration, carrying toxins to the brain, heart and other organs. Liver shunts are hereditary in Yorkies, Cairn Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds and Maltese, but clinical tests have yet to explain why in terms of genetics and development. Research into the cause is continuing.
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Symptoms
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Approximately one out of every four Yorkshire Terriers suffers from a hereditary liver shunt. Yorkies with a liver shunt exhibit excessive drinking, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, frequent urination, listlessness and abnormal behavior, such as running in circles. Yorkies with liver shunts are prone to recurring urinary tract infections. The Yorkie may experience seizures within one to three hours after eating meat because the liver is unable to filter the ammonia from the proteins in the meat, thus allowing toxins to reach the brain. Contact your veterinarian if your Yorkie exhibits any of these symptoms for longer than a week.
Acquired Liver Shunts
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Although rare, older Yorkies may acquire liver shunts if they suffer from cirrhosis, hepatitis or neoplasia because these conditions increase blood pressure in the liver. This can also be accompanied by a kidney disorder in some Yorkies. The best treatment for Yorkies with this condition is a liver transplant.
Treatment
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Ongoing treatment of a liver shunt includes oral antibiotics and a diet low in protein to prevent the absorption and production of ammonia or other intestinal toxins. Even with medical treatment, some Yorkshire terriers suffer progressive shrinkage of the liver and eventual loss of liver function. The primary purpose of medical treatment is to strengthen the Yorkie so it is healthy enough to undergo surgery.
Surgery
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Yorkshire Terriers undergo surgery to close the liver shunt. Since the liver is not well-developed and immediate closure of the liver shunt may harm or kill the puppy, surgery involves a partial occlusion of the shunted blood vessel. An ameroid constrictor, which will close over the course of five weeks is placed around the shunted blood vessel. This allows the liver to become accustomed to its increased blood supply. Yorkies given this treatment have a 95 percent survival rate. Most Yorkies remain on a low-protein diet for up to six weeks after surgery. Yorkies can resume normal activities within three months after surgery. Most Yorkies benefit from surgery and are taken off of most medications and the special diets within six months.
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