Pondering the liver
- Thread starter Mom2Melli
- Start date
trini
Forums Sage
Unfortunately this is showing up all too frequently in Shelties...and the symptoms can be very vague...just a general "not feeling so well" in your dog. Our vets are seeing it often...an ultrasound of the gallbladder will show it up very clearly. It tends to hit older dogs. Thankfully it ususally is very successfully treated with a medication called Ursodiol.
Our Rascal was on Ursodiol for the last 3 years of his life...and currently our Kinnon (collie mix) is on Ursodiol. A good friend's sheltie was headed for gallbladder removal due to such severe "sludge" buildup ("sludge" is the terms many vets use for this condition) when a second opinion put her on Ursodiol. It took several months for complete clearing of the gallbladder, but she is now doing great.
Because it is being recognized as a serious issue in Shelties (as well as some other breeds), I now have all my little ones undergo a full organ ultrasound at 10...earlier if they show any changes in how they feel.
Trini
Its not just for the aged dog..They are seeing it younger and younger..The youngest I know of was 2 years old, the average is down to 6 or 7years old now..
Liver shunt is present at birth. Originally a passageway for nutrients for the developing fetus it should be closed by the time a pup is born. Sometimes there is just a partial opening and the dog seems okay for a few years, maybe some odd symptoms, but not severe and then whammo, the dog gets sick. Other shunts are debilitating from day 1 and the pup just doesn't do well. I could see how the bitch being exposed to something could play a roll in the process before the pup is born.
As for gall bladder and pancreatic disease, I often wonder if we see more of it because of the higher fats that we are giving our dogs. Between the addition of oil to the diet and the higher amounts of fat in the diet itself, let alone the snacks we give both in training and just because they are cute, are we taxing the organs that process fat to the max? I get nervous when someone feeds a food like Acana to a small dog and also adds extra fish oils. Just wondering.
As for gall bladder and pancreatic disease, I often wonder if we see more of it because of the higher fats that we are giving our dogs. Between the addition of oil to the diet and the higher amounts of fat in the diet itself, let alone the snacks we give both in training and just because they are cute, are we taxing the organs that process fat to the max? I get nervous when someone feeds a food like Acana to a small dog and also adds extra fish oils. Just wondering.
trini
Forums Sage
That is not a good update. Thanks for correcting my information. Do you have a feeling of what percentage is hitting younger dogs vs older dogs?Trini
Thank you Tagg.
Would any of the probiotic/digestive enzyme kind of items be possibly assistive to those conditions? Maybe in assisting breaking things down in the gut more easily? Might that be worse? Breaking things down too quickly so more is absorbed rather than voided?
Obviously those have other gastric benefits, esp. in certain dogs.
Can some additive be taxing to the system?
I sort of feel like with the boom in pet care it's like what's happening in medicine to humans -- just throw more medications and supplements at them. Looking at something like Fosters & Smith, the shelves at Walmart, etc. it's crazy how much is offered these days from multivits, to joint, to skin/coat, to eyes, to . . .
Would any of the probiotic/digestive enzyme kind of items be possibly assistive to those conditions? Maybe in assisting breaking things down in the gut more easily? Might that be worse? Breaking things down too quickly so more is absorbed rather than voided?
Obviously those have other gastric benefits, esp. in certain dogs.
Can some additive be taxing to the system?
I sort of feel like with the boom in pet care it's like what's happening in medicine to humans -- just throw more medications and supplements at them. Looking at something like Fosters & Smith, the shelves at Walmart, etc. it's crazy how much is offered these days from multivits, to joint, to skin/coat, to eyes, to . . .
Mignarda
Forums Enthusiast
My gut instinct tells me that it's vaccination, or rather, the abuse of vaccination.
There was a study with WSU several years back for gallbladder it was then dropped, im not sure the reasoning for it, maybe lack of funding? Interest? not sure. Recently though ive been told UNC?? Or somewhere in NC a vet has picked it back up... From the research ive done and talking with other breeders there does seem to be a genetic link to gallbladder issues as certain lines seem to be affected when others are fine and they are in the same kennel.
It's probably NC State, that's where our vet school is located....