Hi, please help

[Shlee]

Hi there. It's my first time posting on here. I recently bought a long haired GSD. I called him Boufo. He is only 9 weeks old.

Yesterday while he was on my lap while my friend was driving Boufo started weeing and pooing. I got my friend to pull over and as I lifted him outside he was fully stiff and fell straight over onto his head. I picked him up again and he fell over again. I then laid him down and realize he was having a seizure. He was frothing at the mouth and his heart was racing.

I quickly drove him to the vet when they sedated him and did test. They said he had fluid in his lungs but were not sure why.. After about 24hrs of test and 6 or 7 more seizures they are still unsure of what is wrong. They think it is a shunt near his liver which is not allowing him to process his food properly. This is causing a build up of toxins in his body which they think is causing the seizures.

They are waiting for results from a test which had to be sent away. I hopefully get these results tomorrow morning.

They also can see something in his stomach. They think he may have eaten rocks. He is currently unable to pass these through his body. This is causing more complications in diagnosing exactly what is wrong.

He is currently too unstable to operate on as the medicines will most probably kill him..

Does anyone have any information or experience with shunts and or rocks in a dogs stomach.

Please help if you can.

Thanks,
Nick

[JakodaCD OA]

no experience with shunts , but rocks in puppies stomache can kill him if they are causing a blockage they need to be removed asap But I understand why your vet doesn't wish to operate at his moment since he is unstable.

I would call your breeder and alert them to what's going on and I hope your puppy pulls thru.

[julie87]

No shunts experience but unfortunately when my puppy was 3 months old we went to a lake with family and pup was playing in the water and swallowed 16 or more rocks I didn't know this until the next day when I found them in her poop, she started being sick she had diarrhea and rocks coming out, she was very weak and not eating but passing rocks and diarrhea as soon as I saw the reason she is sick I immediately drove to the vet I was so scared... The vet said she didn't feel rocks through the stomach and through her behind she had no fever and while at the vet the dog was actually eating dog biscuits so it was definately a good sign. The vet offered a bunch of expenssive tests but was honest to admit that most likely she will pass them and if she feels worse take her back to the vet ASAP i live across the street from my vet...so I went home with all my ER info ready to go in the middle of the night if needed...all I had to do is grab the pup and head to ER if she felt worse. Which was 10 min away from home. Whithin like 5 hours all her rocks came out and she started eating and drinking and playing and being her old selfthe same day!!!! I was terrified for her life and those rocks still freak me out. I think she confused then with ice chips. I never gave her ice again. I very much hope your pup makes it alive.

[julie87]

Forgot to add its a miracle she is alive without and vet help.. I mean can you imagine 16 rocks for a 3 month old?!! I thank God for this...

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Welcome to the site, sorry under these circumstances. Like Diane said, call your breeder and let them know.

Portal Vascular Abnormalities
Usually occurs when a portal-systemic shunt allows blood to pass from the digestive tract directly into the general circulation without being detoxified by the liver first. Usually a congenital defect restricted to young dogs and puppies, but can be the result of hepatic cirrhosis. Symptoms are never consistent, but many dogs are young, malnourished, chronically sick, poorly tolerant of toxins, drugs, and anesthetics, and tending to eat strange items (pica). Diagnosis is based on physical exam, history, laboratory tests, and specialized X-rays showing blood flow through the liver. Treatment is surgical correction of the circulatory abnormality to force the blood into the liver prior to it entering the general circulation.

From:
Disease Types | Canine Liver Disease Foundation

I am not sure if an ultrasound is a thing that will help get you more info or not.

It might be necessary to see an internal medicine specialist/board certified surgeon.

I am going to try to find some liver shunt puppies that did well...look at this - 2 in one archived thread! http://www.imom.org/community/index.php?showtopic=1497

[pyratemom]

Welcome to the site. Sorry, I have no helpful info but I do hope your pup is okay. For sure call your breeder and let them know what is happening. Will be thinking of you and your pup. Let us know how he does.

[Sunflowers]

I think the vet can tell you a lot more than we can, at this point.
Sending all the best.
Hope you come back and post under happier circumstances.

[huntergreen]

hopefully your vet can get your pup stable enough to fix her. i am wishing your pup a speedy recovery.

[Bear GSD]

I'm really sorry that you and little Boufo are going through this. I am sending you healing thoughts and prayers for you and Boufo.

[1sttimeforgsd]

So sad for your little guy, I hope that all the healing thoughts and prayers will help to get your boy well again. Please keep us informed.