What is a liver Shunt
A Liver shunt is caused when the artery that goes through the liver
does not go through
at the right place. In stead it goes around the liver. The Liver can not
perform the task
it was meant to perform which is clean the blood. I have heard
different things about
this. I heard it said that the puppy will die within the first year, I know
that dogs have
died after about 3 years with their owners not knowing why their
puppy was never real
well until they did die.
does not go through
at the right place. In stead it goes around the liver. The Liver can not
perform the task
it was meant to perform which is clean the blood. I have heard
different things about
this. I heard it said that the puppy will die within the first year, I know
that dogs have
died after about 3 years with their owners not knowing why their
puppy was never real
well until they did die.
A puppy born with a liver shunt will be smaller then the other puppies.
He wont thrive
well and may need assistance to survive. A puppy doing these things
does not
necessarily means he has a liver shunt. There are other things that can
cause a puppy
to be small and anemic acting. Most tiny dogs have trouble with
hypoglycemia anyway
and still grow up to lead healthy, normal lives. We are already dealing
with a little dog
without much reserve. The test for liver shunts is expensive. I am willing
to have the
test done on my tiny dog before purchase but the buyer must agree to
pay extra for
test.
He wont thrive
well and may need assistance to survive. A puppy doing these things
does not
necessarily means he has a liver shunt. There are other things that can
cause a puppy
to be small and anemic acting. Most tiny dogs have trouble with
hypoglycemia anyway
and still grow up to lead healthy, normal lives. We are already dealing
with a little dog
without much reserve. The test for liver shunts is expensive. I am willing
to have the
test done on my tiny dog before purchase but the buyer must agree to
pay extra for
test.
However, all my chihuahua puppies who are under 1 pound at 8 weeks
old will be
sold with a three year guarantee protection against liver shunts. The
reason I dont
test them is because this is not a common problem in chihuahuas. But it
has been
known to happen. The guaratee offers a replacement puppy only. You
must have a
necropsy done proving it died from Liver Shunt.
old will be
sold with a three year guarantee protection against liver shunts. The
reason I dont
test them is because this is not a common problem in chihuahuas. But it
has been
known to happen. The guaratee offers a replacement puppy only. You
must have a
necropsy done proving it died from Liver Shunt.
| Liver shunts are not necessarily a genetic problem. It is due to the large dog being bred down to a small size and this is seen in the smaller breeds. Even if a family has never had liver shunts before, it can still happen to one of their puppies. I suppose the chihuahua is not as susseptible to liver shunts because they have been a small dog longer then other breeds. It seems to effect only the very tiny and very few of them. Breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles and I believe ,miniature schnausers have more of this problem then the chihuahua. My Yorkiepoos and my Yorkies will be tested for liver shunts before being sold and this will be included in their final price. |