Puppy Gets 2nd Chance at ‘Normal’ Life After High-Stakes Liver Shunt Surgery in Dogs
A Golden Retriever puppy named Honey has overcome a life-threatening medical condition, thanks to the power of social media and the generosity of strangers. (Watch video below)
At just three months old, Honey was diagnosed with an intrahepatic liver shunt, a rare condition that caused her to experience severe neurological symptoms and significant weight loss. The diagnosis left her owners facing not only emotional distress but also a daunting financial burden.
Determined to give their furry companion a fighting chance, Honey’s family turned to the internet for help. They created a TikTok account, @honeyinthebigcity, to share Honey’s story and launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of her much-needed surgery.
The response was overwhelming. Animal lovers from across the digital landscape rallied behind Honey, contributing funds and messages of support. Their efforts paid off, raising enough money to secure Honey’s life-saving procedure.
In a poignant video shared on TikTok, Honey’s owners documented their journey to the veterinary college in Guelph for her CT scan and surgery. The caption read, “The day is FINALLY HERE! I went on my way to the veterinary college in Guelph to have my CT scan and confirm surgery for tomorrow. CT confirmed I have a large shunt on the left side of my liver. Surgery will happen tomorrow morning.”
The post concluded with a heartfelt thank you to all who had contributed: “I miss mom and dad, but I am excited to hopefully live a normal puppy life after surgery. THANK YOU to everyone that donated and made this journey possible.”
In a development that has brought joy to Honey’s supporters, the surgery was a success. Reports indicate that Honey is now thriving, finally able to enjoy the carefree puppy life she deserves.
Watch the video below:
@honeyinthebigcity The day is FINALLY HERE! I went on my way to the veterinary college in Guelph to have my CT scan and confirm surgery for tomorrow! CT confirmed I have a large shunt on the left side of my liver. Surgery will happen tomorrow morning. I miss mom and dad but I am so excited to hopefully live a normal puppy life after surgery. THANK YOU to everyone that donated and made this journey possible! Love Y’all 💕 #fyp #dogsoftiktok #livershunt #livershuntawareness ♬ You Found Me – Instrumental Pop Songs & Kris Farrow
Liver Shunts in Dogs: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
The liver is the second largest organ in your dog’s body and plays a key role in keeping them healthy by filtering toxins from their blood. Normally, blood from the digestive system, including the intestines and stomach, goes to the liver first, where it’s cleaned of toxins before circulating through the rest of the body.
A liver shunt in dogs, also known as a portosystemic shunt (PSS), happens when an abnormal blood vessel bypasses the liver. This means that instead of going to the liver to be filtered, toxin-filled blood goes straight into the main circulation. This can lead to toxins spreading throughout your dog’s body, which can slow their development and cause problems with their brain and nervous system.
“This is a condition where a vessel is present that bypasses the liver, resulting in a vast array of symptoms due to the liver not being able to adequately perform its functions,” explains Dr. Joe Spoo.
Research shows that extrahepatic shunts are commonly seen in small dog breeds, whereas intrahepatic shunts mostly affect large breeds. Liver shunts can either be congenital or acquired.
- Congenital liver shunts: This form of liver shunt occurs due to abnormalities in fetal development, meaning a puppy is born with the shunts. Congenital liver shunt is often hereditary.
- Acquired liver shunts: This mostly occurs in older dogs, and is triggered by existing liver problems.
Dogs with liver shunts are susceptible to secondary conditions such as hepatic encephalopathy, a neurological disorder caused by the build-up of ammonia in the blood (as it bypasses the liver).
Clinical Signs of Liver Shunt in Dogs
Portosystemic liver shunt in dogs is associated with several symptoms, most of which are neurological in nature. The severity of these symptoms largely depends on the number of abnormal blood vessels a dog has, since this influences how much unfiltered blood gets into the main circulation.
Among the common signs of liver shunts in dogs include:
- Lack of coordination
- Head pressing against walls
- Drooling/foaming in the mouth
- Tremors and seizures
- Excessive pacing or circling
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Development of urinary stones
- Lethargy
- Stunted growth
- Loss of weight
“My Shih Tzu had a liver shunt that he now received surgery for a couple of months back, and I wanted to share information about his symptoms and behavior before he was properly diagnosed….His primary symptoms were lethargy and pacing…He would pace day and night non-stop, to the point where we would have to tie him up for him to fall asleep,” wrote user @jpark876 in a Reddit discussion on liver shunts in dogs.
How is Liver Shunt in Dogs Diagnosed?
Typically, the diagnosis of liver shunt in dogs involves a multi-diagnostic approach. Besides conducting a physical examination and reviewing the dog’s medical history, the vet will likely perform a complete blood count, liver function tests, urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scans.
Treatment of Liver Shunts in Dogs
In most cases, the treatment of choice for liver shunt is surgery. The goal of surgical correction is to close the abnormal blood vessel (s) and restore normal blood flow pathway.
Prior to surgery, though, dogs often undergo medical therapy to clear the toxins in the bloodstream and minimize symptoms of liver shunt. Medical therapy typically involves switching to a prescribed low-protein diet and being on medications such as antibiotics. A diet low in protein helps lower the accumulation of ammonia in the bloodstream.
“Medical therapy is aimed at reducing symptoms caused by the PSS and can be used to help prepare your pet for surgery. Your pet may receive a “liver diet,” oral lactulose, anti-acid, and anti-seizure medications,” explain experts at Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals.
It’s worth noting that surgery doesn’t apply to all dogs with liver shunt. In some cases — especially in older dogs with acquired liver shunts — surgical removal may cause life-threatening complications. Therefore, dogs who can’t undergo surgery are often put on long-term medical therapy.
Unfortunately, surgery is an important factor in the prognosis of dogs with liver shunts. A study involving 126 dogs suffering from liver shunt found that pups who undergo surgery have a longer life expectancy than those who are medically managed without surgery. In other words, with surgery, a dog diagnosed with liver shunts has a higher chance of living a longer life.
Liver Shunts in Dogs FAQs
Liver shunt in dogs symptoms
Dogs with liver shunt exhibit symptoms such as incoordination, lethargy, excessive pacing, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Liver shunt surgery in dogs
As explained earlier, the goal of liver shunt surgery is to close the abnormal blood vessels and restore the normal blood flow pathway.
What is a liver shunt in dogs?
Liver shunt occurs when a dog has an abnormal blood vessel(s) that bypasses the liver, leading to unfiltered blood entering the main circulation system.
Liver shunt in dogs’ diet
Dogs diagnosed with liver shunts are often prescribed a low-protein diet to reduce the accumulation of ammonia in the bloodstream.