Have any of you got any experience of looking after a cat with a liver shunt?

Our rescue kitten is just one year old and she has a liver shunt which has caused problems including 'episodes' when she is completely spaced out - and she is very tiny.

However, she is LOVELY and my heart is smitten.

She's on a bit of daily medication, but the only other option for a long life seems to be extremely costly surgery...which might not work (we're talking thousands).

Anybody else had any experience?

There is an encouraging case study on the Feline Advisory Bureau website:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/portos...hunt/case.html

Thank you Lippincote. Interesting! But what it doesn't say is that the op (or, more likely, ops) are extremely risky and VERY expensive. I think there's only a 50% chance of success and the op could be fatal.

Hello there

My wee doggie has MVD which is internal inoperable live shunt.

She eats Royal Canin Hepatic and a very strict diet of low protein and low fat foods.

Lactulose is the main medication as it pulls out all of the toxins in the bowel which cause hepatic encephalopathy. HE Symptons are head pressing, drooling, circling, seizures, and acting disoriented.

Take a look at this yahoo group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...pport/database.

It saved my little dogs life as the vets had no idea of the correct way to treat it and so i was able to educate myself and the vet.

Has the kitten has bloods done and any other investigation to see if its its operable or inoperable?

How is your cat on a day to day basis OP? Is she thriving and happy now she's on the medication?

I don't have a yahoo ID so I can't view the forum but hope the info on there is of help to you.

second the recommendation on the yahoo group. My cat's life was prolonged by about 9 months by American advice. They are way , way ahead with veterinary treatments.
Good luck with your cat.

chihuahuas Thank you! How old is your dog? Is she expected to be on the lactulose for the rest of her life? What is her life expectancy now?

Nessa is on lactulose, which sometimes gives her a runny tummy (being long-haired, this is NOT funny!!).

Today she is VERY lethargic, can hardly jump on the sofa. But she's quite purry. Tomorrow, she might be running around manickly!

I'd better join yahoo!