Liver Shunt and Vaccinations

[pugdog4deb]

My Pug has a confirmed diagnosis of a Portosystemic Shunt.  Vaccinations are hard on the liver.  Do you believe that vaccinations for pets are long lasting like vaccinations for babies?  I do not want my Pug to have any unnecessary shots due to her compromised liver problem.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I am sorry about your dog!  

Once any dog or cat has had the initial series of vaccines it is possible to determine if the vaccine is still effective by a blood test called a vaccine titer test.  

Many veterinary practices now give the option of performing vaccine titers.  It should be possible to find a practice in your area that does.  We perform titers at out practice in Randolph, NJ and have found that some patients never need vaccine updates.  

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Your dog has quite a few seemingly congenital problems.  

Celery juice is a natural diuretic and can be part of a preventative protocol for urinary tract health.  

However, it might be in your dog's best interest to seek a referral to a veterinarian who treats in an integrative fashion, i.e.: traditionally and holistically,  utilizing acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbal medicine, standard pharmaceutical/medications etc. because trying to treat a dog with myriad  problems by yourself can be quite a daunting task.

A Chinese medical diagnosis for your dog is Kidney Jing deficiency (of prenatal jing).   The Western equivalent is congenital disease.  If prenatal jing is deficient than post natal jing: food, supplements, medications, and digestion must be optimized to try to overcome the prenatal jing deficiency.  

There are Chinese Formulas specifically for Jing Deficiency.  One such formula is: Sheng Jing San or Epimedium Powder.  The other problems can be addressed separately, such as the bladder stones, bladder infections, and the shunt.  Bladder issues can be treated with cranberry juice, glucosamine and chondroitin, antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity of urine, Chinese medical formula's: Eight Righteous, and/or: Ba Zheng San, and Western herbal formula's such as:Hydrangea and Eupatorium, among others.

Herbal formula's can also be utilized for the shunt such as: Milk Thistle (Silymarin), Dandelion, Choline and Inositol, alpha lipoic acid and others.  Chinese herbal supplements for liver disease include: Xiao Yao Wan or San, Yi Guan Jian and many others which really should be prescribed by a veterinarian familiar with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Lastly, since the digestion must be working at complete capacity, a good probiotic, prebiotic, digestive enzymes, and colostrum (if your dog does not have a problem with dairy) should also be utilized

[pugdog4deb]

I have a four year old Pug with a diagnosis of a Portosystemic Shunt.  Secondary to that, she forms sludge, crystals, and bladder stones.  I'm told that organic celery juice given daily helps with bladder infections.  Do you think that this would help my Pug with her shunt, which by the way, is not repairable (she had surgery to fix it but was not able to be done for a few reasons)?  She is currently on Prescription food, 250mg of Flagyl, and Lactulose.  Any thoughts on this would be very helpful!!  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.