scamper's story
I am so happy and relieved to be able to tell this story. Scamper is just a year now and we got our new 9 week old puppy last January 30th 2013, flown to us from the Canadian Prairies, from the same breeder as our last Havanese, (who had died in the November at 14 yrs. old). Even when we first got him, "Scamper the camper" was itchy and scratching.
It was a bit odd as it's too cold in Saskatchewan for him to have come with fleas, and we couldn't see any. He got all his baby shots and regular immunizations from my longtime vet, and a couple courses over time of flea prevention pills. The only answer from the vet was to give him an oatmeal shampoo bath. She had switched him at his first appointment to "Healthy Advantage" the Hills dog food most vets sell.
At 9 mos. I took him in to get him neutered. They did regular blood testing and found his ALT reading was 425 which is quite dangerously high as 30-90 is normal. Neutering would be too dangerous as this indicated an injured or compromised liver that could not easily process anesthetic. I felt so sad. I had spent about $5000 over time on my last dogs teeth as I hadn't brushed them, and the thought of already spending more money on my new 9 month baby was daunting. I agreed to an ultrasound and a bile acid test for $700. He came up normal on these. His organs looked fine. I started to read online about their suspected possibility of "liver shunt". All very scary.
A month later the vet did the second ALT test only to find it had risen slightly to 427. The specialists she discussed things with advised either a liver biopsy or a test where dye was put through his system to possibly find an internal or external liver shunt. They assured me the specialists would monitor him even though I'd been told anaesthetic may not be easily processed with this liver problem. The ALT test is seen to be reliable for detecting liver injury. I was looking at possibly another $2000 as just the anesthetic was $600. For my little 9 lb. baby dog!!
I must admit cost (I'm a teacher, wanting to retire) and fear of these tests got me reading and reading online about liver conditions and diet. The vet was impatient about answering my questions. The holistic vets that I was aware of at the time cost $175, just to say hello. My breeder offered me another free dog. It was so stressful. Then I found the doglivershunt.com website you are on now and Rick & Cindy. It seemed too good to be true that there could be a nutritional solution but I decided I'd rather spend some money on good supplements and try this route before subjecting Scamper to more invasive tests.
I phoned Rick as they were close by in Seattle, and thought I'd even drive there to talk to them. I felt really desperate. Rick spent a casual hour talking to me on the phone explaining things. I ordered the whole food supplements he suggested after thinking it over for a week. I immediately started to change Scamper's diet with the instructions Rick sent me while I waited for the supplements to come. Hmmm... Scamper stopped scratching and itching in no time! Interesting.
In the meantime I had investigated a raw food pet store and was complaining about wanting a new vet and they suggested "Dr. Maya" at Healing Paws, who was supportive of holistic diets. My head was swimming with all the new information. I went to her and she agreed with Rick & Cindy's direction. (I gave him SAMe for just a month as I'd requested it from the old vet.) I kept reading everything Rick & Cindy wrote in emails and they answered me the very next day every time I had a question about things like calcium, avocados, etc. The supplements came and I got good at putting together the food which wasn't that hard. Dr. Maya was very hopeful.
It was a bit odd as it's too cold in Saskatchewan for him to have come with fleas, and we couldn't see any. He got all his baby shots and regular immunizations from my longtime vet, and a couple courses over time of flea prevention pills. The only answer from the vet was to give him an oatmeal shampoo bath. She had switched him at his first appointment to "Healthy Advantage" the Hills dog food most vets sell.
At 9 mos. I took him in to get him neutered. They did regular blood testing and found his ALT reading was 425 which is quite dangerously high as 30-90 is normal. Neutering would be too dangerous as this indicated an injured or compromised liver that could not easily process anesthetic. I felt so sad. I had spent about $5000 over time on my last dogs teeth as I hadn't brushed them, and the thought of already spending more money on my new 9 month baby was daunting. I agreed to an ultrasound and a bile acid test for $700. He came up normal on these. His organs looked fine. I started to read online about their suspected possibility of "liver shunt". All very scary.
A month later the vet did the second ALT test only to find it had risen slightly to 427. The specialists she discussed things with advised either a liver biopsy or a test where dye was put through his system to possibly find an internal or external liver shunt. They assured me the specialists would monitor him even though I'd been told anaesthetic may not be easily processed with this liver problem. The ALT test is seen to be reliable for detecting liver injury. I was looking at possibly another $2000 as just the anesthetic was $600. For my little 9 lb. baby dog!!
I must admit cost (I'm a teacher, wanting to retire) and fear of these tests got me reading and reading online about liver conditions and diet. The vet was impatient about answering my questions. The holistic vets that I was aware of at the time cost $175, just to say hello. My breeder offered me another free dog. It was so stressful. Then I found the doglivershunt.com website you are on now and Rick & Cindy. It seemed too good to be true that there could be a nutritional solution but I decided I'd rather spend some money on good supplements and try this route before subjecting Scamper to more invasive tests.
I phoned Rick as they were close by in Seattle, and thought I'd even drive there to talk to them. I felt really desperate. Rick spent a casual hour talking to me on the phone explaining things. I ordered the whole food supplements he suggested after thinking it over for a week. I immediately started to change Scamper's diet with the instructions Rick sent me while I waited for the supplements to come. Hmmm... Scamper stopped scratching and itching in no time! Interesting.
In the meantime I had investigated a raw food pet store and was complaining about wanting a new vet and they suggested "Dr. Maya" at Healing Paws, who was supportive of holistic diets. My head was swimming with all the new information. I went to her and she agreed with Rick & Cindy's direction. (I gave him SAMe for just a month as I'd requested it from the old vet.) I kept reading everything Rick & Cindy wrote in emails and they answered me the very next day every time I had a question about things like calcium, avocados, etc. The supplements came and I got good at putting together the food which wasn't that hard. Dr. Maya was very hopeful.
Scamper with friend
Well, after 3 months of the diet Scamper's ALT liver enzyme had gone from a dangerously high 427 and was down to 129! I was elated!! I just took him in again this week, 2 months later, and it is down to 88!! He is in the normal range now after only 5 - 6 months. What a relief it's all been.
I will continue with the diet and supplements now, having learned the big downsides of feeding commercial food, over immunizing, and overpowering toxic flea medications. Scamper has been detoxed and his liver is healing and regenerating. What a journey! I can't thank Rick & Cindy and of course my new vet, enough!!
Deb Taylor & Scamper
Burnaby, British Columbia Canada
I will continue with the diet and supplements now, having learned the big downsides of feeding commercial food, over immunizing, and overpowering toxic flea medications. Scamper has been detoxed and his liver is healing and regenerating. What a journey! I can't thank Rick & Cindy and of course my new vet, enough!!
Deb Taylor & Scamper
Burnaby, British Columbia Canada
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