I do have a friend that can not give lepto due to reactions in her lines of dogs (showlines). I wouldn't worry about rabies either. Most animal control/county licensing will do exemptions providing a letter is provided from the vet. I do that for my senior male who has DM. He is not vaccinated anymore including rabies. They have it on file at the county animal control. I'm sure their vet wouldn't have a problem doing the same thing if required.

I had a beautiful Doberman that was diagnosed as having a liver shunt which is the same conditon that you described. He had the same symptoms that your sister's puppy has. The condition is hereditary and very heartbreakingly bewildering to observe. My pup was not diagnosed until he was 5 months old and by that time the toxins in his blood had caused brain damage. Essentially the liver's blood supply is not fully operating, consequently the toxins produced by digestion go into the blood stream and cause the poor dog to be poisoned by his own digestive process. There is a definitive blood test for this. It is called a bile acid test and my vet had to send away for test kit. There is an operation that can cure the problem. It is expensive and requires a surgeon that has done this before. Perhaps you are near a university with a top notch veterinary teaching hospital. If so, go there, FAST!!! Time is of an essence. In the meantime get advice on a diet high in carbohydrates and low in protein till you can get the proper surgery done on the pup. I wish you all the luck in the world and send you my best. Please PM me if you need.

Naida

Thanks to all who replied with ideas, help or wishing us well. The puppy needs to be put down tomorrow or the next day. The testing alone to determine a definitive diagnosis is over $1,000. So far she spent over $800 in the last 24 hours alone. The surgery which is another $2,000 or $3,000 does not usually work for the larger breeds. There is medication but that usually fails after a while as well. Apparently it is a painful way to live and die so she has opted to put her down. So far 4 opinions have been to put her down. She has not thrived from day one and it has had us perplexed all along. Now at least we know why and we can help her not to suffer any more <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.

Thanks again to everyone.

Judy

The bile acid test should only cost around $150, no where near $1000, regardless, I am very sorry about the puppy, that has to be a heartbreaking experience for you sister and family <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The vet said that that bile acid test was not definitive and if not, things like ultrasound would have to be done and even that might not be definitive. Therefore, surgery would be the most likely was to prove this condition and all experts who have examined her feel all her symptoms point to this liver shunt as the cause. That's where and how all the money starts to add up. The $1,000 was a collective estimation of several tests.

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The vet said that that bile acid test was not definitive and if not, things like ultrasound would have to be done and even that might not be definitive. Therefore, surgery would be the most likely was to prove this condition and all experts who have examined her feel all her symptoms point to this liver shunt as the cause. That's where and how all the money starts to add up. The $1,000 was a collective estimation of several tests.

Not to mention the misery this pup is in for, Judy, as you said: "a painful way to live and die."

Letting this poor pup go and ending her pain is the generous choice, isn't it......... ending the pup's sad condition no matter how hard it will be for your sister. In my own experience, the experts who say to end it are usually thinking of the best thing for the animal.

I'm so sorry. These things do happen, and we do our best. That's all we have.

So sorry Judy, I had to put a dog down at 14 mnths, she had degenerative liver disease, we also spent thousands trying to keep her going, in the end it got so bad we could not watch her suffer, I am thinking of your sister during this difficult time.

My thoughts and prayers are with your sister at this difficult time. If you haven't done so, please contact the breeder and let her know what's happened.

Again thanks to all. Although the pup, Mieke by the way, belongs to my sister, I feel the loss as much as her. She and I got together about 5 or 6 times a week and walked our dogs. It was great socialization for the pup. She fell in love with my baby of 15 months, Gunnar. If he would lay down, she would follow. If he walked, she would. If he stopped to smell a tree or whatever, she would follow suit. It was adorable. If there was a loud noise she ran and hid behind him. She climbed all over him and he let her. If she wanted his bone, he'd let her take it. He could not be any more gentle with her. She had an outstanding furry friend in him and spent time with him almost every day of her short little life.

All I can think of to say to my sister (and myself) is that I'm glad we purchased the pup and not someone else who might not have seen the signs and therefore left her in distress even longer. The hardest part is watching her intermittently bounce around like a normal pup for a few minutes. But rather quickly she goes back to a not-thriving puppy state (lethargic) bringing the inevitable reality of what should be done home again.

As far as the breeder goes, they have been contacted and there is no problem there. The breeder is in agreement with euthanizing the pup and will return the money and/or provide another pup. There is a 4 1/2 month old pup available from the same father but different mother that my sister is considering.

Again, thank you all and I will share all your thoughts with my sister.

Judy

Judy,

Sorry for the loss of Mieke and koodos to the breeder for stepping up. But I think this topic brings up, again, health and nutrition and vaccinations. If your sister decides on another pup I would not vaccinate it. Even though a positive diagnosis has not been made on Mieke and the cause of the problem, vaccinating certainly didn't help (no fault of your sister or you). It's good you are here learning things and sharing your experience with others. I do hope your sister finds it in her heart to let another pup into her life. You guys will never forget Mieke and the love you shared in such a short time. Every dog has a purpose in someone's life, no matter how long or short they are with us. As my favorite quote states, "Some dogs come into our lives and quietly go, others stay awhile and leave paw prints on our heart and we are never the same"