Sire Diquest Rollo Dam Martha [call name]
Penny came from the same breeder as Rhuari did, Mum wanted a pet dachsie and she fitted the bill, the litter of 2 pups, the other one was a bl/tan male, hadn't been registered so were not priced as high as the ones who had, as there were no plans to breed from her that was fine, we went and picked her up when she was 8 weeks old. We never got a pedigree with her so don't know her dam's registered name but we were told who her sire was but didn't meet him.
Penny progressed as we expected, some days she was very lethargic and other days very lively, we put the former down to her over doing it. She was very loving and cuddlesome, spent time at my house if Mum couldn't take her out with her, she was very determined, if she set herself a task she didn't let up till it was done.
On Xmas Day 2003 she became very ill, she was 7.5months old,couldn't keep any food down at all, she had vomited on the odd occassion before but nothing like this, we decided it must be a bug and fasted her for 24hrs, that didn't improve the situation so when the vet opened for emergencies the next day we took her down, told to give her chicken and rice and see how she went as nothing obvious was wrong, next day back to the vets, had a load of blood tests done and she stayed for some IV fluids and then came home.
The bloods showed abnormal liver function so we had to take her in for more extensive tests which showed there was a major problem and we were sent to the Vetinary College here on Merseyside, it is now January 5th, we have had midnight dashes to the vets for analgesia and sedation for her all over the New Year and now we are getting a speciallist opinion.
After more tests and scans it was discovered to be a Liver Shunt, never before seen in a dachsie in the UK[they rang around the country trying to find someone who had dealt with one in this breed], we were told that there was 3 possible outcomes, surgery and she would still die, surgery and remain on a special diet for life and surgery with a near normal life expectancy,we decided we had to give her a go. Jan 7th 2004[my Mum's birthday] she went for surgery, till they got her opened up they didn't know the full extent of the problem.
What is a Liver Shunt?
Instead of the blood supply passing through the liver to be cleaned of all toxins etc. it bypasses the liver via another blood vessel which means the blood is getting more and more toxic and the dog is becoming seriously ill.
When the pup is developing in the uterus it's blood is cleaned and reoxygenated by the dams system so many defects during development are not a problem, not till the pup is born do things start going wrong, some pups are very ill by 8 weeks old or sooner others can go on for several months before symptoms become such that they become so ill and so rapidly too.
During surgery the vessel bypassing the liver is found and a clip applied which slowly closes over the next 6-8 weeks forcing the blood to go through the liver and be processed as it should have been all along.
Penny's surgery went well, she was kept a close eye on to check that everything was going to plan, she was thoroughly loved by all the nurses and vets and on the 3rd day post op when she growled at one of them they decided she was well enough to go home as the extra attention she had been getting was obviously not going down well with her any more.
She couldn't get out of there quick enough, before I could pick her up to carry her down the steps she was down them on her own and heading for the car before anyone changed their minds.
Over the next 6 months she was on a special tinned diet and Lactulose 2mls twice daily, she had to go back for check ups and more blood tests but was then discharged as her results were as good as we could have ever hoped for, we were told if she ever needed surgery she would need her bloods checked and a special anaesthetic and to keep this in mind for the future.
Penny had the third outcome mentioned above, she is on normal diet as low protein as possible,need to read any packets of new things like treats etc. before she can have them, she still gets Lactulose 2 mls once per day or she becomes constipated but that is the only thing different that she gets.
The downside is she started having seizures thought to be due to her brain becoming toxic during her illness, they are rare and the trigger is becoming too excited so we try and keep her calm, not easy as those who have dachsies will know.
Penny was spayed Sept 2004 with the special precautions taken, it cost nearly twice as much as a normal spay but it was worth it to make sure she came through it fit and well.
Penny was 6yrs old May 2009,she is a busy little madam, would play fetch 24/7 if we had the stamina to keep up, in the years since her illness she has certainly made up for those lethargic days she had as a pup.
Penny 4 yrs old