What do you feel like saying, right now?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Teddy was a cardiology patient of Dr. Sanders at MSU in his last year, but Pip is young and healthy and fine with his primary care vet. But I would definitely go back to MSU if Pip develops any complicated health issues. My sister takes her two schnauzers to MSU for all their care. She is a pediatrician and she has gone to great lengths to get the specialized care her dogs need. Both are diabetic and have insulin pumps, and one had to have his eyes removed due to complications. They are lucky to have her, because I suspect a lot of owners would not be able to manage what she does for Ben and Lizzie.

Oh, I’m so sorry, Sciencewoman. I thought it was Pippin that was going to MSU.

Wow! Your sister sounds like an awesome, remarkable pet parent, Sciencewoman! And she’s clearly a very committed one, too. I mean, managing diabetes alone takes dedication, but adding insulin pumps and post-operative care after something as major as eye removal, that’s like serious level devotion. Tell her that Ben and Lizzie are very lucky to have her in their corner.

And honestly, you’re absolutely right, this kind of care isn’t something every owner could take on, even if they wanted to. It’s just that it speaks volumes about her knowledge, compassion, and consistency. As a vet, I always hope for owners like her, not necessarily perfect, just present, willing to learn, and truly invested in their pets lives. That’s how it should be. Unfortunately, it’s not that way for all.

Tell her from one medical professional to another that she’s doing an amazing job. And MSU is a great choice. They give like the best care and they have like an amazing collaborative team.

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

BTW, Pip went to urgent care for a gastrointestinal bug 3 weeks ago. We were leaving on vacation a couple days later and I was erring on the side of caution. When they were checking him for pancreatitis, etc. the x-ray showed that he has a "very small liver." They recommended we talk to our vet about that.

Thanks for sharing this, Sciencewoman.

So, when they mention a very small liver, they’re likely referring to something we call microhepatica. It just means the liver appears smaller than expected for your dog’s size and age. That can be a normal variant in some cases, but it’s also a potential sign of an underlying issue you should have your vet explore further because there are common causes of microhepatica. I mean, it’s good that they caught it, even if it turns out to be nothing serious.

So, since the urgent care team noted a very small liver, here are a few questions I’d suggest bringing up with your regular vet.

Ask your vet does she/he think the liver size is actually abnormal, or could it be due to positioning or gas on the x-ray.

Ask if they should do bloodwork to check liver enzymes and overall function.

Would a bile acids test be helpful to evaluate how well his liver is working?

Do you recommend an abdominal ultrasound to get a better view of the liver?

And then, ask is there any concern about a liver shunt or chronic liver condition based on his breed or age.

And then too, you can let them know how Pippin has been doing since then, like if there’s been any changes in his appetite, energy, or behavior can be helpful in figuring out if this is something to watch or something that needs further workup now. Know what I mean?

Please let me know what they say about Pippin.