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Author Topic:   Maltese Owners
BellaUK
Member

Posts: 21
From:Scotland, UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-01-2003 07:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BellaUK     Edit/Delete Message
Hi there,

Im from scotland,UK and have a six month old maltese named Bella. Maltese are not a very popular dog over here and i had such difficulties trying to find a good breeder!
Apart from the breeder i dont know anyone else with a maltese but would love to make some new maltese friends online to chat with/share tips/stories/pictures etc if anyone with a maltese is interested?

Fiona

See my maltese at www.perfectmaltese.co.uk

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ilovemypets
Member

Posts: 401
From:Tennessee, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-01-2003 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ilovemypets     Edit/Delete Message
Hi BellaUK, I'm a maltese owner. I have a puppy named Alex he is almost 5 months old! He is adorable! He loves to cuddle and he loves to play with Tia (mom's yorkie)! Along with my sisters kitten, Misty!

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BellaUK
Member

Posts: 21
From:Scotland, UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-01-2003 09:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BellaUK     Edit/Delete Message
Ilovemypets, Hi there!

Great to meet another maltese owner!
Esp one with a maltese about ages with my own one. How is the training coming along? Is your little pup able to sit etc yet? afraid Bella is very stuborn, far too keen on playing than learning new tricks lol

Really will have to start to work harder on it soon

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iluvmypup
Member

Posts: 341
From:ohio
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-01-2003 09:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for iluvmypup     Edit/Delete Message
welcome to auspet

bella is such a pretty little girl!
i don't have a maltese but i do have a shihpoo named max he's 7 months old now and spoilled rotten!

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BellaUK
Member

Posts: 21
From:Scotland, UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-01-2003 09:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BellaUK     Edit/Delete Message
iluvmypup,

Aww thank you for your kind words about Bella. Glad you liked her. Another pup around Bellas age, how nice. I have seen alot about maltpoos on here, is that a cross between maltese and a poodle? Do people breed them or is it er....one of those things that happens!! lol

We dont get anything like that over here?

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baby-snickers
Member

Posts: 106
From:
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-01-2003 09:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for baby-snickers     Edit/Delete Message
posted 08-01-2003 09:11 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maltese Dogs
Liver Shunts
Frequently Asked Questions

by Jay Bianco
1998© All Rights Reserved
What are the signs?

There can be a lot of variation of clinical signs depending of the severity of the condition, which could depend on how much blood flow is diverted past the liver. Some of the clinical signs of portosystemic shunts that might be recognized in a puppy or young adult Maltese that have been reported could include:

Failure for a puppy to grow
Poor weight gain
Depression, listlessness, apathy
Weakness
Seizures
Salvitation, drooling
Vomiting
Poor appetite
Balance problems
Bladder stones
Blindness
Problems increasing dramatically after eating has also been strongly supported as an indication of a portosystemic shunt. Not all Maltese with the shunt will show this meal associated behavioral change, but in 25% of those affected that do, the diagnosis could become clearer. A high percent of affected Maltese show an intolerance to anesthetics or tranquilizers, & will show increased recovery times following their use. Approximately 75% of those affected will show digestive system symptoms including poor appetite, ascites, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, or occasionally deranged appetite (eating paper, etc.). Urinary system symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, & in a majority of porto-systemic shunt cases, there will be crystals or stones formed in the urinary tract. These crystals will be either uric acid or ammonium urate (ammonium biurate or thorn-apple crystals.). Most Maltese will be diagnosed with port-systemic shunts under one year of age, but some several years older have been diagnosed with the condition.
How is Liver Shunt diagnosed?

There are a number of possible abnormalities that might point towards a portosystemic shunt on:

Routine Labwork
Routine performed serum chemistries are fairly nonspecific toward confirming the diagnosis of porto-systemic shunts, but there may be a decreased total protein (primarily albumin), decreased blood glucose, decreased cholesterol, & decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The uric acid levels may be elevated in a significant number of those Maltese affected.
Acid levels are extremely important in the diagnostic screening of symptomatic potential shunts. Fasting and a two hour post meal blood samples are evaluated for bile acid levels. In virtually all porto-systemic shunts there will be a significant rise in the bile acid levels over normal. The use of bile acids in screening clinically normal for liver shunts is not currently being advised due to the variation of normal bile acid levels in Maltese, and other breeds as well. Reports of recent vaccination with modified-live vaccines causing high serum bile acid levels in normal animals have not been confirmed as of this time.

Liver function testing with Bromosulfaphthalein (BSP) or ammonia tolerance testing are sensitive and reliable if performed correctly. These tests measure the liver's ability to excrete/detoxify known agents, and thus measure liver function accurately.


Radiography
Radiography is one of the most important methods of establishing a diagnosis of porto-systemic shunt, and is currently the only universally accepted method of confirming a shunt, short of major surgery. Injection of a radiopaque dye into the spleen (Splenoportograpy) will show the shunt on radiographs and allow accurate assessment for surgical correction. But this is a pretty invasive test making it a poor choice for "screening" purposes. Special dyes injected into the liver circulation that show up on X-rays can outline the problem pretty clearly. Most of the time. But this is a pretty invasive test making it a poor choice for "screening" purposes. There are a number of possible abnormalities that might point towards a portosystemic shunt on routine labwork, including low BUN (blood urea nitrogen), low albumin, mild anemia, increases in ALT (serum alanine aminotransferase) or ALKP (serum alkaline phosphatase). If these hints are present, it would be a good idea to test the serum bile acid levels prior to eating and after eating. If this test is supportive of poor liver function then it may be a good idea to consider ultrasonagraphy and dye contrast X-rays.

Radioisotope
This procedure requires expensive equipment and the diagnosis is based on the distribution of the radionuclide in the lung or heart compared to that in the liver. The placement of a radioisotope specific for the liver into the colon for absorption through the mucosa has been gaining favor because of its noninvasive diagnostic value. This procedure also does not identify the exact location of the shunt for surgical correction if required.

Ultrasound
Currently there is research using Color Doppler Ultrasound which could soon be the preferred screening and diagnostic tool. In the past, ultrasound was fairly unreliable for nonsurgical diagnosis of porto-systemic shunts.
How is it treated?

Surgery appears to be the only cure for portosystemic shunts at this time.

Is there a genetic predisposition toward Porto-Systemic shunts?

At the present time, according to the experts, yes, most definitely Hepatic Porto-Systemic shunts are a genetic disorder.

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puttin510
Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 08-01-2003 03:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for puttin510     Edit/Delete Message
Hello and welcome. Yes there are some certain problems that occur with the malts, but can be lived with or even fixed surgically. But aside from that. I saw your sweetie and that she is, sweet. I own a mini poodle and a terrier mix. You asked above about the poo mixes. It just seems that there people out there that are putting their favorite breeds together and breeding them. It sure seems like there is a high demand for them. They are hard to find because being that they are a mix and not recognized by A.K.C. or in Europe they can not put their adds in the classified sections of the dog magazines. So it is word of mouth and classified sections like we have here. We do have some good looking malitpoos, shitz-poos, etc. here on the forum. welcom

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jjami57690
Member

Posts: 102
From:matthew, NC, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-01-2003 04:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jjami57690     Edit/Delete Message
Bella is just beautiful! I signed your guestbook but wanted to say WELCOME to Auspet toydog forum.

I have a maltipoo that looks very much like Bella named Harley. She is 1 year old this month and we love her very very much. I don't know if Harley was an accident or what (i doubt that she was though, these little poo crosses are hard to find and gone in a heartbeat) but she is spoiled rotten. of course that has nothing to do with the type of dog so much i know. she couldn't sit still to save her life, shes too full of energy and wiggles. she does know "stay" when we have to leave for work. i haven't taught her tricks, i don't go in for that. so we pretty much just play. she is a delight.

Once again, welcome to Auspet. you'll find some very friendly knowledgeable people here.

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BellaUK
Member

Posts: 21
From:Scotland, UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-02-2003 05:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BellaUK     Edit/Delete Message
Hi everyone,

Just wanted to thank you all for your kind words and advice. Also thanks very much for signing the guest book, how kind. I did email you but i think i got your name and location mixed up!! - My geog outside of scotland nevermind the UK isnt that great lol

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ilovemypets
Member

Posts: 401
From:Tennessee, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-02-2003 06:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ilovemypets     Edit/Delete Message
BellaUk, Training is going fair I guess. lol... He still has some accidents on the floor. And he doesn't go out to the bathroom he uses pads. =) But I figure this subject will get better when he is older. He will be a big 5 months old on the 10th of this month. And the only trick I've taught him is to "sit". And he doesnt that pretty well. However he does have bad tear stains. They don't look so bad when he gets a bath but when its comes a few days after they do. I'm trying to wash his face very often but....they are still there. How are yours? Also he has ear hair that I will have to take to the groomers to be pulled. Besides that he is a sweety pie. I love him and my other dogs sooooo much!

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Mattiesmom
Member

Posts: 29
From:Newark Ohio USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-13-2003 06:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mattiesmom     Edit/Delete Message
Hello Fiona, & fellow maltese ownerers!
I'm Nancy the Ohio. I have a great Maltipoo that I was blessed with in March. Her name is Mattie Jeanne Spring Sassy Sunshine. Mattie for short. I don't think I have ever laughed everyday of my life. Even on days that are not going well she does something to change the channel. I can send pictures of her but I have to get my daughter to assist me. I bought a Canon digital camera & we're going bonkers taking pics. You may email me at anneofgreenthumbs
@yahoo.com. Have lots to talk about & brag about. Mattie was rescued & I will tell about that later.

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Sunday
Member

Posts: 80
From:CA. USA.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-14-2003 10:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sunday     Edit/Delete Message
I went to your web site and I signed your guest book. What great pictures you have on your site! I am a huge picture person. Your Bella is absolutely beautiful! I am so touched by your story. I hope that you two have a long and healthy journey together.

I am a multipoo mommy. http://www.geocities.com/swtsun101/Precious.html?1068498167109

Thank You For Sharing
Sunday

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