Will puppies inherit liver problems if the father dog has them?

It is possible there could a genetic component. For the best possible outcome, I recommend to spend the money and have the blood panel run on each puppy. Pre-existing liver or kidney problems can be exacerbated by medications used during surgery, low blood pressure or low heart rates. If the condition is severe enough, some pets are not candidates for the procedure. Genetics however are complex and just because mom has a condition, this does not mean that her babies do but you should play it safe. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Bichon dogs do not have the liver gene and therefore cannot pass on this trait. The nose is not what makes the dog liver; it is the skin color (which includes the nose). Shih Tzu's can either be liver or black (skin); liver is recessive to black. This means that in order for a Shih Tzu to be liver one of the following three scenarios must occur: 1) Both parents are liver (bb x bb) 2) One parent is liver and the other is a carrier (Bb x bb) 3) Both parents are carriers. This means a livers can be produced by a sire and dam that do not appear to be liver at all. They both carry the recessive gene. (Bb x Bb) Two dogs that have black skin and do not have the recessive gene are BB and cannot pass on the gene. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

They could have it or not. Liver shunt can have a congenital origin. I would strongly recommend to check all of them at your local vets. Abdominal ultrasound and specific blood tests are very sensitive way to diagnose this disease.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would advise against breeding any dog who has a liver shunt or is a carrier. Miniature poodles can be affected by liver shunts as well so it is probably not worth the risk that these traits are passed on.

Thanks for the question. Interbreeding of a mother to an offspring does carry a high risk of genetic problems. It is possible that the pups will have problems, or that they will be born normal. Since she appears to be far along in her pregnancy, I wouldn't advise terminating the pregnancy at this point. I hope all goes well, and I recommend spaying/neutering, or keeping offspring separated once they are over 5 months of age to prevent future pregnancies.

There is always some risk in medicating a pregnant bitch. Depending on what specific liver disease she has and what medication is recommended, sometime it can be safe to start the medication when they are pregnant and sometimes it is better to wait. Your vet that diagnosed the liver issue should be able to guide you in making the decision of whether or not you should start Kulet on medication. Or, you can post another question or request a consult and we can help decide what is best for her. Symptoms of liver disease can be varied and include everything from vomiting and anorexia to jaundice and neurological disorders. If you notice any of these symptoms in Kulet you should take her in to see your vet right away. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Yes, genetics can go awry when related animals (including humans) mate. It is not recommended that they breed, as you know, but what's done is done at this point. There is not going to be any way for you to know what their genetics are so all you can do is treat them as normally as possible and hope for the best. Sometimes they are just fine. If you see no outward abnormalities that doesn't mean there aren't some internal ones. Again, there is nothing you can do about it at this stage except be aware that some problems may arise and those problems don't always show up early. It may be years down the road before anything is noticed. Try not worry too much and just treat them like normal. Hope this helps. Best wishes!