Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is my small puppy too small for liver shunt tests? What's the cost?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Male | unneutered | 3 months old | 1lb

Is a 13 week old 1lb4oz puppy to small to take blood from for tests to rule out a liver shunt ? Not believing this breeder or her "vet" . They're now saying he's too small to take any blood from him &that they have to take him to a specialist. Which is too expensive and test results will take too long but I would also like to know what are average costs of baseline lab work at a vet? Full chemistry ,blood count & urinalysis, pre and post bile acid profile? Also he's never had any symptoms ever.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 7th, 2017

Hello, sorry to hear about Jericho. Baseline bloodwork may run anywhere from $120 to 180 dollars. Urinalysis will run anywhere from $45 to 100 dollars. Bile Acids will likely run from $120-180 dollars as well. Most of the places vary depending on which lab they use to send out the blood to and what hey get charged from sending that blood to them. Other diagnostics to consider when working up a liver shunt include an abdominal ultrasound ($250-400) and a CT Scan ($700-1000) . You'll also have to consider medications and special diets for pets with liver shunts.

If he is not having any symptoms, you may choose to continue monitoring at home until he gets a little older and bigger so that they can safely obtain all of the blood they may need for this testing. The laboratories will need at minimum 3-5mls of blood to run these tests and 3-5mls of urine.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

What tests diagnose liver shunt in a tiny puppy? How long for results?

Congratulations on your new baby! He is adorable! The most common tests we start with to evaluate for liver shunts are baseline labwork (which includes a full chemistry, complete blood count and urinalysis) as well as a pre and post prandial bile acid profile. The bile acid profile is to specifically look at the liver function. Any of those tests results are available within a couple of days. Unfortunately, sometimes those test results are inconclusive, and we have to do additional testing. I have included a link below with more information about liver shunts. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2533 Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

How much for vet tests for dog with seizures, red eye, bloody poop?

Please keep in mind that costs of procedures vary between areas and clinics within a specific area, so the prices I'm giving you are a very rough estimate. You would have to take Luna into the vet in order to get an exact cost. I imagine they would start with a physical exam, blood tests, and urinalysis. A physical exam can be between $45-55, blood tests could be around $100-$200, and a urinalysis around $50. A fecal exam may be done as well, and that could cost $40. The vet may want to further tests such as x-rays, which can start at $100 or more for one view. Depending on the results found, the vet may want to do further diagnostics. Personally, I would start with a physical exam, blood work, urinalysis, and fecal exam, and may add on additional tests from there depending on the results. I'd make an appointment for her with a vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My dog has a liver shunt. What are treatment options, diet, and cost?

I am so sorry Skipper may have a liver shunt! The best and preferred treatment for a liver shunt is surgery to identify and close the abnormal blood blood vessels. This will eliminate the shunt and return normal blood flow to the liver. A high protein diet is not used to treat dogs with a liver shunt; in fact, it's a restricted protein diet. A reduced protein diet helps reduce the production of toxic wastes such as ammonia. A minority of dogs can be treated medically with this low protein diet and medications, but surgery is the best treatment for it. A liver shunt surgery is costly and the cost does depend on the clinic. From estimates I have seen at veterinary schools in the US, I would expect to spend at least $2000-3000 on this surgery, but your vet can give you a better idea of the cost. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What's the typical cost of portosystemic shunt surgery for puppies?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry that Macie has a Porto-systemic-shunt. Prices vary depending on where you live and which vessel is abnormal (difficulty of the surgery). Price can also vary depending on how Macie would do post-op. We all hope for no complications but sadly they happen which can extend the hospital stay, monitoring and price. A simple clamping of an easy to access shunt can cost $2000 while others can cost $5000. It is best to get an estimate from the surgeon who will possibly do the surgery. After they evaluate the ultrasound they will know how hard the surgery will be. I hope this helps in some way and good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy had seizures, labs are normal. Could it be a liver shunt?

I hate to hear that about Tucker. It is possible to have a shunt despite normal values but that is not the usual situation. If his liver is small enough or diseased enough, he may not be able coproduce enough enzymes to be 'abnormal'. I agree that a bile acids makes the most sense to do based on his age and breed. Best of luck with little Tucker.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has high liver enzymes. Where can I get a cheaper ultrasound?

I would call around local clinics in your area to see if you can get an ultrasound for less than that, as costs for tests vary by clinic and area. You can also see if there is a low cost clinic in your area: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My young Maltese puppy had multiple seizures. What do blood tests say?

Thanks for the picture! Unfortunately the way they have it printed out, it doesn't include what is normal for their lab machine, so I still can't fully interpret the results. From the lab that I use, the liver values that you have gotten would be considered normal, or very close to the normal range. Did the vet that ran the bloodwork give you any indication that they were abnormal? Seizures in a young dog could be caused by many things, including portosystemic or liver shunt (which may need ultrasound or bile acids testing to diagnose), epilepsy, hypoglycemia, kidney disease, intracranial disease, infection, among several others. I would recommend that you discuss these possibilities with your vet and see what other testing can be done to look at these other systems.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share