Ayla was just five months old when the Morkie puppy started exhibiting unusual behavior.
“Suddenly her front paw seemed oddly perplexed in an upward gait,” said Nancy Goldman of Waukee, Iowa. “I picked her up, put her down and she continued to play until her back paw seized up and she fell over.
“We reassured each other that maybe it was a vitamin deficiency.”
Ayla was admitted to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital at Iowa State University where the diagnosis wasn’t as encouraging.
“We quickly learned that Ayla had something very wrong with her,” Goldman said.
What was wrong with Ayla was a liver shunt, a congenital condition where a majority of the blood bypasses the liver and is delivered directly back to the heart without proper filtration.
“This allowed for toxins to build in her bloodstream, which could have led to neurologic signs and systemic concerns,” said Dr. Stephanie Telek, clinical assistant professor of small animal surgery.
Ayla was first seen by the Hixson-Lied Internal Medicine team, who identified the location of the shunting vessel. Telek then performed surgery on Ayla which involved placement of a special device around the shunting vessel.
There the device will slowly absorb fluid and gradually close the vessel. By closing the shunt slowly, the liver can reacclimate to the increased blood supply over time.
That’s critical because without the procedure Ayla would have lived with a compromised liver and a shortened lifespan.
“With appropriate shunt attenuation, most patients like Ayla go on to live normal lives,” Telek said.
The Goldman family received more than just medical care for Ayla at Iowa State. The family applied for and was awarded support from the ISU Iron Dog Fund which supports animals hospitalized in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital. The fund was established and continues to assist owners with the increasing cost of veterinary care which can force pet owners to make difficult decisions based on financial constraints.
“We are very grateful for the support we received from the Iron Dog Fund,” Goldman said. “We could not have proceeded with treatment for Ayla without it.”
The Goldman’s gratitude didn’t end there. Recently the family sent flowers and bagels to the entire team that assisted with Ayla’s care and time at Iowa State including the medical team, fourth-year students and front desk staff.
“We knew we were blessed to have found Iowa State,” Goldman said. “We could not have had a better experience.
“I was very emotional the day we brought Ayla to Iowa State. But after meeting with the doctors, I remember thinking that I was so confident leaving her with that team because they made me feel so comfortable and relaxed.”
Telek says Ayla’s experience at Iowa State is a continued example of the care and treatment patients receive at the facility.
“Cases like Ayla’s truly highlight the importance of working as a team for patient care,” she said, “from partner primary care veterinarians identifying the concerns on blood work to Internal Medicine diagnosing the condition, Soft Tissue Surgery performing the procedure, and the Iron Dog Fund for providing financial support for the family.
“And most importantly, families like the Goldmans who advocate for their pets in seeking the care she needed.”
If you wish to assist with the care of patients like Ayla please contribute to the ISU Iron Dog Fund.
March 2026
