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01-04-2008, 07:21 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 24
| Bile Acid Test results--Liver shunt? I recently took my dog to the vet to do his blood work pre neutering and the bloodwork turned out to be higher then usual so my vet decided to do a bile acid test on my Riley..the tests came back with a pre reading of 12 and a post of 70....just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and had similiar readings and what they had to do. My vet said the next step is doing an ultrasound and xray...but Riley will have to see a specialist at the university.. what i should prepare for with those readings---any thoughts?? |
Welcome Guest! | |
01-05-2008, 04:09 PM | #2 | |
My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-)
Posts: 7,190
| Quote:
Hi You might want to post this in the breeder section, lots of breeders with knowledge there.
__________________ MaryKay AprilLove Wubs Moosie R.I.P. Bailey & BitsyRoo | |
01-05-2008, 04:12 PM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,079
| If he is not symptomatic and is stable, I would repeat bloodwork in 4-6 weeks to see if it is possibly climbing or maybe even declining. The bile acid test is a very sensitive test and recent vaccines, medications and some very high protein diets have been know to skew BA results.
__________________ Jackie JaLa Yorkshire Terriers |
01-05-2008, 05:19 PM | #4 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| 70 is quite high. I would go with your vet. It could be microvascular dysplasia (small shunting) or liver shunt. It could also be up from meds/vaccines but I would be concerned.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 Last edited by Ellie May; 01-05-2008 at 05:22 PM. |
01-05-2008, 05:23 PM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 24
| i've called a few places and they gave me lower quotes on the nutering and they do it without blood work is that unsafe? i have a gut feeling nothing is wrong with riley and i dont want to pay for an ultrasound if not needed...but again im concernedd of going else where and something happens... maybe i should request to do another test in 30 days |
01-05-2008, 05:34 PM | #6 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,079
| I would not procede with the neutering with elevated values on his bloodwork. Anesthetic is metabolized by the liver and kidneys and if he does have a liver problem such as MVD or Liver Shunt then he may never wake up from surgery or have a very hard time waking up, it may take a few days... How old is he? If you are really concerned about having him neutered asap, then I would have the other tests done and then have him neutered if possible. We always recommend bloodwork prior to any surgery...and tell our new puppy parents the same thing...vet's that do not do pre-surgical bloodwork are either lazy or just do not know any better imo...and I would personally stay away from them!
__________________ Jackie JaLa Yorkshire Terriers Last edited by JaLaYorkieGirl; 01-05-2008 at 05:35 PM. |
01-05-2008, 05:36 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 24
| he's about 1.5 yrs old... do you know what the normal numbers of the bile acid tests should be for yorkies?? |
01-05-2008, 06:16 PM | #8 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
The Protein C test was also used to diagnose dogs who were poisoned by toxic pet food in the recall. Here is an article about the test and Dr. Center: http://www.dogflu.ca/02262007/10/cor...s_liver_damage | |
01-05-2008, 06:38 PM | #9 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Normal is about 7 premeal and 15 post. Some vets say anything above 40 is concerning.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
01-05-2008, 07:02 PM | #10 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: McKinney, Texas
Posts: 604
| Quote:
We just had a bile acid test done on my yorkie Samie. Her levels came back a little high as well. Before eating she was 15.0 and after eating she was 25.0 I always ask for a copy of every lab work results for each of my two girls. Sometimes the vet doesn’t go into detail with numbers and values and I want to see it all!! I have also started a 3 ring binder that contains every thing in there too. We have been through a zillion tests this past year and I decided that I want to keep track of all of this and have it all when I decide to research myself. On my report here normal values for bile acid show the “pretest” – anything “less than” 7.0 umol/L and bile acids post prandial- less than 15.0 umol/L Our vet put Samie on antibiotics (and on the prescription bottle is says for possible “liver infection”) she said she was doing this because she was just being over cautious… and she also wanted to start her on supplements -1 tablet every 24 hours. It is called Denamarin. This is fairly new to us (just last week) but I researched it (I research on line before I ever give them any kind of medication) I have found the Denamarin to be a “supplement”. I would ask your vet about this. | |
01-05-2008, 08:49 PM | #11 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 24
| thanks for everyones help!!! i have been so back and forth with this whole thing... im taking my dog to a new vet now so i have to ask for all his records.. i believe the vet im with right now overcharges by ALOT... i heard this happens often...does anyone know if they make money off of referrals to the specialists? |
01-06-2008, 04:33 AM | #12 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: McKinney, Texas
Posts: 604
| Quote:
These vets that belong to AAHA are very experienced with small animal medicine. Our Vet back home in Ohio told me about this site. when we moved to TX this was how we found a new vet. I give this site to everyone i know that cares deeply about their pets. There are LOTS of vets out there but how do you know which ones are good??? Check it out. You will be glad that you did. :-) Hang in there. http://www.healthypet.com/ | |
01-06-2008, 04:42 AM | #13 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: McKinney, Texas
Posts: 604
| Quote:
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01-06-2008, 07:07 AM | #14 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| Here's my situation. Roxy and TJ are 1/2 Brother / Sister. My groomer purchased 2 females from the place I got mine from. One of her females had abnormal blood test results. Another customer of the groomer also purchased a male from that place too, the male died at some point. Anyway, the 2 females and the male are from Roxy's parents. (TJ has the same father too). Well, I got so nervous. Roxy and TJ don't show any clinical signs, however, Roxy can be very docile, sometimes too docile. Her Ortho Specialist thought she was too docile for a Yorkie and suggested doing a BAT test on her. Once I told her the 'other news' of the 'other Yorkies with the same parents' - well, we knew we must do further testing. I had given them their Intercepter and Frontline approx. 10 days before the BAT test (which I should have waited longer, but didn't realize that could possibly throw the #s). Anyway... August BAT: Roxy had a post # of 100.9 TJ had a post # 41 (approx.) They sent me to a Specialist for an U/S. Once there, they did more blood work and urine analysis. All came back normal, nothing else 'funny' to point towards liver disease. So we did the U/S - They saw Roxy's liver was normal shape and normal size. They didn't see a shunt....however...that test is not 100% - so there still could have been a shunt That was really upsetting to pay $350 for a U/S that isn't even an accurate measure. So, both Roxy and TJ are on a special home cooked diet (low but quality protein) - They get lots of vitamins and supplements to help with liver function. I retested in Oct, making sure it was a whole month after giving Interceptor and Frontline: Roxy had a post # of 61 (approx.) TJ had a post # of 21 After this test the Specialist is leaning towards Roxy having MVD - but we can't be sure unless we do a liver biopsy. I just can't fathom putting her through that type of surgery. She is doing AWESOME with her diet and supplements. TJ I am not sure there's anything wrong. I am doing the BAT again in the mid of January - to get a better idea. I hope that helps you. I would hold off on the U/S - I would re do the BATs and make sure he hasn't had shots and meds, etc. A clean start so to say. I would also have them do a complete blood panel and urine analysis - Once you get all those results see what a Specialist says about it. And there are 'other' more accurate tests other than a U/S - Don't wast your $ on that. We are all here for you if you have questions.... Best of Luck |
01-06-2008, 09:56 AM | #15 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 24
| thanks that was of much help! would you go ahead with neutering if levels were still a bit high or would you wait on it ?? any advice on that.. my dog is crypdorchid so i want to get him neutured before they turn cancerous!! |
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