|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
10-25-2010, 11:06 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 24
| Penny's liver value is up! Hi all Sorry I haven't posted in soo long...since I got Penny in July...I miss coming on here to chat with fellow yorkie lovers! I took Penny in to be spayed today and opted to have the recommended blood tests done on her. Boy, am I glad I did! My vet called me a while ago and told me that Penny's liver value is up. Penny's is 200. The vet says a normal liver value is 100. Im assuming the liver value is in points, as in 200 points? My heart sunk when I heard this. He said this difference could be from something she ate. I then told him she eats dog food. I didn't tell him about the occasional Cheerio or piece of cheese, and I do really mean occasional...Ive given to her when potty training her. I don't give her other people food. Or he said this difference in liver values could turn out to be a congenital problem in the liver and be a chronic/long term thing. With this found out, the spaying is put on hold. Under anesthesia, because of the liver discrepancy, her blood pressure could drop and it could be a risk for surgery. She will be on medication for two weeks and go back in for more blood work to re-check the liver. If it is normal, the vet will go ahead and reschedule the surgery. Has anybody else had bloodwork done on their yorkie and found out their yorkie had a an elevated liver value? What actions did you take after hearing this? Did the problem turn out to be temporary (maybe something your yorkie ate) or long-term/chronic? I would appreciate any advice, input any of you can give me I am so, so glad I had blood work done on Penny before her spay. After this experience, I 110 percent recommend yorkie owners, or any dog owner have blood work done before spaying. Im not going to play the "what if I didn't have this bloodwork done" game. The important thing is I had it done and this elevated liver value was caught early. Amy and Penny Last edited by MaltYorkiGal; 10-25-2010 at 11:10 AM. |
Welcome Guest! | |
10-25-2010, 11:12 AM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Yup. I'd say hundreds of Yorkies on YT have elevated liver enzymes and/or high bile acids. A bile acids test (another blood test) is needed even if the enzymes come back to normal range. Liver shunt is extremely common in Yorkies, and it has to be ruled out. A blood panel alone can only be an indication that something might be wrong. The bile acids test is more specific to actual liver function.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
10-26-2010, 12:29 PM | #3 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| Lucy had normal liver enzyme testing but when we bile acid tested her - some liver problems were discovered. Bile Acid testing is probably your next step. She may have an absolutely normal test when you re-test her in two weeks. I hope she does. I would keep an eye on her protein intake as well.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew |
10-26-2010, 12:37 PM | #4 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 24
| Quote:
Is there protein in dog food? | |
10-26-2010, 12:54 PM | #5 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| Maltyorkiegal, Yes, there is protein in dog food; as there should be. The question is . . . how much protein? What kind of food are you feeding? If you are feeding a kibble, you can check on the back or side of the back and it will give a percentage of total protein. My Lucy has mild liver issues (confirmed via numerous BAT tests); and I aim for 20 percent or less protein. BUT, she is no longer a little puppy and she has been diagnosed.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew Last edited by Ringo1; 10-26-2010 at 12:58 PM. |
10-26-2010, 01:00 PM | #6 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 24
| Quote:
| |
10-26-2010, 01:06 PM | #7 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| Ok. Check the bag. Not that you want to make any changes right away . . . but there are better foods out there - liver issues or no. I have to pop off for a bit as my Westie just came in with tons of mud all over him; but I'll check back and others will probably check in.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew |
10-26-2010, 01:20 PM | #8 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 24
| Quote:
the breeders were using the Purina Im giving her now, so I just went with that. My maltese ate the same Purina brand for 15 years. I will look into other brands. Problem is, with all these recalls on pet food...what brand can u trust? Last edited by MaltYorkiGal; 10-26-2010 at 01:24 PM. | |
10-26-2010, 01:21 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Make sure Penny has a bile acid test (BAT) before you reschedule her spay. Yorkies can have normal liver values (ALT) and still have an abnormal BAT. All Yorkies should routinely have a BAT when they reach six months old as the breed is so prone to liver shunts. According to a study done by the U of Tenn, Yorkies are 36 times more likely to be born with a liver shunt than all other breeds combined. There is lots of information about BAT on the YTCA website. Health Committee |
10-26-2010, 01:38 PM | #10 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| What medication is your dog on for the two weeks? I would not change the diet until after the BAT testing is done. Many dogs who have liver disease do very well on diet changes and many eat Hill's prescription diet L/D. My dog Daisy who is 10 has liver disease. She can have anesthesia, but only certain kinds of drugs can be used. She has been induced with the drug propofol and maintained on isoflurane during procedures because these drugs are easier on the liver. You might want to talk to your vet about the specific type of anesthesia he/she will use during the spay and ask him/her to use one that is not metabolized by the liver (valium and its derivatives are drugs to avoid if the dog has liver disease). Only your vet can tell you what the right drugs are for your dog but this is definitely something to discuss. I would also discuss post-surgery pain medications as some drugs like Metacam and Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory medications) should not be used in dog's who have liver disease. Our Daisy can take tramadol for pain when needed. As Ladymom said, the Yorkshire Terrier is much more likely than other breeds to have liver shunt or microscopic shunting of the liver. This is just something we need to be informed about. Your dog may or may not have a liver problem. I would also like to note that liver enzymes can be elevated for MANY reasons besides liver shunt or microscopic shunting. For example, my dog Barney had pancreatitis last March. His liver enzymes were elevated and many other portions of his blood work were abnormal during this time -- most of the values returned to normal as he got well. Let us know what your vet thinks when you do more testing. Many of us do different diets for our babies with liver disease. Many do well on the Hill's and some just eat regular dog food. Mine eats a home cooked diet made specially for her by a board certified vet nutritionist and has done very well. By the way, a cheerio here and there is ok but I'd avoid the cheese because it is processed and loaded with sodium. You can try some fresh veggies as low calorie snacks - - mine love steaed green beans and baby carrot pieces. We also give blueberries sometimes.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
10-26-2010, 01:43 PM | #11 | |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Quote:
I wanted to add to something Ringo1 said - not only is the amount of protein important if the dog has liver disease, but the TYPE of protein is also a factor. For example, the amino acids that make up the protein in red meat are harder on the liver than other types of protein such as chicken or some fish.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy | |
10-26-2010, 01:57 PM | #12 | |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| Quote:
I guess the key is not to jump to any conclusions at this stage of the game. Read up; do a little research on here and other sites on dog liver issues and see how your next test comes out. Bile Acid Test should be offered; perhaps this is what your Vet already has in mind. I also wouldn't make any dog food changes until after your next test. No point in switching now and then having to switch again. But quality dog food is another thing you can be looking at. You can look at amount and type of protein once you get your tests back. Lucy eats a vegetarian kibble in the morning (her vet does not agree with this) and a medium- protein kibble of an evening (he does agree with this). She loves cooked carrots, green beans, and can tolerate chicken and fish mixed in. She loves Cheerios too! My vet wanted me to keep her on a puppy food while she was still a puppy ~ even with her mild liver issues. So, while I wouldn't be feeding her hot dogs or bits of steak at this point, I would hang in there and get that next test done. Cheerios are good for a treat right now.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew | |
10-26-2010, 02:01 PM | #13 | |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Quote:
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy | |
10-26-2010, 02:18 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| This is a great article that explains what type of protein is good for dogs with liver disease and which ones to avoid. Red meat, for instance, produces high amounts of ammonia and should be avoided. Cod and cottage cheese actually have enzymes that heal the liver. Liver | B-Naturals.Com Newsletter Lady has liver damage from years of seizure medications and is on a home cooked diet. All the protein comes from white fish like cod or pollack, and dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt and eggs. Again, I would not add supplements or make any change in diet until after she has her BAT or it could skew the results. |
10-26-2010, 03:04 PM | #15 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| He thinks her numbers are low enough that they do not warrant this.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew |
Bookmarks |
|
|
Thread Tools | |
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart