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06-11-2013, 04:22 PM | #1 |
YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,238
| Elevated Liver Enzymes for Yoda Yoda got his bloodwork done yesterday, he's just over 11 years old now, and he has elevated ALP (654, normal is 20-150 U/L), ALT (296, normal is 10-118 U/L), GLU (161, normal is 60-110mg/dL). His AMY is just above normal at 1223 (normal is 200-1200 U/L). He seems relatively healthy and has good energy and has been on a vet recommended diet (Royal Canin Urinary SO) for the last few years. We feed him this wet canned food mixed with rice. Besides some liver treat cookies, he doesn't eat anything else. Yoda did have a bout with pancreatitis about 4-5 years ago, but has been okay since regarding that. He does NOT have any of these symptoms related to elevated liver enzymes: Constipation/diarrhea Vomiting Polydipsia (when the pet drinks excess water and is always thirsty) Polyuria (frequent urination) Hair loss Pale gums Lethargy and depression Accumulation of fluids in the abdominal cavity Loss of appetite Pale gray stools Weight loss Yoda did have some bladder stones removed last year, he pees about once every 45 minutes to an hour, but can hold it 5 or 6 hours through the night. Could his elevated levels be Cushing's or liver shunt? Is there anything we can do to lower his liver enzymes. |
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06-11-2013, 04:46 PM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| What kind of stones did he have? The first rule outs with elevated ALP are liver, cushings, intestine, and bone issues. Are his protein levels normal?
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
06-11-2013, 04:57 PM | #3 |
YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,238
| He had bladder stones last year, I don't recall if the vet said anything specific about them, he had to have them removed via surgery. Everything else in his blood tests came back within range. ALB, TBIL, BUN, CA, PHOS, CRE, NA+, K+, TP, GLOB were the other things listed within normal range besides the 3-4 above that were elevated. On the other half of the page, it says QC OK, HEM 1+, LIP 3+, ICT 0 The vet only said the liver enzymes were raised, didn't mention anything else. |
06-11-2013, 08:17 PM | #4 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| The diagnostic approach to asymptomatic dogs with elevated liver enzyme activities - Veterinary Medicine= Due to his age, maybe bile duct issues or MVD. Further testing (Bile Acids Test) And imaging (UltraSound) would be helpful. ALT reflects liver cell damage... Denamarin would be good to give to help eliminate toxins and for liver cell regeneration.
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity Last edited by kjc; 06-11-2013 at 08:18 PM. |
06-12-2013, 06:47 AM | #5 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Aw...poor Yoda man - give him a big hug and kiss for me! It's always scary when levels are off, and you don't yet have answers. You 3 will be in our thoughts...we're sending positivity your way . Since Wylie has Cushings, I'll comment mainly on that. While *most* untreated Cushings dogs have the polydipsia/uria and hair loss, there are plenty of cases where those symptoms aren't present. Cushings has sooo many diffuse symptoms that it's rarely even properly noticed or diagnosed. Another really common symptom for a Cushings dog to have is a pot belly (not that he's fat, just a pot belly shape) - does Yoda have that? Wylie didn't have that - in fact, he looked his usual athletic self at the time. Another common thing to assess is whether you think Yoda has had any muscle wasting, especially in his back legs. Like, is he having any trouble jumping up on the couch, where before he did it fine? Almost all untreated Cushings dogs have muscle wasting bc of the excess cortisol raging through their bodies -- and it's most noticeable in the hind area. I know you mentioned he doesn't have loss of appetite...is his appetite excessive, like hungry all the time? If you do want to approach Cushings, this is how it goes. The first test is a screening test - it doesn't tell you whether he has it, it merely tells you whether it's smart to proceed to the more expensive Cushings testing. The test is called the Cortisol Creatinine Ratio Urine Test -- if the test is positive and shows excess cortisol, then you should move forward and do the ACTH test (specific for Cushings). If the ACTH is positive, he has Cushings; if negative, likely does not have it; if borderline/intermediate then you have to send his blood to the U of Tenn to test for Atypical Cushings (this is what Wylie has). If he is positive for Cushings, most vets will want to do an ultrasound of the adrenals to see what state they're in from the Cushings. So, that's the basics if you want to rule in/out Cushings. Here is a link that talks about the details of Cushings and gives a good overview: Pet Owner's Crash Course in Canine Cushing's Disease I hope you're able to get answers soon. What does the vet think the next steps should be, did he say?
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
06-12-2013, 07:24 AM | #6 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| So sorry to hear our little YT icon, Yoda, is having troubles. Keeping the little man in my thoughts and prayers and hoping he's feeling better soon.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
06-12-2013, 08:10 AM | #7 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| Lil Yoda man we hope you are feeling better soon. Sending you Yorkie kisses. Love, Daisy and Teddy Bear
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
06-14-2013, 12:05 PM | #9 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Good for Yoda! Good news. Hope you can find ways to help his liver.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
06-14-2013, 04:17 PM | #10 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Barney who is almost 13 has similar elevations. I've done every test and been all over with him and what I learned was that in dogs with a history of pancreatitis who are older this is not abnormal. I did do some testing to r/o cushings. I keep Barney on a low fat, moderate protein low residue diet.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
06-14-2013, 07:48 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member | Sending out good thoughts to Yoda that ways are found to get his liver enzymes down. Hugs
__________________ Teri . . . Galen Jameson Frazier Seraphina Luna Rosencrantz, Saber Tooth Tiger, Pussy Willow Pandora Guildenstern |
08-11-2013, 05:47 PM | #12 |
I♥ my girls Luma+Rosie Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Aggieland, TX
Posts: 3,359
| How is Yoda doing now? I'm praying his liver enzymes have gone down since you last posted.
__________________ Carmen, mama to Luma & my little angel in Heaven, Rosie. |
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