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Originally Posted by MyFairLacy  I'm really confused why some of you would recommend a Blood Panel over a Bile Acid Test  Both involve a blood draw...one is not any riskier than the other, and honestly, the risk of complications from a blood draw is very low. A blood draw is a common, routine procedure and the amount of blood they need for a blood panel or BAT is small.
Someone said if the breeder doesn't think he has a shunt don't test...please don't only trust your breeder. I know first hand that breeders will lie about having liver shunt problems in the past. If you and your vet think liver shunt is a posibility from the symptoms he is exhibiting, get that baby tested. The sooner he is tested, the sooner he can be treated if it is a shunt. Otherwise he will only get sicker. |
A blood draw is a blood draw no matter what test you do on it afterwards. It makes no sense to say one is safer than the other.
A routine CBC often won't detect a problem with the liver until it is 70% damaged. I know of two Maltese puppies on another forum who had a bloodpanel which was completely normal and a bile acid test that revealed MVD.
If you suspect a liver shunt, the only accurate way to diagnose is first with a BAT, then a Protein C test, and possibly scintigraphy.