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Originally Posted by pang1982  Is that what the blood test is (a bile acid test)? What does the bile acid test, test for? |
Yes, it is a blood test to show liver function.
The dog is fasted for 12 hours (this isn't necessary but most vets still do it this way) and a blood sample is drawn. Then they are fed and another sample is drawn two hours later.
Before they eat (preprandial) the number should be under about 10 (depending on the lab). After they eat (postprandial) the number should be under 15 or 20 (depending on the lab). A postprandial number over 100 usually indicates a shunt but not always. A postprandial number over 20-40 but under 100 usually indicates microvascular dysplasia (small shunting throughout the liver that is managed by diet and supplements) but just because it is under 100 doesn't mean it can't be a shunt and just because it is over doesn't mean it can't be microvascular dysplasia. Bile acids can go up for anything to do with liver function though, so high numbers don't mean LS and MVD everytime.