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Originally Posted by Lady of Yorkies  Laura and I are very worried about this but I can't understand the technical terms and numbers. Can someone explain it a little more for the layperson? Thanks, Sylvia |
Sure thing.
Hemolysis is the breaking down of red blood cells and liberation of hemoglobin (dictionary.com). If this happens during the blood draw, the results are probably inaccurate. The test would need to be redone.
High bile acids can "only" tell you if there is a liver functioning problem.
The test cannot tell you exactly what is wrong with the liver.
So even if the bile acids are high, it does not mean that this pup has MVD.
The only way to conclusive diagnose MVD (or microscopic shunting throughout the liver) is by liver biopsy. Because this is so invasive and because MVD is very common in Yorkies, some vets will diagnose on bile acids test results alone or with bile acids testing and an ultrasound to rule out a large shunt (although this is only 60-80% accurate).
MyFairLacy's Lacy has high bile acids and does not have MVD.
Ellie has high bile acids and a biopsy showed no MVD although only one piece of liver was taken, so we can't rule out MVD in another part of her liver.
Usually if the postprandial (blood draw AFTER a meal) bile acids are over 100, people lean toward it being a large shunt and if it is below 100, people lean toward MVD. This is not always the case though. Because MVD can be quite severe in some dogs (symptoms of a large shunt...seizures and the whole thing) and because liver problems in Yorkies are often genetic, dogs with MVD should not be bred. Some require very little treatment though.
Is this making sense?
Do you have specific questions?