Quote:
Originally Posted by kjc  The main issues I have addressed in this thread are:
Is prednisone prescribed for dogs with liver disease?
Yes, but I have never seen it prescribed for dogs with a Liver Shunt for treatment a Liver Shunt.
Does the OP's dog have Liver Shunt?
The OP stated that Her dog had a liver biopsy and the result was Liver Shunt.
I have never heard of this, biopsies are done to rule out MVD and other disorders, not LS. Futher testing is needed to make a diagnosis.
Was a Bile Acid Test done?
The OP is unsure, but will ask her vet.
The dog's AST and ALT are/were very high.
These two values will become elevated when toxins are involved. (By toxins, I mean anything ingested to vaccines received.) In dogs that have Liver Shunt, these values are most often only mildly elevated. Vaccines, such as Lepto, can cause higher elevations of these liver enzymes, and the OP's dog has been repeatedly vaccinated against Lepto. Or maybe the dog has contracted Lepto.
Why is prednisone being prescribed?
To bring the AST and ALT levels down, per the OP. The problem with prednisone is that it suppresses the immune system. If this dog is fighting an infection, this could be an unwise decision.
Did I PM or telephone the OP?
No, I have not, but I am willing to talk with her over the phone or via PM, if she wants to. Just send me a PM.
I have to leave for a while, but let me know if I missed anything.... |
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjc The 'L' Part of the DHL vaccine is Lepto, and is not recommended for use in small dogs... and can cause liver and/or kidney damage. Vaccine reactions (acute and chronic) are treated with prednisone. I will contact some members that may be able to answer your questions. |
I sort of messed this up, but it is for lillymae's question.
In the beginning I thought kjc was saying that the lepto vaccine causes LS. She went on to say that the vaccine causes liver and kidney damage (as highlighted above). She also further stated that LS causes only mild elevations of liver enzymes. Certainly not what I have been told. ANd, she further stated that the Lepto vaccine causes higher elevations in liver enzymes than LS does. I simply have been asking for her source because I need to know if this is true!