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Originally Posted by kjc  Concerning the elevated AST and ALT: These values can also increase due to toxins (general term) and by that I mean anything from the dog ingesting mushrooms to getting too many vaccines at one time... and everything inbetween. |
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=325515&pageID=1&sk=&date= Increases in serum liver enzyme activities are sensitive indicators of hepatobiliary disease, but these activities can be elevated secondary to various endocrinopathies, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic disease, systemic disease, and enzyme induction. In asymptomatic patients, a systematic approach is required to obtain a definitive diagnosis. A careful review of the patient's history is essential to uncover vague clinical signs that the owner may have missed and to identify any potential exposure to hepatotoxic agents. Quote:
Originally Posted by kjc I am not a vet. |
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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. |
Leptospirosis in Dogs How They Catch It, How We Cure It, How We Prevent It Vaccination: Your other option is to have your pet vaccinated. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) considers leptospirosis vaccine a “non-core” vaccine for dogs. That is, they do not recommend pets receive it unless there is a good chance they will be exposed to leptospirosis. The main reason for this is that veterinarians see more vaccination reactions following the administration of vaccines containing leptospirosis than any other vaccines. These reactions range from the minor inconveniences of pain at injection site, facial swelling and hives to a fatal anaphylactic reaction. Which pet will experience them cannot be predicted. ... Hopefully, this is a safer product than the old lepto vaccines. No vaccination is without risk. So you and your veterinarian must decide if your pet’s risk of catching leptospirosis justifies yearly vaccination. In making that decision you must ask if your pet frequents areas that may harbor leptospirosis. You must also know if leptospirosis is occurring frequently in your community. You must also consider if your pet, or its siblings, have had previous vaccination reactions. Reactions also seem to occur more frequently in smaller breeds than larger ones.
Canine vaccine update (Proceedings)
Practitioners often ask if leptospirosis is a problem in their practice area and whether routine vaccination is worthwhile. The risk:benefit ratio is a little different for lepto vaccines than for other products, as acute anaphylaxis in puppies, toy breeds and small dogs is more common. ... Otherwise, lepto may be safely omitted from routine protocols. No vaccine is 100% protective and there is a potential for infection by other serovars not covered in the vaccines (such as bratislava and autumnalis).
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Originally Posted by kjc The main issues I have addressed in this thread are:
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. |
The diagnostic approach to asymptomatic dogs with elevated liver enzyme activities - Veterinary Medicine=
Although elevated serum hepatobiliary enzyme activities are frequently identified, they do not necessarily indicate clinically important hepatic disease. There are several reasons for this discordance. First,
increased serum hepatobiliary enzyme activity can originate from nonhepatic tissues. Second, the liver's dual blood supply and large blood flow make it uniquely sensitive to injury due to systemic disorders and diseases in organ systems drained by the portal circulation, particularly the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas. Finally,
drugs can induce excess hepatobiliary enzyme production in the absence of liver damage Increases in serum ALT activity are considered liver-specific in dogs. ALT activity can increase with severe muscle necrosis,...
...Serum ALT activity may also increase because of induction of enzyme synthesis by corticosteroid use...
Pertinent historical information
includes the administration of any potentially hepatotoxic drugs, supplements, or nutraceuticals; exposure to any environmental toxins or infectious agents; recent anesthetic events; and details on housing, supervision outdoors, travel, and vaccination status. Carefully question owners about any possible vague signs of underlying disease such as intermittent gastrointestinal signs (e.g. vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss), behavioral changes, polyuria or polydipsia, or exercise intolerance.
In the case of primary hepatobiliary disease, clinical signs may not be apparent until the disease process is advanced because of the liver's large regenerative capacity and functional reserve.
In
patients with portosystemic shunts, twofold to threefold increases in serum ALP, ALT, and AST activities have been recorded ...
[Therefore, increases over twofold to threefold are more likely to be caused by toxins, drugs, vaccines, or other foreign vectors not found naturally occuring in the body. Note: there may be exceptions to this statement. -KJC]