Khloe is getting her bile acid test done today

[shodanusmc]

Glad she is fine. Have a wonderful day with your pooch

[TLC]

Originally Posted by 107barney

There are many reasons to do a bile acids test beside vomiting or coordination being off. Usually, liver enzyme elevations can lead a vet to do a bile acids test to gain more information about how the liver is functioning.

The protocol for bile acids no longer requires fasting; however, we fast our dog for BAT because we also draw for regular superchemistry values at the same time. We also started with fasting draws, so for consistency and accuracy over several years, we still fast our dog for BAT.

Bile acids testing is not reliable in dogs under 16 weeks old and any puppy tested at 16 weeks should have the values repeated.

Agreed. There are many, many, many reason why Yorkies should have a Bile Acid Serium test. The #1 reason, is that the Yorkshire Terrier breed is at greater risk than any other breed to have a Liver Shunt, MVD...

IMO - all Yorkies should have a BAT done and not just because they are vomiting or walking funny...

My Roxy is a very laid back, docile girl as compared to my TJ who is playful, etc... At 3 years old, I had them both BAT. Roxy's Pre was 43 and post was 100.9 - after more Vet visits, more BATs etc...we belive she has MVD. P
She is now on a special diet and supplements. So, if I didn't have her BAT - I would never know she has liver issues...

To the OP. It sounds like the Vet's office did the "in-house" Bile Acid Test, which is normally not recommended, as the Post results only go up to 30.

So for anyone that is going to have a BAT done, please make sure they send the blood out to the lab for results. Which usually take a day or two.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by lizzieg

She is under 16 weeks. When would be a good age for her to be re-evaluated?

The usual guidelines are to test your puppy at 16 weeks and again at 6 months.

I know some believe all puppies should be BAT tested but I waited until Teddy was 8 mos old and only did the test after a seizure as a rule out cause. I did not think he needed a BAT test because he had normal blood work and no symptoms of shunt. If all the blood work is otherwise normal, I do not think it is necessary - that is just my opinion. I just recently tested my own dog Barney (who just turned 10 years old) but only BAT tested him because he had shown some elevated liver enzymes following life-threatening pancreatitis. It's important to remember that bile acids elevations can be seen for many different types of liver disease and not just shunts or MVD. I do bile acids test my dog Daisy, who is a liver shunt dog, twice a year and sometimes more depending on what else is going on with her (and there is always something...)

Agree that in house blood work while useful in emergency type conditions is not a way to go, especially with BAT. I could write pages of how in house blood work was haywire on my dogs only to have the labs show them as fine.

[107barney]

I'd also like to add that BAT testing, along with all other liver enzyme testing, is very sensitive. My Daisy recently got a urinary tract infection which caused her liver enyzmes to go completely haywire - this lead to doing BATs because she is a dog with liver disease, and lo and behold, her BATS turned out to be better than they have been in her entire life.

I've learned to "treat the dog" and not the bloodwork because it keeps me more sane

[lizzieg]

Thank you all for the helpful information and for your insight. This is all new to me, so I'm happy to have all the resources that I can to keep her happy and healthy. I will go back at 6 months, and then how often should this procedure be done after 6 months?

And they did evaluate it there, but they did mail her tests off for further evaluation at a lab. They said that the numbers would be more accurate through the lab, and that they would keep her results on file.

[TLC]

Just want to add that I do a complete blood panel along side any of Roxy's BATs. Her bloodwork is and has always been absolutely perfect. Her Post BATs numbers however always remain in the 60 to 80 range. So if I didn't take it upon myself to get a BAT (even though all other blood work is in normal range), I would never know she has a liver issue.

I also feel that one should wait until a pup is over the 16 week mark to get a more accurate BAT. I also make sure no vaccines, heartworm or flea/tick treatment, or anything at all out of the norm is going on with her for at least 2 to 3 week prior to the BAT. I just don't like to take the chance of anything at all possibly messing with the BAT results.

[Ellie May]

Unfortunately it isn't just that easy to only test if they are having GI or neuro symptoms. Many Yorkies have liver problems and they aren't always symptomatic. My girl was barely symptomatic and still has a problem. So while her vet didn't think the test was necessary, she did it for me and she is certainly glad that she did!

At last check, Ellie's post was 106. It usually runs lower. Her enzymes have only been elevated once and came right back down. Enzymes are not a good indicator of whether or not the bile acids will be up. It takes a significant amount of danger for liver enzymes to stay up in the case of LS/MVD. All of my Yorkies will be tested. Not worth the risk for a $100 test.