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Khloe is getting her bile acid test done today The vet took Khloe in this morning for a precautionary bile acid test. I may have posted in the wrong place, but I did it because it isn't a medical emergency; just a test to put my mind at ease. She is a little lazy for a pup, so I brought her in to rule everything out. The vet seems optimistic about what her results will be, and said that the cause could be the kids going back to school and my recent separation. Just keep her in your thoughts today; I will be a broken woman if anything happened to her. |
OK - I've read and read and read but have not found out what exactly does this test entail. Is it a blood test? I'm thinking not. But I did read somewhere about fasting??? How did you prepare her for this test and what is actually done to her to rule this out. And what is the best age to have this test done? |
Ooops. Almost forgot. I hope everything goes well and nothing is wrong with your little baby. She'll be in my prayers. |
Best of luck. Maybe she is like me, we just take our time getting there! |
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Wishing you and Khloe good results on her test. |
happy thoughts happy thoughts |
Her levels are fine. Yayy! Going to go pick up my puppy. For future reference, a puppy only needs this done if they are vomiting, if their coordination is bad, etc. The vet's assistant did this today, and the vet is giving me 1/2 off on the service since he didn't deem it necessary. But all is well and I'm very happy and relieved. He told me that I just have a mellow puppy and not to worry. All bases has been covered, and the next time he expects to see me is with her rabies shot next month. I'm not liking that, but if she were to bite someone (even playing), and she didn't have her rabies, she could be quarantined at the shelter for 6 months and I could have a fine of $1500. So we have to. ): |
That's great news. |
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I am praying this is your mistake and not the vet's! :D |
Typo; but she didn't eat after midnight. Her appointment was at 9:00 AM, but they took some blood when she arrived, waited, fed her, waited, and drew more blood and compared the samples. They were finished by 2:50ish or so. I'm happy to hear the news, and that all is well. She was greeted by my Mom's beagle when we came home; I think she has a crush on a big dog. lol. |
Great that would do it! :D |
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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. |
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Glad she is fine. Have a wonderful day with your pooch |
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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. |
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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. |
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 :) |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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