No answers...grrrr.

If you don't want to type the whole thing, you could start with ALT, AST and BUN.

I just got home from dropping Sunnie off at the vets for his teeth cleaning. I was able to talk to the vet a little about Rainbow and don't feel like I got any answers. But I did get a copy of her blood panel.
Here it is in it's entirety
COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
test result range
Hemoglobin 15.5 12.1-20.3
Hematocrit 44.0 36-60
WBC 7.7 4.0-15.5
RBC 6.24 4.8-9.3
MCV 71 58-79
MCH 24.8 19-28
MCHC 35.2 30-38
platelet count 539 (HIGH) 170-400
Platelet Estimate increased (HIGH)

Differential Absolute % range
Neutrophils 4004 52 2060-10600
Bands 0 0 0-300
Lymphocytes 2618 34 690-4500
Monocytes 693 9 0-840
Eosinophils 385 5 0-1200
Basophils 0 0 0-150

CHEMISTRIES
test result range
Glucose 106 70-138
Urea Nitrogen 25 6-25
Creatinine 0.7 0.5-1.6
Total Protien 5.8 5.0-7.4
Albumin 3.2 2.7-4.4
Alkaline Phosphate 29 5-131
ALT (SPGT) 281 (HIGH) 12-118
Patassium 5.2 3.6-5.5
Globulin 2.6 1.6-3.6

Comments:
Hemolysis 1+, the following results may be affected by this degree of helolysis
-INCREASE-
ALT may be increased by 15-20%
AST may be increased by up to 10%
LDH may be increased by up to 20%
-DECREASED-
Direct Bilirubin may be decreased by up to 80%

That is the entire report

I did ask the vet about taking her off of the EVO and she said that the protien is processed by the kidneys so it wouldn't make any difference.

sorry for the first post (minus the results) I discovered if you hit the TAb KEY, IT POSTS YOUR MESSAGE TOO SOON

Okay, that ALT is very high.
Creatinine is also a bit low.
I would make them do a bile acid test and I would make them do it now.;)
Protein goes through the liver. It is eliminated by the kidneys. Although some vets say higher protein is okay, this is only the case if the dog isn't having any hepatic encephalopathy symptoms (head pressing, circling, seizures).
Because all of that protein isn't needed, I wouldn't leave my dog on it with any liver issue.

The ALT could be up for so many reasons, but if your vet even thought it could be a shunt or MVD, they should have went to the bile acid test. It is thought that the ALT won't go excessively high (and stay up) until the liver is 70% damaged from a shunt, so while you need to make sure the ALT goes back down, a bile acid test has to be done. I would not be happy with them for wanting to repeat a blood panel without a BAT when they are considering a shunt. That makes no sense.

Definitely get a bile acid test. I'm pretty sure ALT levels can be off for many reasons. A bile acid test will better pinpoint if it is livershunt or not. I'm sorry you and Rainbow are going through this :( I hope it turns out to be nothing

I just wanted to say I'm sorry you are going through this and I hope you get some answers soon! I will keep your little one in my prayers.

I'm sorry. I hope everything turns out okay. I will say prayers for you and your baby.

I hope Rainbow is ok. :( So sorry about all this.

:( I could feel the panic through your post, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope you can get a definitive answer on Rainbow very soon. Hugs!!

Thank you Ellie
I just realized that when I posted this, all of the spaces between the readings were removed making it hard to read what I wrote. I will ask them to schedule her for a BAT asap. I am still so shocked because she shows no symptoms at all. Never has been disoriented... Never sickly. and I have no idea what the platelet count which was high means.. That wasn't even mentioned at all. in fact, she acted like the ALT was "just a little elevated" in her words. This is such a small town and as much as I like my vet.... she really is nice and she really seems to love my babies.. she is also young and I just don't think she has much experience here.

I don't want that lack of experience to cause more harm to my baby.

Thanks Michelle,
I wish I could be more confident about it. But from what research I have done, the ALT reading in itself shows some damage to the liver or heart. Here is just one quote I found ......SGPT is Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. It is an enzyme that is released into the blood when there has been damage to something like the liver or heart

So I am pretty sure it isn't going to be "nothing". I dont want to wait 4-6 weeks. How much worse will she get? I mean, I feel like if I am not doing something RIGHT NOW... she is getting worse, not better.I just feel so damn helpless

Sonya, I do think it would be wise to get Rainbow off the food she is on. I have heard of too many problems that dogs develop when on that food. I will be praying for Rainbow.

I think a lot will depend on the BAT results.
If they come back normal than you could look for other liver problems and if they come back abnormal you could retest in a month or do other shunt/mvd testing.

we to live in a small town luckly for me our vet delt with one other patient who had liver issues so he acted quick. we are both still learning about it because the other dog in town died soon after it was diagnosed. i know the owner of that other dog and she didnt do what she was told to do. any wat get the bile acid test done asap and really if i were you i would change food. and listen to ellie may lol.

Just wanted to send prayer's and good wishes for you and Rainbow.
The doctor should have been more explicent with you. No wonder your
paniced. I am glad so many were able to offer you help so you can
ask the questions you need answers too. God willing is't not as bad
as it sounds.

Hugs,

Sonya, I am still surprised that she wanted to wait 4-6 weeks for a recheck. Do you have options for another opinion from another vet. I know here in my small town there is only one vet:eek: but I can drive a little and find others. Good luck and prayers coming for little Rainbow.

I am so sorry to hear this. I am sending prayers and well wishes for Rainbow.

I am so sorry to hear this! I really really hope she does not have liver shunt! I have to go do bloodwork on the girls as well. I am so worried cause they are small. I hope Rainbow is okay, I will pray for her.

Update
 

I picked Sunnie up at the vets just a little while ago and was able to talk again to the vet about Rainbow. She will be going in the morning to have a bile acid test. I hope they cannot screw up the test. The vet agreed with me when I said I was not willing to stand by and wait another 4-6 weeks to find something out. I told her, I do not want to chance her having MORE damage IF that is what she has. The only thing that bothered me was that the assistants had never done a BAT and weren't even sure what it was or what it was for. So I think that helped me decide that if she DOES have a positive BAT, I will have to go to another vet for treatment. I don't want Rainbow to be a guineau pig. She means too much to me. I have been PM'd a couple of names of vets, but they are about an 8 hour drive from me and I hope I could find someone closer. Any ideas?? Does anyone know a good vet who is very experienced with liver problems and yorkies in particular? IN southern California?? I have a couple of names from PM's and they sound great too, but hopefully I can find someone a little closer. Of course, I have no problem driving a distance if that is what it takes as well.

So sorry for all that you are going through. Sending prayers and wishes for a positive outcome.

Do you think this could be CAUSED by the food??

NEVER DONE A BAT!???!:eek: :eek: :eek:
I don't know if you know the protocol, so here it is:
Fast for 12 hours (overnight). Dr. Center has now said they don't need to fast for this long but it is okay to do and is most popular.
Draw blood.
Give either a regular meal or a high fat meal (different vets do different things...sometimes they use canned A/D).
Wait 2 hours.
Draw blood again.
Send to lab.
Get results in 1-3 days.

I can't speak for bjh but I would say while it isn't likely, it is entirely possible. Technically pancreatitis can raise the ALTs. Pancreatitis can be caused by a high fat diet (Evo is slightly high at 22%) and possibly a high protein diet. I think you'd need a diagnosis to know whether the food had anything to do with it.

I agree with Crystal, it is possible the food could be causing pancreatitis and that could raise the ALT. Are you feeding them the Evo dry food? From what I found it looks like that is 42 percent protein and that is way to high in my opinion for a Yorkie. Any dog with liver problems needs to be on a lower protein diet. I am glad you are getting the BAT test done. I just hope they do it right. Also, when was the last time Rainbow had her vaccinations?

Sunnie,

I hope everything works out with your baby. You are a good mama for taking such quick action.

Oh my goodness, I"m sorry to hear this..Praying for good news. Glad you got the BAT test done. Hugs

Just a quick thought, she hasn't had any medicine (heartworm, flea..) in the last 7-14 days or vaccines in the last month or two, has she? This could skew BAT results.

I guess I should clarify.. The vet assistant has never done a BAT. The vet explained it to me exactly like you did Ellie, so I am sure she knows how to do it.

It has been since august 17, 2007 since her vaccines.. she is due again 8/17/08

She/they ALL have been eating Innova EVO dry kibble small bites (turkey/vegatable formula)

new question.. wouldn't she show some kind of stomach upset or other symptoms if she had pancreatitis

Nope, no meds, no vaccines/no heartworm meds/ (heartworms are rarely seen hear) although part of this blood panel, she was TESTED for heartworms and the indication was negative