OMG! I am in panic mode!
 

I am going to try and write this thru the tears. Monday morning we took Sunnie and Rainbow in to the vet. Sunnie to see about getting a teeth cleaning and Rainbow to get 2 retained puppy teeth pulled. We decided to have blood work done just to be safe. This morning the vet called with the results. Sunnie will be going in the morning to get his teeth cleaned. His test were normal. I just about fell out of my chair when she told me that one of Rainbow's liver enzyme tests came back high. She kind of talked like I wouldn't understand what she was saying... but as soon as she said Liver, my heart dropped. She said maybe it is because she just had a recent heat (1 month ago)... She didn't say HOW high and I was in such shocked I didn't even think to ask her WHAT enzyme, HOW high? etc. One of the things I heard her mention was liver shunt and I don't think I heard anything else. My God, I was hoping to show this little doll. Whatever it was, it must have been bad because she isn't going to pull her retained baby teeth and wants to retest her in 4-6 weeks. I am in shock because I KNOW how many babies have died from liver shunt. I don't even know if that is what is wrong, I just cannot understand her mentioning it if she wasn't pretty sure of it. And now I am rambling and panicing.. She has NO symptoms!~ NONE. She is the picture of health! The only time she ever has vomited is occasionally in the car on a trip, but since giving her ginger snaps before a trip she is fine. One of the things that scares me is my dogs all eat Innova EVO (the turkey formula) and now I am worried that I am making her sick with too much protien. I cannot lose this baby. I am SO so in love with her that all I can do now is cry. Is there ANYTHING else it could be??

I'm sorry.:(
I know it's scary.
It is important to know what was elevated.
Was it ALT?
If a bile acid test wasn't run then that needs to be done immediately.
Rechecking ALTs isn't going to do too much good.
Even if this is a shunt (and maybe it isn't), it isn't a death sentence.
Because of a possible liver problem, she needs to come off of the Evo asap.

If it is the ALT that is up, there are so many things that could do it.

OMG, I am sorry to hear this. You must be scared to death, I can feel it in your tone.. I will pray she will be alright.. you need to call the vet again, and find out what she was really saying.. that might help you a lot.. Call tomorrow as soon as you can.
((((hugs to you))))

I am going to ask the vet for a copy of her tests when I drop Sunnie off in the morning. Even tho I know what a liver shunt is, and I know that a liver compromized dog has to have less protien. I have NO IDEA what to feed her right now until I can get some answers. Ellie, I don't think she did a BAT, she was doing a "full blood panel" but I don't know exactly what that entails. What is ALT?

Sending prayers out right now for Rainbow. You must be so scared, but you should try to stay calm - for Rainbow. She will pick up on your feelings. Hopefully the vet will be able to clarify everything tomorrow. Hugs.

I am so sorry... If it helps at all, my friends little girl had 2 shunts, she had surgery and was on a special diet and meds for about 6 months. Now she is perfect!!!! Your baby will be ok:) Hang in there and keep us informed.

It is an enzyme measured to see if the liver is damaged or diseased. There is also AST. Please post your results when you get them.

Is this a pup or adult?
Different vets have different philosophies on whether a liver compromised dog should be on low protein or not. I would go to a lower protein food at least until you have the diagnosis.

I don't think the urine bile acid test or the Idexx SNAP (I think it is) are as accurate as sending it out to a lab, so make them send it out. If your vet is thinking a possible shunt, their first move should've been a bile acid test and not reduing the blood panel alone.

I am so sorry to hear about that, I had my vet to tell me the same thing about Maggie, I took her in to get her spayed, when they did the blood work, her liver enzymes was to high. But she acts fine, She is such a picky eater, Its hard to find anything she really likes. But he told me to put her on a low protein diet, gave me a reciepe to make, she ate it one time, after that she turns her nose up. I am like you I don't know what to do. Just pray.

Your vet hasn't offered a bile acid test?
Picky eating is a sign of liver shunt.
Is she on Denosyl or lactulose?
Any plans to do further testing?

Ellie, I am so glad you are here to help answer some of these questions. I was so hoping you would be around after I did some searching and saw how well informed you are. Rainbow is 4 days short of 11 months old. She is NOT really a picky eater either. Actually Sunnie is the picky eater. I definitely want to give her some good healthy food, but I have no idea what is a good choice to give her now. I thought I was doing them a favor giving them the EVO. I am not sure if it was sent out to a lab or not, but I am thinking yes. They did the test Monday morning and they told me they wouldn't have the results for 2-3 days and they called me 1st thing this morning. I hope they will give me copies of the test results when I take Sunnie in tomorrow morning. Now that I think about it, the only symptom (and I am not even sure it IS a symptom) is that she is then. I did ask the vet if she was too thin and she said a little thin but she still will fill out as she grows.

I am sorry to hear that you are facing the same thing. One thing I will not do is JUST pray. I mean I WIL pray ... but I will also be as PRO-ACTIVE as I can to do whatever I can to help her

I'm so sorry to hear that there could be a problem. And I know what you mean about just "hearing" it and letting it just roll over you without asking any or the right questions.

But you have so many people with experience here that can help you form your list of questions.

You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Let's hope the results aren't what your'e thinking. I can tell how worried you are. Sending prayers....

Underweight can be a symptoms of liver problems.
It sounds like your vet did do a bile acid test.

soooo sorry to hear about your puppy. i know how scarry this all is, i just found out lacey had problems at 9 months old in nov. our vet put her on LD canned food and we have been learning together what works for lacey. in feb we got her spayed and had her liver biopsy done and she is still doing fine. she has MVD and cant have surg but with the right diet i really think she will be fine. i didnt think so at first, at x-mas time she was so sick we didnt think she would make it til her first birthday. it was feb 2nd yeaaaaaaa!

You and your baby will be in my prayers!
I have read about a lot w/liver shunts, that do well on the proper diet! It doesn't make you feel better nw!
Hope when you get to talk to vet more- it is better than you feel now! That was a big shock!
Hugs to you& the furbabies!

Praying for your babies today and praying when you talk to the vet you are able to concentrate and understand and absorb what she is truly thinking so you can take the best steps....

You are strong .. You can do it..... You are here and have alot of support and you are 10 steps ahead by even knowing what she has mentioned give yourself a pat on the back...

Will follow thread for update

Vicki

Okay, I forgot to suggest food.:rolleyes:
If you wanted to go really low protein then you would need to go with Science Diet L/D canned, Royal Canin LS 14 (both prescription) or Natural Balance Vegetarian. I'm sure there are other though.
Since there is no diagnosis, I would go moderate protein (somewhere about 20%-25% for kibble) which would be safe even if she doesn't have a liver problem. Red meat is not recommended (along with a few other things).

Depending on how high the bile acids are, you may want to go low protein for a month and use Denosyl.

Oh Sonya my dear friend...I am saying prayers as I write this. I hope Rainbow is ok..I would think if the vet thought it was REALLY serious she would want to see you sooner that 4-6 weeks...but then I know nothing about any of this kind of problem. Hang in there and pm me if you just need to vent. I am here for you.

Sonya, I just read this thread and my heart goes out to you and the fear you must be feeling. I do not know much about this, but there seems to be a few who are quite knowledgeable, if not down right experts with all this on YT.
You are in my prayers .....:heart to

I am so sorry to hear about Rainbow's blood work. I pray that it is not liver shunt. Do you remember if she had ate that morning you took her in for blood work? I really would recommend changing her diet. I really recommend Canidae, it is 24 percent protein.

I found this information on the internet pertaining to the alt in the blood panel:
"Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is considered liver-specific in dogs and cats. It is used as a screening test for liver disease but will not diagnose the disease itself. You may also see an increase in ALT when there is damage to renal cells, skeletal muscles, the pancreas and the muscles of the heart. Hemolysis and lipemia can also cause a false high reading."

From reading this it makes me wonder if the high protein diet she is on could be effecting her pancreas. I think at this point the best thing to do is to get her on a lower protein diet and then get a bile acid test done in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Is the Evo kibble or canned?
Canned Evo has WAY too much fat in it and I think canned Innova messed up Ellie's pancreas.

As BJH said, sometimes foods do affect the numbers.

Sonya. I'm so sorry Rainbow may be ill.....I know I couldn't wait 4-6 weeks for an answer, I would want it NOW......this wait is going to be so hard, I hope it's better news the next time they run the tests.....Good thought coming for you both.....

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and support and ALL OF YOUR VALUABLE information.

BJH yes she had eaten the morning we took her in. We didn't know whe was going to have bloodwork that day. They told us it would be a wellness check and to look to see how many teeth she had retained.

Ellie- She has been eating EVO kibble, not canned, the turkey and vegatable formula. (which she is going off of immediately)


I am on my way it to drop of Sunnie this morning for his cleaning and hopefully I will have better info when I return. I hate the idea of waiting 4-6 weeks.

Sonya

Sonya, so sorry to hear of this shock! Perhaps the tests were wrong?

Hugs and prayers coming your way...

I am sorry to hear that and I am sending lots of prayers your way.

Praying for you & Rainbow and that you will have more answers from the vet today.

Since you like the EVO - what about switching her to Innova with less protein?

Ingredients:
Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, barley, brown rice, potatoes, natural flavors, rice, chicken fat, herring, apples, carrots, cottage cheese, sunflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, alfalfa sprouts, egg, garlic, potassium chloride, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, direct-fed microbials, vitamins/minerals

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 24 %
Crude Fat (min) 14 %
Crude Fiber (max) 3 %
Moisture (max) 10 %
Linoleic Acid (Omega-6 Fatty Acid) (min) 2.6 %
Vitamin E (min) 300 IU/kg
Vitamin C (min) 500 mg/kg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.5 %
Total Microorganisms (min) 90,000,000 CFU/lb


I am so sorry you are going thr this. Hugs for you and give Rainbow a snuggle from me :aimeeyork

Sending prayers and good wishes to you and Rainbow...

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

Hemoglobin