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06-04-2013, 05:09 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| What is considered a normal blood test? Hi, I am not that new to YT. I have been looking up things for the past 2-3 years, my little girl Bebe has been having seizures so I thought I would post to find out if any others have had these questions... Well, like I said, Bebe who is 3 almost 4 has recently started having seizures.. They started 2 weeks after her most recent vacs (Never doing again bc they are not necessary). We had blood work done, and new vet said everything is fine.. well I have a copy of the results and they are not in the "normal range".. most are just a little high or low (albumin, ggt, NA, total CO2, anion gap, osmolality, RBC, HGB, HCT) All were just slightly higher or lower than range. The one that stuck out the most was Lipase at 230 High rather than 17-152. The vet said these are all normal.. ?? Well I wasn't able to look over the test results and ask her about it when I received them, but I will be calling tomorrow first thing. She recommended a bile acid test and we did that today, she also recommended liver x-rays. I said to wait on x-rays. Her seizures are nightly around the same time starting at 9pm and she is lost until bed time, sometimes Bebe is normal and playing but not all the time. We have Diazepam for when she starts to have ba seizures, the vet gave me a script for phenobarbital, but if she is having other issues and the meds could cause it to be worse..??? I just don't know what to do except get other opinions and possibly see her vet from before. I just don't trust these vets! I think they are all money hungry!! Fellow YT-ers, please give me your thoughts or if any of your fur babies have experienced these issues. I'm so worried, Bebe has always been healthy and happy! |
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06-04-2013, 06:19 PM | #2 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA
Posts: 3,648
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06-05-2013, 10:05 AM | #3 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| Elevated lipase is not necessarily a concern. It is a pretty fluky thing...I would not worry about it myself ... I have had many pups with elevated lipase over the years and it meant nothing. Same thing for many lab values...a little high or a little low sometimes is meaningless .. sometimes is serious. Depends on what it is and what the symptoms are. It is good that your vet is ruling out physical causes of the seizures. If there is nothing coming up in the testing, perhaps you might want to do a consult with a neurologist.
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06-05-2013, 10:57 AM | #4 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Quote:
I was told by YT's Ellie May/Crystal that even normal liver tests may not mean there isn't a shunt or liver problem. Does your dog have other symptoms - vomiting, spitting up yellow bile/foam, diarrhea, lethargy, head rubbing/pressing, wobbling on legs, wandering around or just the seizures? Dogs with liver shunts can have seizures from the toxins and some with MVD too. Even if he might have a form of epilepsy or other brain dysfunction causing the seizures, he could have shunt or MVD. Could be a combination of issues and symptoms, history and test results can guide your vet. But I would think a scintigraphy/sonogram would be far more helpful than the liver x-rays if the BAT is high and he seizes, especially if he has any other symptoms. If not, could be all neuro. Vets are not all money hungry but if a dog is having seizures, they need to test to find out what is going wrong with your baby. It is expensive for sure to test. I'd sure get a neurologist evaluation if there are no GI symptoms and the BAT's normal and seizure is the only issue and not GI or other things. Here is a link at the bottom of this post that might give you some info on the liver issues, though you've probably seen it already. My Tibbe has a probable diagnosis of MVD and is currently being controlled with a hepatic diet. He's no longer having GI problems or lethargy or acting weirdly in any way. Keep us updated as you find out his test results. I hope whatever it is it is something that is simple to treat. ACVS - Hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia or Portal Atresia
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis | |
06-05-2013, 02:42 PM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| Thanks everyone for your input! The seizures have been getting worse and more frequently. I'm just so worried. The vet started her on phenobarbital, so we will beginning that in a few hours. As soon as I get the word on the BAT results and if they come back fine I will be requesting that we get referred to a neurologist. I have a really good one close to us that I heard is great. I think they are too frequent to be just idiopathic and all of a sudden because she has always been so happy and healthy. |
06-05-2013, 02:46 PM | #6 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Poor baby. I hope a neuro can get to the bottom of this!!!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
06-05-2013, 03:00 PM | #7 | |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 7,959
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__________________ "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." | |
06-05-2013, 03:06 PM | #8 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| Quote:
Keeping her and you in my thoughts and prayers...
__________________ | |
06-05-2013, 03:41 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| They happen at night, they begin at 9pm and go until we go to bed maybe around 11. Usually when they start happening I grab her, put the younger pup in his crate and get ready for bed to get her to calm down. I usually just read or am on my laptop while she sleeps. |
06-05-2013, 04:12 PM | #10 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| She gets them just at night. Usually they start around 9pm when the family is hanging out in the living room watching TV. Sometimes there is commotion which may be the cause..?? I put the baby yorkie in his crate for bed and then I bring her into my room where she sleeps while I read or on my laptop. I also noticed that she barks at random noises around. We do live in a complex that has several people going in and out through out the day. In two weeks we are relocating to a single family house, hopefully this changes things because she barks at every noise out side. I just hope it doesn't stress her out. I've heard of moves being stressful on them. This is for the better. |
06-06-2013, 12:37 AM | #11 |
♡Huey's Human♡ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ringgold, Ga
Posts: 3,333
| I think it is odd that they happen at the same time every night. Seizures caused by a neurological disorder should be more random. With the regularity of the seizures, it makes me think there is a causitive factor that occurs at the same time daily, also, such as a meal or some specific environmental trigger. I would definitely see a neurologist if the liver studies come back negative, because a neurologist will have a better knowledge base of possible causes, environmental or otherwise. Good luck & saying a prayer for healing. Keep us updated, please. Scary situation to be in...
__________________ Huey's mom, Marilyn :When a day starts & ends with puppy kisses, I can handle anything that comes in between! |
06-06-2013, 08:19 AM | #12 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| Just spoke with the vet, after the BAT results came back. Vet said they were high after the 2nd test but not too abnormal. She wants to do x-rays and a biopsy of the liver. As well as change the diet and a prescription, which I agree with because I know basically what shunts do. My question now is should I see a specialist? |
06-06-2013, 10:15 AM | #13 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| Quote:
__________________ Last edited by ladyjane; 06-06-2013 at 10:17 AM. | |
06-06-2013, 08:58 PM | #14 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 18
| Bebe has been on phenobarbital, lactulose and amoxicillian. The vet also put her on Science Diet L/D. Since starting the pheno, she has been seizure free and I am thankful. I am having the radiograph on Monday, and then Coagulation tests and then a cytology test. Thank you all for you kind words, if you have any other advice I will gladly take it. |
06-06-2013, 11:45 PM | #15 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| I'd get her to a specialist, she shouldn't need the phenobarb, the lactulose will stop the seizures.
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
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