Surgery postponed-elevated liver :(

[jebsmom]

Christabel was scheduled to be spayed tomorrow. I took her in Friday for her presurgery blood work. Just received a call from our vet saying her liver and white blood cell count is slightly elevated. Liver is 139 she said normal can be up to 100. White blood count 1650 she said normal is between 4 and 1500. She said since she seems healthy otherwise it could just be an infection that has her counts up. She's going to give her two antibiotics and retest in two weeks.

I'm so worried, I've had her since Nov. and taken her to our vet for all her checkups and shots. She seems to be doing well. She was only 1 pound when we got her, she is now up to 4.2. Always happy and playful.

Has anyone ever had this happen? Praying that this is only an infection. The vet said we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully her count will be down after antibiotics, if not we'll go from there with futher testing.

Just not a call I wanted to receive. I'll be a nervous wreck for the next two weeks.

[Taryn0405]

Slightly elevated liver could range from anything to a little infection to something bigger.
It's good that you're vet is postponing the surgery. And I honestly don't think you have too much to worry about. Gizmo had slightly elevated lipase levels an I panicked thinking it was a liver shunt when it just ended up being an upset tummy/GI infection.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[jebsmom]

Thanks, I'm glad Gizmo is ok. That makes me feel better, my first reaction was to panick. I've been on the verge of tears all morning. The vet said it could be as simple as an infection to as complicated as liver shunt.
Thanks again for your reply and I'll keep you updated.

[Taryn0405]

No problem! That was my problem as well, I was a wreck and looked way too much into it. I posted on here as well and Crystal (user Ellie May) assured me basically the same thing you were told from the vet.
It's always good to ere on the side of caution with our babies, but with such a slight elevation I wouldn't get too worried.

[Beabble]

Awe, I'm so sorry to hear this, I can just feel the fear in your words you posted. I'll say prayers for you and your furbaby and hope it's just an infection and the antibiotics will clear it all up. Please keep us updated as your able. Hang in there and try to stay positive, I know it's very hard, but just try.

[jebsmom]

Thanks Tracy. I've got Christabel on her antibiotics and sending up lots of prayers. Now all we can do is wait. I'll let you know, we do blood work on the 12th and we'll have the results on the 13th.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by jebsmom

Thanks Tracy. I've got Christabel on her antibiotics and sending up lots of prayers. Now all we can do is wait. I'll let you know, we do blood work on the 12th and we'll have the results on the 13th.

You're most welcome. I know the waiting is terrible, but keep praying and keep your eyes on God, try and think good thoughts, good thoughts!! Sending hugs your way, I know you need them. ((((Jebsmom))))

[Patti]

I hope it is just a little minor glitch and Christabel will be just fine.

[jebsmom]

UPDATE:
Christabel's vet just called with her results. Not what I wanted to hear. Her alt is up to 250 orginally it was 139. Her white blood cell count is down from 1650 to 124. That's good, evidently she had a little infection that the antibotics cleared up.
Originally the vet switched her from Frontline Plus to regular Frontline. She had one case of a small maltise that had elevated liver counts and sent her to a specialist. There was an ingrediant in the Frontline plus that had caused the elevated liver counts in this case. So that being said, we switched Christabel to Frontline (reg). and her first administration of it was on March 3. Therefore, the vet wants to wait and do another blood test on the 29th. and see if maybe it just has not had enough time to get out of her system.. She did mention the next steps would be Bile acid test, xray and then to the specialist if results are not lower.

I'm just so worried about her. How can a little one that acts so normal have this going on. She has been a happy and (I thought) healthy puppy, with no symptoms of being sick.

Anyone out in YT land have this happen and can give me advice and guidance? Any experience and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Beabble]

I'm so sorry I can't be of more help, I've never had this happen with our furkids, but I have had it happen with our skin kid. His throat kept swelling shut on him and they had to do emergency surgery on him, his liver enzymes, ALTS and everything were so out of whack, I was about hysterical!! In the end, it ended up being all the injections and other meds they had to give him every time his throat would swell shut. After not having to have all the meds and getting it out of his system, all his counts went back to normal. Hoping the same for your lil one. Prayers being said for the both of you.

[Taryn0405]

Don't lose hope yet. We'll see with the switch in flea meds if this helps. Something that little can many times throw any system out of wack.

Just to give you some background on the bile acid test, what they'll do is keep your fur baby for max about 4-5hours. They'll take blood, give him some food, wait a few hours and take the blood again. This will measure how efficient your fur baby's liver is functioning with regards to filtering. It's a common tests for Yorkies and small breed dogs.

Curiosity, I don't remember you saying this or not, but where did you get your fur baby from? Was it a breeder?

[margiepickens]

Sorry to hear about your little one. Hope she does okay. I havent had to have any blood work done yet, but will in a few months when she gets spayed and any teeth pulled that don't need to be there? Christabel will be okay, I can just feel it! Best of luck to you.

[jebsmom]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Tracy, I can not even image how I would feel if this happened to my skin kid. So glad yours is ok.
Thanks Taryn0405 for letting me know what to expect if we have to have the bile acid test done. As far as where I got Christabel (she was an anniversary present from my husband). When we meet and married-33 years ago-I had Lady (a yorkie I rescued from a shelter). She was the light of my life, a great girl. Anyway, he works with someone that has been breeding yorkies for 10 years. I went to her house and picked out Christabel the day after she opened her eyes. Then waited patiently until she could come to my home.
Margie thanks for your kind words.
We'll go back in on the 29th and do another blood test. I have read a few post that protein can make liver counts go up. I have been trying to cut her protein intake down. I was stuffing her kong with tidbits and putting peanut butter on the end and freezing it for her (she would have this everday). I'm not using the peanut butter now until after the test. Hopefully the test will be normal when we go back. Again, thanks everyone, I love YT. It has helped me so much in every aspect with Christabel.

[Taryn0405]

Originally Posted by jebsmom

Thanks everyone for your replies. Tracy, I can not even image how I would feel if this happened to my skin kid. So glad yours is ok.
Thanks Taryn0405 for letting me know what to expect if we have to have the bile acid test done. As far as where I got Christabel (she was an anniversary present from my husband). When we meet and married-33 years ago-I had Lady (a yorkie I rescued from a shelter). She was the light of my life, a great girl. Anyway, he works with someone that has been breeding yorkies for 10 years. I went to her house and picked out Christabel the day after she opened her eyes. Then waited patiently until she could come to my home.
Margie thanks for your kind words.
We'll go back in on the 29th and do another blood test. I have read a few post that protein can make liver counts go up. I have been trying to cut her protein intake down. I was stuffing her kong with tidbits and putting peanut butter on the end and freezing it for her (she would have this everday). I'm not using the peanut butter now until after the test. Hopefully the test will be normal when we go back. Again, thanks everyone, I love YT. It has helped me so much in every aspect with Christabel.

Keep your hopes up.
I'm glad you got her from a breeder, that way if there is the possibility that this is a liver shunt, you can contact her and let her know. Especially if you have a health contract with her.
Still keeping little Christabel in my prayers. I know exactly what you're going through and we're sending prayers for ya.
With that being said, that's good that you're cutting down her treats, but don't change her food too much (as in her kibble she's been on). Sometimes, even the upset tummy from a little food switch can throw off the blood numbers as well.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Beabble]

Still sending prayers for your lil one and hope everything turns out good. I was a wreck and scared out of my wits when it happened to our skins on. God seen us through though and he is now a healthy young man, except for dropping butcher knifes on his toes, lol.