Bile Acid Test
 

So, I'm confused...the dog behaviorist that I have been taking Maggie to see suggested that she have a couple of tests run due to some side effects that Maggie had when she was given a certain medication. She recommended that I have a T4, Free T4 by ED, TSH and autoantibodies - all of these together, and the Bile Acid Test. To my shock the Thyroid was normal but the BAT wasn't normal. The Pre was 2.0 and the Post was 120.0. Her food in between the test was her normal kibble and not very much of that. Maggie will be six in September and has been very healthy. I somehow thought at her age the chance of the BAT being off was not even an issue. When the vet called to explain it, he was busy (story of my life these days) and is ready to send me Texas A&M for a biopsy. I don't know if I should get the liver biopsy done, of course this would be the call of the vets at TAMU or just change her kibble and have the test run again in a few months. Whatever she eats needs to be a kibble that Buster can also eat. They are currently eating Fromm's adult, small breed. Any suggestions?

Jeanie, make an appointment at Gulf Coast with Dr. Jones. I would not jump to a biopsy just yet. Call me if you have any questions.

Do I need a referral for Dr. Jones?

Yes. Let the vet refer and then you call and make the appointment. Make sure it is with him! Tell him I sent you.

Keeping Maggie in my thoughts and prayers that a biopsy will not be necessary.

Sending prayers for Sweet Maggie.

Keeping Maggie in my prayers. You've been through the ringer lately and need a break!

Thanks! Just when I think I have one of them up and going .... Maggie has always been my healthy one ... but hopefully Buster is on his way to recovery and after him, Maggie's issue won't be anything I can't handle.


I'm going to get me a t-shirt that reads: I work for my dogs......


We know they aren't dogs but it's a Yorkie thing and some people don't get it.

Looking at GCVS website, there are several doctors in the Internal Medicine Dept, is Dr. Jones going to be the best one? Nothing but the best for John's little girl....

So sorry to read this, it's one thing after another for you and your pups.

Did you read this: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...tobias-ut.html

They estimate that perhaps as many as 50% of Yorkies have MVD, but most are asymptomatic.

Jeanie that is pretty high postprandial BAT so I agree with Linda that internal med is a place to start. I'm not sure I would jump to a biopsy. What are her symptoms?

Cathy, that's the weird part, I didn't think she had any symptoms. The reason I had the testing done is because the behaviorist put her on two different medications and she couldn't tolerate either...generic Prozac and generic Paxil. She totally quit eating and acted like walking across the room was a struggle, all she did was sleep, on both medications. The behaviorist thought she needed her thyroid and BAT checked. I thought she probably had thyroid issues but not BAT. She is a little plump, she sheds and is a little sluggish, breathes very heavily at times. I've asked the vet about all of the symptoms and he wasn't concerned (she has had all of these symptoms for a few years). She had blood work done at the end of February for her dental, didn't see anything unusual. She won't be taking any of the meds from the behaviorist either. The behaviorist is supposed to be an excellent one but she believes in medication, I don't think mine need it. I was taking them to the behaviorist as Maggie sometimes attacks Buster and it had become more frequent and I was worried for Buster especially with his leg issues.


I won't have a biopsy done, she will see the internist first and we will go from there. (I've written another small book).

Yes, and I forgot to say Dr. Chris Jones. They have two Dr. Jones. He is awesome Jeanie. He took care of Teddy Bear last year when he was diagnosed with a shunt. Remember, he had no symptoms either. The only thing that we might have missed was years earlier when he had had a problem after a surgery on his legs with his pain meds and the anesthesia. He had to stay in the hospital an extra day because he was out of it.

Dr. Jones also is Cookie's specialist.

You will love him. He is very nice and very, very knowledgeable. He also has weighed in on Olivia's case. He was the one who prescribed an antibiotic that finally got her liver to do better.

Feel free to call me and I can rave about him! :) :p

Thanks Linda! I'm going to call GCVS tomorrow. I feel bad, I hope I haven't over looked Maggie's issues while focusing too much on Buster. I'll be taking her in as soon as I can get an appointment. Maggie just had her dental in February and had no side effects other than it usually takes her longer to come out of the anesthesia. Anyway, she will get in to see Dr. Chris Jones as soon as I can get her in. I have so many questions, I hope he doesn't mind.

He is awesome, Jeanie, and very very thorough. Be sure to be very clear when you call there that you want to see HIM.
He is patient and will answer all of your questions.