Liver enzymes elevated? Rockies sick - YorkieTalk.com Forums

21rocky · 07-19-2008, 01:09 PM

Rocky is 4 years old seemed sick maybe a cold or lymes disease took him to the vet and blood work revealed negative for lyme but liver enzymes are very elevated does anyone know what this could be?? Vet wants to do lot$$ of tests?

Patti · 07-19-2008, 01:45 PM

I would guess they want to check for liver shunt, but since he is 4 and it usually shows up sooner maybe wait and see if he seems better and have the blood work redone. If he is sick then I would go ahead with more testing. Hope he is feeling better soon.

21rocky · 07-19-2008, 02:25 PM

Thanks I'm not familiar with Liver shunt, will try to get info, how would it have showed up sooner- do you mean in blood work or symptoms?

grandmatoall · 07-19-2008, 03:23 PM

Sorry your Rocky is sick. Poor little angel. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Tae1107 · 07-19-2008, 05:10 PM

Hi,

Do you know what levels specifically were elevated? Did the vet check his bile levels? That is what needs to be looked at if there is a concern with the liver. If he did do a bile acid test...do you have the result of it? If he does have a liver problem I would get him on a low protein diet. When you say sick how has he been acting?

belindaY · 07-20-2008, 03:49 AM

There are lots of things that can cause elevated liver enzymes, but there seems to be a frenzy lately to label everything "liver shunt" or MVD. Many vets will be thrilled to put your baby through a big, expensive liver surgery and at the end of the day come to you and say "sorry, couldn't find a shunt. Must be MVD and inoperable. Blackmail the breeder." I know how extreme this sounds, but it did happen to me recently---chain hospital (VCA) vet loaded up a small 4 mos old puppy with lepto vaccines, flea & tick preventive, various other things, then ran bile acids and got 2 pre and 53 post and convinced the customer the puppy needed immediate surgery. For those of you not familiar with the numbers, they are only mildly elevated. The customer refused my advice about waiting a few weeks before retesting. Two months and thousands of dollars worth of invasive surgery and tests later the puppy has been declared hereditary MVD, even though bile acids have not been retested!

21rocky · 07-20-2008, 11:19 AM

Thank you everyone for info,and advice. Rocky had wbc (white blood cell count of 18.09 (elevated) Had symptoms of sneezing,lethargy,no appetite, vomiting, for last 3 days before this he seemed healthy. weighed 6 lbs now 5.6. Liver tests alp 481, alt 635, alb 2.2, also has neck tenderness would cry loud if you moved his neck. Vet put him on antibiotic and sulcrafate for vomiting. Someone mentioned MVD what is this? Vet wants more testing like liver sonogram and Xrays. I want to see if infection clears first. What else could I do. He seems alittle less lethargic today, still making urine and had bowel movement. Eyes seem watery.

romi-j · 07-22-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 21rocky

Thank you everyone for info,and advice. Rocky had wbc (white blood cell count of 18.09 (elevated) Had symptoms of sneezing,lethargy,no appetite, vomiting, for last 3 days before this he seemed healthy. weighed 6 lbs now 5.6. Liver tests alp 481, alt 635, alb 2.2, also has neck tenderness would cry loud if you moved his neck. Vet put him on antibiotic and sulcrafate for vomiting. Someone mentioned MVD what is this? Vet wants more testing like liver sonogram and Xrays. I want to see if infection clears first. What else could I do. He seems alittle less lethargic today, still making urine and had bowel movement. Eyes seem watery.

Hi there

I recently lost my 16 year old yorkie last month and thought I would join this forum to try and give advice to others.

Our dog was diagnosed with an enlarged liver when she was 16 and her stomach was so swollen. I read that milk thistle drops in water can help the liver.

We tried this and when she was due to go in for an operation her blood count for her liver had been lowered and may have been due to the milk thistle.

May not be useful to you but thought I would share this info and I hope everything turns out ok. Keep us updated

07-19-2008, 01:09 PM	#1
21rocky Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ny Posts: 14	Liver enzymes elevated? Rockies sick Rocky is 4 years old seemed sick maybe a cold or lymes disease took him to the vet and blood work revealed negative for lyme but liver enzymes are very elevated does anyone know what this could be?? Vet wants to do lot$$ of tests?

07-19-2008, 01:45 PM	#2
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I would guess they want to check for liver shunt, but since he is 4 and it usually shows up sooner maybe wait and see if he seems better and have the blood work redone. If he is sick then I would go ahead with more testing. Hope he is feeling better soon. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

07-19-2008, 03:23 PM	#4
grandmatoall I Love My Babies Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 1,440 Blog Entries: 1	Sorry your Rocky is sick. Poor little angel. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. __________________ "Bobbi, Proud Mom To: Sandy & Leo Yorkies & Grandkids - Make My Heart Smile

07-19-2008, 05:10 PM	#5
Tae1107 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,252	Hi, Do you know what levels specifically were elevated? Did the vet check his bile levels? That is what needs to be looked at if there is a concern with the liver. If he did do a bile acid test...do you have the result of it? If he does have a liver problem I would get him on a low protein diet. When you say sick how has he been acting? __________________ Kerrianne

07-20-2008, 03:49 AM	#6
belindaY Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: redmond Posts: 132	Be careful--- There are lots of things that can cause elevated liver enzymes, but there seems to be a frenzy lately to label everything "liver shunt" or MVD. Many vets will be thrilled to put your baby through a big, expensive liver surgery and at the end of the day come to you and say "sorry, couldn't find a shunt. Must be MVD and inoperable. Blackmail the breeder." I know how extreme this sounds, but it did happen to me recently---chain hospital (VCA) vet loaded up a small 4 mos old puppy with lepto vaccines, flea & tick preventive, various other things, then ran bile acids and got 2 pre and 53 post and convinced the customer the puppy needed immediate surgery. For those of you not familiar with the numbers, they are only mildly elevated. The customer refused my advice about waiting a few weeks before retesting. Two months and thousands of dollars worth of invasive surgery and tests later the puppy has been declared hereditary MVD, even though bile acids have not been retested!

07-19-2008, 02:25 PM	#3
21rocky Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ny Posts: 14	Thanks I'm not familiar with Liver shunt, will try to get info, how would it have showed up sooner- do you mean in blood work or symptoms?

07-20-2008, 11:19 AM	#7
21rocky Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ny Posts: 14	Rockies sick Thank you everyone for info,and advice. Rocky had wbc (white blood cell count of 18.09 (elevated) Had symptoms of sneezing,lethargy,no appetite, vomiting, for last 3 days before this he seemed healthy. weighed 6 lbs now 5.6. Liver tests alp 481, alt 635, alb 2.2, also has neck tenderness would cry loud if you moved his neck. Vet put him on antibiotic and sulcrafate for vomiting. Someone mentioned MVD what is this? Vet wants more testing like liver sonogram and Xrays. I want to see if infection clears first. What else could I do. He seems alittle less lethargic today, still making urine and had bowel movement. Eyes seem watery.