Some advice please!

[LillyBug]

We have been medically treating my dear Lilly for elevated bile acids since 2/09. My little lilly is 4# and just turned 2 in April. We came across Lilly's elevated liver labs when having her fixed. in 2/2009 her post level was 58. Since then I have been giving her lactulose with her food twice daily. She has been on an L/D since then as well. I mix the wet and dry together. We repeated her levels in 2/10 which post was then 98.7. She had been getting into my golden's food so wanted to wait 6 months and repeat with a strict diet. Her labs now are fasting 219 and post eating 138.3. I am devastated. I really thought it would be lower this time. The vet is prescribing her metroniadozole twice daily. I need to figure out the next step. Lilly is my baby and I want to do what is right. I live in Wisconsin and the closest specialist is in Madison. Anyone have suggestions or advice? Metronidazole I thought was an antifungal and confused how this will help her. Prayers are needed. I feel so lost.

[RONLYNN]

You should really join the yahoo liver shunt group. Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support

They are VERY knowledgeable and will help you every step of they way. They can explain what each medicine is for and why the dog is taking it and if the vet gives you the wrong medicine they will know that too.

Good luck and hopefully Lilly will get better soon.

[Ringo1]

Hmmm. Does your Vet have any ideas about why her numbers continue to elevate?

[LillyBug]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

Hmmm. Does your Vet have any ideas about why her numbers continue to elevate?

They feel that it is suggestive of a liver shunt.

[Ellie May]

Metro can be used as a sort of antibiotic and it's used extensively with LS dogs.

What are her symptoms? Any of the following could apply:
Seizures
Head pressing
Circling
Head tilt
Drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pica
Urinary problems
Shaking
Drug reactions
Suscpetibility to infections
Lethargy

Is she on SAMe and milk thistle?
Have any scans been done to check for a shunt?
When they spayed her, did the vet look at her liver?
Has she seen an internist?

[LillyBug]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Metro can be used as a sort of antibiotic and it's used extensively with LS dogs.

What are her symptoms? Any of the following could apply:
Seizures
Head pressing
Circling
Head tilt
Drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pica
Urinary problems
Shaking
Drug reactions
Suscpetibility to infections
Lethargy

Is she on SAMe and milk thistle?
Have any scans been done to check for a shunt?
When they spayed her, did the vet look at her liver?
Has she seen an internist?

She hasn't had any really of the symptoms you list. She has at times vomited but not continually.

No What is SAMe? Is that and milk thistle recommended? Do I need to get through my vet?
No scans have been done.
The vet did not say anything about looking at the liver.
She has not seen an internist. I don't think there is one close by here. I think the next step would be to travel to see one.

[LillyBug]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Metro can be used as a sort of antibiotic and it's used extensively with LS dogs.

What are her symptoms? Any of the following could apply:
Seizures
Head pressing
Circling
Head tilt
Drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pica
Urinary problems
Shaking
Drug reactions
Suscpetibility to infections
Lethargy

Is she on SAMe and milk thistle?
Have any scans been done to check for a shunt?
When they spayed her, did the vet look at her liver?
Has she seen an internist?

So the metro is safe? Do you know?

[Ringo1]

If your vet thinks that she has a shunt and her numbers do seem to be headed in the wrong direction; I would ask for a referral to a specialist. Hopefully, Madison isn't that far away.