Elevated Liver Enzymes In My Puppy.

[Rerun]

I took Tia to the vet today to be spayed.  Two hours later they called me and said they could not do the surgery because her liver enzymes were elevated.  He said we would put her on antibiotics (2 weeks) and then do blood work again.  If they are still elevated he suspects a Liver Shunt and we could do an ultrasound to see.  A liver shunt is where their circulatory system bypasses the liver and the toxins don't get processes.  One of the symptoms is vomiting and I've seen her do it yesterday and today.  There is a surgery but it is not always successful and the prognosis is "guarded".    I'm hoping it is an infection and the next blood work is perfect??

She will be 9 months old April 3. 

           

[monrein]

Sorry to hear this about Tia.  I copied and sent your message to my brother (he's a veterinary surgeon) to see if he had any comments or suggestions about her situation.  I'll let you know what I find out.   

[Rerun]

Sorry to hear this about Tia.  I copied and sent your message to my brother (he's a veterinary surgeon) to see if he had any comments or suggestions about her situation.  I'll let you know what I find out.   

WOW!  That is great!  Thanks~       

[Deanne]

One of my dogs was suspected of having a liver shunt and was tested for it. It's been a few years, so my memory might be faulty. There are two different types of liver shunts -- small and large (or some such thing). I think with a large shunt (fixable by surgery), the blood vessels on the outside of the liver are at fault and with a small shunt, it's the blood vessels within the liver (worse prognosis). Tigger didn't have an ultrasound though. There's a specific test they can do where they run a blood test after a 12-hour fast, then feed the dog and test again to compare the results.

I hope your pup is OK!

[monrein]

Right on the money there Deanne. 

Rerun, my brother says that elevated liver enzymes could be the result of a shunt but that he wouldn't go immediately to that possibility.  The test Deanne refers to is a fasting bioacids test which can yield more information and isn't invasive.  He also said that there are several different types of shunts and prognosis depends on location (intra-hepatic or extra-hepatic) and also depends on how many blood vessels are involved.  Some are treated relatively easily and the dog can return to normal after surgery, while others are just too complex to tackle.
He said that a dog's behaviour can be a good indication if it is a shunt, especially if after a high protein meal the pup goes nuts, totally out of character, turning into a little Tasmanian devil.  They can sometimes display neurological type symptoms, leaning up against a wall for example.

Jim said that elevated liver enzymes can also be due to something as simple as a dog eating a tylenol or getting into chocolate or something they shouldn't eat.
A final point is that, in the case of a shunt,  prognosis is improved if things are detected early on and corrected.  If things are undetected for a long time the liver will atrophy and become small and cirrohotic and the blood vessels will have enlarged.

Hope this helps and that Tia will NOT have a shunt.  Poor little pup. 

This is very much a paraphrase of Jim's long detailed talk with me a few minutes ago but he did say that it seems a little premature to think it's a shunt just yet.   

[paris]

Monrein, that was very nice of you to go the extra mile and find out information for Rerun.  Your brother is just as kind for giving his advice.  You just have to love IHD family.   

[sullidog]

I hope all is well with your pup, keep us posted!
Troy

[Rerun]

Thanks a million Monrein and tell your brother thanks too.

She's scheduled for an ultrasound on Friday.  I can't wait for the two weeks of antibiotics like my vet originally suggested kind of a wait and see.  I've seen her vomit 3 times and so I just have to know.  I stopped to see my vet today and he started out by saying "We are not sure it is a shunt, we like to start with the least expensive tests first".  My thought is lets cut to the chase.  If an ultrasound can detect it than lets do it. 

I read about the 12 hour fast and then feed and then blood test also.  I'll mention that to him.  Thanks.

I got home after dialysis this morning at 4:15 and fed her and about a half hour later she vomited and then ate it so I'm not sure what is going on. 

[okarol]

  I hope she's ok Rerun.

[Jean]

 Sorry Rerun, I hope she is okay too.

[paris]

How is little Tia today?  Hope you get some answers soon.

[Rerun]

Good News!!   

The ultrasound showed a normal liver!  I feel bad for over reacting.  She got her belly shaved and she is groggy.  They had to sedate her a little because she was squirmy.  Poor baby.  I've given her bits of food and some rice milk.  I'm going to let her sleep.  Pebbles is sleeping by her.

Thank God!  I was worried.             

[jbeany]

 

[paris]

Thank goodness!  Let sweet Tia rest and recover.  Give her hugs from all of us.   

[monrein]

Good News!!   

The ultrasound showed a normal liver!  I feel bad for over reacting.  She got her belly shaved and she is groggy.  They had to sedate her a little because she was squirmy.  Poor baby.  I've given her bits of food and some rice milk.  I'm going to let her sleep.  Pebbles is sleeping by her.

Thank God!  I was worried.             

You must be so relieved.  I'm happy to hear the news and I'll let Jim know too. 

[Mimi]

Hooray.....Tia is OK.

[Rerun]

Thanks everyone and especially JIM our IHD vet.

                     

[okarol]

  Great, hope she feels better. So do they know why the numbers were elevated?

[Rerun]

Great, hope she feels better. So do they know why the numbers were elevated?

No.  She will finish her antibiotics.  I may have just been an infection of some kind.

[Darthvadar]

Great news....

It's always a worry when our pawed people are sick....

Darth...