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Liver Disease


skwo2
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Just called the vet. The ultrasound result has shown everything is ok apart from the texture of the liver being different from normal. The vet suggest it can be due to toxic, or bacteria from intestine travel to the liver, or the immune system is attacking itself (which is unlikely), since her liver enzyme is still at a very high level.

No evidence of a liver shunt, and the vet said an ultrasound will not be the best way to prove a liver shunt unless it is very severe. Also, the vet doesn't think it is any severe kind of liver disease

Chelsea will be on IV, probably until tomorrow afternoon or Saturday, antibiotics will also be given.

The ultrasound also shows a knot on the adrenal gland (spelling), the vet says it is common and not too worry about it.

Feeling better now.....

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That sounds promising, hopefully if it's an infection the antibiotics will knock it in the head soon enough. Usually the diagnosis for a liver shunt is made firstly with blood tests showing pre and post feeding levels of bile acids, and then with a specialised ultrasound.

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My pug girl Elyse had a bout of Hepatitis around 2-3months ago. very high fever and pain, her liver results were through the roof. She spent a couple of days in the vets on fluids antibiotics and metacam. She came home full of vigour and was on a special liver diet for about 3-4 weeks. she had blood tests every 2 weeks and her liver tests were back to normal. She is fine now. Her ultra sound showed up normal liver ect and only sludgy looking stuff in her gall bladder. Since then she has had 3 incidents (over 5 weeks) of high temp and pain and we have used metacam to bring the temp down and stop the pain. Her liver test results were better than her previous "good" results. We are looking at doing an x-ray and then possibly "spinal fluid" if it continues.

I can only recommend that when you bring her home get the vet to send home her history with you including blood test results. that way you have accurate information that you can take with you to another vet in case you need to in an emergency.

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I had a visit to see Chelsea and she is more lively now, but the vet said she needs to stay there until they can do another blood test on Sat.

Puglvr - My vet said that the only way to know the cause is to do a biopsy in the liver, the ultrasound may not necessay show up everything. Can you tell me what was the figure with the liver results from blood test when Elyse was really sick. Just want to see what the figures are like when dog is sick. Thanks.

The vet said she will give me the blood test result to take home when Chelsea is discharged

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Chelsea came home on Saturday, vet said a big improvement in ALT when they did the blood test on Sat. ALT down to 750 (normal is 100), so I took her home for trial.

However, last night she had a diahorrea, and then vomit out some yellow bait again this morning. She seem to look ok, and was begging for food. She ate all her meals, with only boiled chicken and the cavulox (antibiotics) mixed in it.

The vet has prescribed her with Hills l/d can food, but I am not too keen to feed her with, as previous experience of her having canned food is runny poo. (and also, the can opener at home doesn't work....)

Do I really have to feed her the l/d food?

Will Cavulox cause vomitting or diahorrea?

Will call the vet soon (I am at work) but see if I can get an earlier reply here.

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haven't used it- but the Hills food is specifically made for certain conditions. It should not contain stuff which will upset her.

try it... if she gets worse- then ask the vet what else you can use.

(and also, the can opener at home doesn't work....)

No shops anywhere between work & home??? :thumbsup:

My aunt's little dog lived on Hills for the past couple of years.. she had urinary tract problems.

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The main reason of me not feeding the Hills can is not that I can't get the can opener, I can buy one easily. But I am not in favour of any dog commercial food. I usually feed raw meat to Chelsea.

I can't see why the canned food can be better than a fresh cooked piece of meat. Anyone got any idea?

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The main reason of me not feeding the Hills can is not that I can't get the can opener, I can buy one easily. But I am not in favour of any dog commercial food. I usually feed raw meat to Chelsea.

I can't see why the canned food can be better than a fresh cooked piece of meat. Anyone got any idea?

It's nutrionally balanced and it contains less protein and fat. Hills I/D is bascially just cooked chicken and rice.

Now is not the time to let a feeding philosophy interfere with your dog's health Skwo. I'd be feeding the cans and reviewing all the your worming/flea treatments too.

Don't use the spot stuff and cut it down to an absolute minimum of chemicals in her system.

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Will try out the can.

Chelsea has her worming tablet on every 14th of the month, so still a week or so before it is due.

For flea treatment, I don't use it now, as it is winter, and I also use lavendar oil + almond oil for flea all the time. I brush her thoroughly everyday (given that she is a Bichon), so if there is any flea or tick, I would have notice

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Chelsea vomitted out again after dinner.

The vet has told me not to give the clavolux just for tonight to see if that's the cause, but she still vomitted.

She looks ok, apart from that she seems to be tired after she eats every meal.

Will it because something stuck inside the tummy? the ultrasound would have show it? Any thoughts?

Sigh.......

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She could be very toxic:(

If her liver is not working properly-- the toxins in her body..( normally the liver deals with a lot of the gunk,,,) will be making her very ill.

Remember- if you are not happy.. and she is no better- you can always seek a second opinion from another vet.

With her vomiting so frequently, and being ill.. DEHYDRATION would be a worry :laugh:

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skwo2-

here..

I have been googling for some info.. THIS mau help you to understand just how important the liver is, and how unbalanced the body becomes if it is not working. :laugh:

I do hope your girl is feeling brighter in the morning- and I would suggest again- a second opinion is often a good idea.

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Skwo2 .... just reading through your thread. I have nothing to offer you in the way of advice or help, other than to let you know I know your pain and worry, and that I am wishing for you both some good news and Chelsea's return to good health.

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The main reason of me not feeding the Hills can is not that I can't get the can opener, I can buy one easily. But I am not in favour of any dog commercial food. I usually feed raw meat to Chelsea.

I can't see why the canned food can be better than a fresh cooked piece of meat. Anyone got any idea?

It's nutrionally balanced and it contains less protein and fat. Hills I/D is bascially just cooked chicken and rice.

Now is not the time to let a feeding philosophy interfere with your dog's health Skwo. I'd be feeding the cans and reviewing all the your worming/flea treatments too.

Don't use the spot stuff and cut it down to an absolute minimum of chemicals in her system.

Agree with PF. There is a dry food version in the Hills range also if you don't like the canned version.

A fresh cooked peice of meat is not balanced.

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If she is getting depressed after meals it's likely to be a liver problem and the best thing you can do is get her on the special diet, when my dog had the shunt he was also on something called lactulase which helped to absorb some of the toxins that the liver wasn't getting rid of.

Hope she feels better soon, and that the cause is indentified quickly :laugh:

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I gave Chelsea to try the can of food, but still vomit not soon after

Chelsea just had a seizure/faint at lunch time today, she collapsed and then 4 legs were moving involuntary. She was vomitting, and then had the seizure.

Back at the vet, now waiting for blood test result

We discussed possible liver shunt, but the vet said ultrasound that we did last week had no evidence of such. I also asked about the bile acid test, the vet said testing on small dogs are not reliable.

Also, is the antibiotics Cavolux giving to dogs a strong antibiotics? is it used often?

Any thoughts..... I am just soooooo worried.

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I gave Chelsea to try the can of food, but still vomit not soon after

Chelsea just had a seizure/faint at lunch time today, she collapsed and then 4 legs were moving involuntary. She was vomitting, and then had the seizure.

Back at the vet, now waiting for blood test result

We discussed possible liver shunt, but the vet said ultrasound that we did last week had no evidence of such. I also asked about the bile acid test, the vet said testing on small dogs are not reliable.

Also, is the antibiotics Cavolux giving to dogs a strong antibiotics? is it used often?

Any thoughts..... I am just soooooo worried.

Some liver shunts are inside the liver.. you won't nail one of those on an ultra sound. I think you may be needing to talk to a specialist Skwo.. or your vet should be.

Sending positive vibes for Chelsea.

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