5mg . She has no other symptoms at all. It is not a bad idea to pursue further testing. Cushings disease can be pituitary dependent or adrenal dependent. I agree it is SO HARD to be subjective with your own dog! Cushings Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications Id like your opinion. Filed Under: Common Dog Health Problems, Our Blog: The Buzby Bark. If your dog has elevated bile acid levels, your veterinarian will likely recommend additional testing or referral to an internal medicine specialist. The chemistry panel should be the one that the most convenient veterinary diagnostic laboratory uses as their normal panel. It is always ok to get a second opinion if you have lingering questions or concerns. Also, he gets stressed during blood draws so Im wondering what would be a normal elevated Alkaline Phosphatase level due to cortisol increase in stress. Our 13 year old male Chihuahua/Terrier mix has a ALP of 219, MCHC of 32.5, ALT 207 and Creatine Kinase level of 219. She has a history of interverbial disc disease and had surgery 2015 to correct paralysis from that. Took Milk Thistle and rechecked this past week due to an abscess caused by secera an infected tooth and the ALP had shot up to 800 and ALT dropped some to 232. The three most important forms are ALP from the liver (L-ALP), ALP made in the bone (B-ALP), and ALP that is released in response to excess levels of corticosteroids (C-ALP). complete blood count), full chemistry panel (if the ALP elevation was found on a short panel), T4 level, and urinalysis. He has severe allergies so he is on apoquel a d 2 benadryl daily and on Ultamino science diet for almost 2 yrs now. Hi Kat, WebComplete Blood Count (CBC): We analyze your dog's blood to assess features of the blood, including red and white cell count, immunity status, and the measure of hemoglobin, which is the actual substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen; Blood Clotting Times: We test your dog's blood for bleeding disorders Any information would be helpful as I have worn out the internet trying to find any type of answer. Shes been drinking a lot, peeing more, loves to eat, and going on sniffaris. I love reading your blogs and just stumbled across them while looking at your toe grips! Thank you for doing what you do. In dogs, hepatic GGT is located on the hepatocyte canalicular membrane. He has year round allergies, is overweight at 18 pounds, and is on 5.4 apoquel and cytopoint shots every 3 weeks. It feels like significant costs but backward steps. BUN rises with dehydration. Since I havent examined your pup, myself, I cant make specific conclusions. Any thoughts on the 6,000 ALP? Brief u/s showed enlarged but healthy spleen (visible on the right side) , no free fluids or abnormalities. It might be a good idea to talk to your vet about pursuing an abdominal ultrasound. Thank you! She recovered. Any information that you can give me because Im worried . I always recommend some basic bloodwork prior to any of my older doggy patients going under general anesthesia. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. There is really no way to know for sure without a definitive diagnosis. The most detailed one that I have found on the internet so far related to ALP. So he knows what hes talking about when it comes to dog blood tests. Hi Guru, They prescribed SAMeLQ 225 tabs. Hoping you can get the answers you need to make the best choices for you and your sweet girl. Dr. gave us a number of things it could be but just wanted to know if you have any insight as to whether this increased level mean she is dying. Shell explain what your dogs results mean when theyre not within the normal range. A human I know had high levels and found out their levels were due to a systemic yeast, verses a yeast culture. Is your dogs breed predisposed to specific health issues? Hemoglobin 21.2 13.4 20.7 g/dL But if I was a banker, he would still have a grapefuit sized mass in his diaphragm, and on a 60 lb dog, thats like a beachball to my body. He has recently had an increase in appetite, decrease in energy, and sometimes trembles. No one said anything or asked questions about what she eats. WebComplete Blood Count (CBC): We analyze your dog's blood to assess features of the blood, including red and white cell count, immunity status, and the measure of hemoglobin, which is the actual substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen; Blood Clotting Times: We test your dog's blood for bleeding disorders Praying your vet is able to make a diagnosis and get things stabilized quickly. Glucose is increased in dogs and cats with diabetes mellitus. Did you get some answers? LOL. Are you considering making a change to your dogs diet or general care? Huckleberry, 9, m/n, raw-fed pittbull who is 107lbs of perfect love bug. WebGGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase). Shes her usual self. Please make sure you let your vet know you need some more time to discuss your dogs situation and have your questions and concerns addressed. However, if the liver is not functioning well, it is unable to remove the bile acids from the bloodstream and the bile acid levels will be high. Cholestasis can be due to primary liver disease in dogs. I answered her questions in detail before we formulated a plan. If it were cancer, wouldnt there he be exhibiting symptoms? However, conditions that cause ongoing damage to the bones, such as bone cancer (i.e. I think his current diet and supplement regimen sound great. In April 2022 his annual physical was performed. Since she had finished the SAMeLQ 225 tablets, I asked to have the ALP rechecked. It sounds like your vet is suspicious of Cushings disease. Are you a wellness person who uses nutrition and supplements for preventive health? There is always some risk with anesthesia even if blood work is completely normal. Liver And Bile (Hepatobiliary) Disease. Without playing a personal role in your dogs medical care I cant really make specific recommendations. CT w contrast confirmed heterogenous round shape/location, along with some multifocal hypoattenuating cysts within the renal cortices and chronic right-sided coxofemoral joint luxation with pseudoarthrosis formation. Liver Panel Example. Best wishes to you all. The vet said that they see dogs with liver disease with a 2000-3000 count so theyve not seen anything like this in a dog who, other than her ALP, is showing no signs of liver disease. WebA gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) blood test measures the activity of GGT in your blood. Glucose is blood sugar. My little girl is a 10 year old miniature schnauzer weight at 12.5kg. I have to admit I do not have much personal experience with treating this condition and cant give you advice on if the Propafenone is a good idea. My best recommendation is to discuss your concerns with your vet. After studying at Madrid University in Spain, she spent 35 years in international banking before joining Dogs Naturally Magazine in 2010. After weighing the pros and cons, Sarah decided to continue monitoring for now. WebGGT stands for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase or gamma-glutamyl transferase. These levels can give clues to how well the liver is functioning. Shes been on Denamarin for about six months now and her ALP remains high, despite a deep dental clean and more than 5 pounds weight loss, so her doctor is recommending an ultrasound so shell have a better sense of what might be happening so she can recommend next steps. 2) is this a moderate or extreme elevation? I started her on Denamarin. You may be able to request an appointment slot just for a consult. My 10 year old affenpoo had his senior blood work done. We thought it was a behavioral issue related to the baby, so we put off getting her to a vet. Since you mentioned your girl has a large belly, they may want to test her for Cushings disease. Last month we noticed white flakey patches on his spine, and some balding on his tail and randon red patches . Her last Urine SG was concentrated, so the thought of cushings was put aside, but I wonder if thats what she has. Explore the Top 10 Reasons, Dog Overheating? other conditions that cause ongoing damage to the liver) also will cause an elevated ALP level. I reported symptoms of 90-100 breaths/minute 24/7, including at sleep. Praying for a positive outcome for your sweet girl. Young Dog Blood Tests Shortly after your dog reaches adulthood, run a regular chemistry panel. Topical steroids like this spray can cause internal changes, but not to the same degree as oral medications. Any chance theres a dietary or exercise fix? The vet said everything else was normal, but upon looking at the results, I noticed that his ALP is 249. You may be wondering if you can use the degree of ALP elevation to tell you how bad the underlying problem might be. If you need more information or want to better understand what is happening with your girl, I highly recommend you talk with your vet and consider going forward with the ultrasound. Good food also raises BUN. So dogs fed a raw meat diet will often have higher BUN. This is generally very light sedation and can usually be reversed if needed. In the GGT test, a healthcare professional measures the levels of GGT in a sample of blood. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. We all want the very best for our dogs. I have a 12 year old American Bulldog who I adoptee at age 1. Trying to stay hopeful for our sweet boy. There are several good supplements available that help with liver function such as Denamarin. Sometimes we will try a supplement to see if it can correct the issue before moving on to more advanced and costly testing. Does Your Dog Need the Kennel Cough Vaccine? Liver scan on Thursday and antibiotics for ? They didnt do the detailed ALP test to show the 3 levels. Then, your veterinarian may sometimes perform the blood tests with an in-house laboratory machine. If you suspect your dog has a health issue and lab tests confirm it, what are you going to do differently? Hi Jess, WebGGT levels are increased in most conditions that cause elevation in ALP, i.e., cholestasis, glucocorticoid therapy, hyperadrenocorticism. Doctor said she is going to treat her with anipryl. 5 months ago. Dr. Julie Buzby January 6, 2022 92 Comments Share Finding out your senior dogs blood work showed a high ALP can be confusing and concerning. Last week they were 392 and thats after six months of specialty food and taking denamarin. What Does a High ALP in Dogs Mean? And then in a few more months he will have another ultrasound. He is healthy otherwise. Reading these other posts have been helpful. 65 Ways Rabies Vaccination Can Harm Your Dog, Top 3 Reasons To Avoid The Lyme Vaccine For Dogs. Of course, since I havent personally examined your dog, I cant make specific conclusions. WebGGT levels are increased in most conditions that cause elevation in ALP, i.e., cholestasis, glucocorticoid therapy, hyperadrenocorticism. He was only on rimadyl for 2 weeks before the bad liver results, and it was like the denamarin was making him worse which is ridiculous of course (milk thistle cant hurt anyone). osteosarcoma) or infections within the bone (i.e. Yes, these abnormal results could be something else other than Cushings, but this is also the testing I would perform first. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. We adopted our dog about 2.5 years ago when she was about 3 years old from our local humane society. My vet put her on Denamarin Advanced, and will recheck in 8 weeks, unless something changes. My 11 year old yellow lab, Goldie, had blood work that indicates a high ALT level (296) and a high ALKP level (560). The vet suggested starting her on Prednisone 5 mg but after reading about prednisone it looks like it might cause the ALKP to increase more. Shes already on proin for her spay incontinence for past 2 years or so. Any thoughts ? Gamma-glutamyltransferase. As for the elevated liver values, it could be cause for concern, but you wont know for sure until the testing is completed. Hoping this testing will give you some clear answers and allow your vet to decide on a course of treatment. An abdominal ultrasound could be a good idea and definitely wont hurt (other than costing you some money). GGT may leak into your bloodstream if your liver or bile duct is damaged, so having high levels of GGT in your blood may indicate liver disease or damage to We did perform full lab work, which aside from the ALP elevation, was beautifully normal. Hi Katie, Learn more. So, if your dog is not symptomatic, treatment would not be needed even if the testing is positive. I have worked in the human healthcare environment as a hospital and physician practice administrator for 25 years, so Ive learned enough clinical info through osmosis to know when we press forward for answers on humans, and I didnt want our dog to be treated much differently. There are also tests designed to evaluate specific organs or organ systems. I still have no idea what happened. I have a shih tzu 10 years old. Hi! Elevated levels indicate dysfunction, damage, or red blood cell destruction. Wishing you both the best and praying for a clear path forward. Her remaining liver function tests, albumin, bilirubin, glucose levels, creatinine, and CBC were all normal, but Im very worried about her blood work. If thats the case, an ALP blood test should be the perfect way to help decide if your dog has liver disease. I hope you find the answers you need to help restore your sweet girls health and quality of life. I have a Mini Schnauzer 16 lbs who will be 12 next month. Dog Blood Tests For Decision-MakingBefore making decisions about a major non-emergency procedures, Dr Kidd recommends . Vet started a course of adequan injections, but I didnt see any difference after 7 months so we d/c. 2021 Dr. Buzbys ToeGrips. The content is presented solely for informational purposes and may not be relied upon to replace face-to-face medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment by professional pet healthcare providers. June 2016. Is there anything else this might It doesnt sound like you have done anything wrong. I understand your concern for your dog and this abnormal ALP result. Could it be anything else? Hi Damarys, Some benign and completely reversible issues, like taking high doses of steroids, can cause very severe elevations in ALP. If your veterinarian finds nodules, masses, or other liver abnormalities, he or she may recommend a fine needle aspirate as the next diagnostic step. She is a great eater and is still eating and drinking water but her tail is always down and she seems more nervous She whines a lot but that is typical of what she does.. My vet has an ultrasound scheduled for next Wed., 8/24. Hx of EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG DOES GO WRONG as he is an ER and specialty RVTs dog typical. I have a 13yr old female poodle Shitsu mix. They should be able to make the referral. WebComplete Blood Count (CBC): We analyze your dog's blood to assess features of the blood, including red and white cell count, immunity status, and the measure of hemoglobin, which is the actual substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen. He also takes a probiotic daily, dasaquin, and Welactin Fish Oil, and takes Heartgard monthly. And a holistic veterinarian might include things like chiropractic or acupuncture assessments . In the past 3 days she has had a sudden onset of blindness, from seeing to not seeing . The two ways to sample the liver are fine needle aspiration or biopsy. PEMF Therapy for Dogs: 7 FAQs Answered by a PEMF Expert Vet sent referral for ultrasound. Dog Blood Tests For Decision-Making Before making decisions about a major non-emergency procedures, Dr Kidd recommends Chemistry panels ; CBC; Urinalysis; Dog Blood Tests For Specific Organs. I would not be worried about the sedation for the ultrasound. There are many reasons for ALP to become elevated, some are pretty benign issues while others could be life threatening. Dr. Julie Buzby January 6, 2022 92 Comments Share Finding out your senior dogs blood work showed a high ALP can be confusing and concerning. Since I havent examined your dog myself, I cant make specific conclusions or recommendations. Vet wanted to wait and see and I insisted on the ultrasound. I am sure if the SAMe supplement has not helped to reduce the ALP at the next recheck then your vet will move forward with additional testing. Join nearly 100,000 subscribers who love Dogs Naturally to unlock special discounts and premium content. Dont forget you always have the option to consult with a veterinary internal medicine specialist. It was over 1000. Please support the hard working holistic vets who make this information possible. We will come back to this later in the article because it is important. That will be done this weekend. Webgamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in canine kidney, pancreas, and liver is similar to previously reported values for other species. She needs dental work done including cleaning and this was caught on the pre anesthesia blood work. WebGGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase). But I dont see any improvement. Your vet may obtain the sample through an open abdominal surgery or laparoscopic surgery. This is the focus of much of the rest of the article. Not sure where we went wrong. Hi Deb, Meg ate a full Easter egg about 6 weeks ago and had medically induced vomiting! I am sorry your senior girl has had some abnormalities show up on her blood work. Sampsons dog mom, Sarah, was the proactive type and had many questions about ALP. This enzyme increases in post-hepatic biliary obstruction and can reach 5 to 30 times normal. My 11 year old beagle has a ALT of 512, AST of 92 and ALP of 5901. Hi Lee, I will attach links to other articles that may offer additional information. Please be sure to tell them you are suspicious Teddy may be in some pain. Im an ER physician myself and youd think Id be calm and collected with health news but not when it comes to Marlowe. Read more about how diet affects dog blood work , Read a veterinarians guide to what elevated liver enzymes in dogs mean , Read about hypothyroidism in dogs and why its important to do a full thyroid panel , Other test that might be indicated for your breed or individual dog, In-house labs are (for many reasons) notoriously inaccurate, Human diagnostic labs may not have established normal values for animals and they may use techniques that give inaccurate values in animals, Chemistry panels (with appropriate add-ons), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) muscle damage, trauma, or inflammation. Nature Vs The Parvovirus Vaccine: Which Will You Choose? Caesar is one lucky boy to have found you! Our pup has had a few bouts of pancreatitis this past year and sometimes will go 2 days without eating, behavior is definitely changing lately with more naps and less interest of favorite things. Dont worry yourself too much about it, but it might be a good idea to discontinue the spray for now just until you get a diagnosis. All Rights Reserved. Hi Tracey, READ MORE, Dr. Buzbys Blog offers tips on how to give your dog the happiest life possible. You are treating to get the symptoms to resolve. Her ALP was 1139 and her ALT was 220. Hes done fairly well but with fairly consistent red allergic paws the past few years that vets said likely food allergy or seasonal allergies. A month is a reasonable time period to recheck lab work. GGT is an enzyme associated with the membranes of cells from the bile ducts, as well as the membranes of cells from the pancreas and kidneys. Introducing Dr. Buzbys Encore Mobility joint supplement for senior dogs. They can let you know why this number did not cause worry in your dogs specific case or if a supplement should be considered. It could be something simple that can be resolved with a special diet and a supplement. Shed gained some weight with the rest of the household through covid and had gone from her usual 10 pounds to around 19 (she looks like a tiny teddy bear and my boyfriend cant stop himself from giving her treats!) Elevated bile acid levels tell your veterinarian that your dog has a significant problem with his or her liver. Rocky, my 5yr old pure bred Beagle has a high ALP on his blood work. to get a diagnosis. She is a seven-year-old Cairn Terrier. WebGamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a blood test that measures the level of the enzyme GGT to screen for diseases of the liver or bile ducts. His teeth werent great in September but he now has severe dental disease, which could explain the spike from 322 to 800. Is there something Im missing? She is not feeling that good and she, vomited yellow bile two nights in a row last week. Many medical conditions that are unrelated to the liver itself can also cause a high ALP. Liver And Bile (Hepatobiliary) Disease. He is my $40,000 dog. Apart from his sore tooth, Sampson was his normal squirrel-chasing self. The content on this website is not meant to replace veterinary advice. and Platelet count of 500,000. Together, you can tackle whatever the future brings and keep making memories in the process. Here is a link to an article with more information about Cushings disease: Cushings Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications I have definitely seen levels this high (and higher) resolve with little to no intervention. If youre at the emergency vet, expect higher prices. Thanks for any insight. There are also tests designed to evaluate specific organs or organ systems. But first, lets look at some questions to consider before getting a blood test for your dog. The only way to find the best treatment is to first get a diagnosis. Contact Us! Ultimately, I hope you and your vet can work together to maintain your sweet boys health and wellbeing. I have a 9.5yo (approx) Corgi/German Shep mix (my service dog) who on a recent exam showed an ALP of 190. WebIt is a marker of intrahepatic (eg, feline hepatic lipidosis) or extrahepatic (eg, bile duct obstruction) cholestasis. Its a common enzyme found in many of your bodys tissues and organs, including your liver. I think the odds of this being anomalous finding are very low. I am for the last week feeding her a Liver Care diet. I hope you can get some answers and find a clear path forward with treatment. Hi Amy, What Will You Do With The Results? No limping or whimpering or even licking a foot. I hope all goes well with my guy are there any other things I should be doing or questions I should ask the doc? Glucose is blood sugar. My vet examined her after the first episode, When it happened again she suggested doing lab work, CBC and CM. The vet that I took him too said the high ALP could be related to muscle pain or teeth tartar. Wishing you both the best! Try not to get too worried at this point as it could turn out to be nothing at all. WebYour Pets Gamma Glutamyl Transferase Levels aka = GGT, GGTP, GT, GGT. He was drinking LOADS of water and had a voracious appetite(always been very food motivated tho). Hes currently taking Proteliv drops and Vit B in liquid form. High levels of GGT can indicate damage to the liver or bile ducts. Hi Dr. Buzby, thank you for sharing this story. Im to take her back in 3 months. It allows the vet to submit an actual chunk of liver tissue for evaluation. Therefore, based on the chemistry panel alone, it is not possible to determine which form is contributing most to an elevated ALP. Please know that the testing can be pursued at any point. [more]. My 9 and 1/2 year old rescue mix received high ALP scores about six months ago. I hope these suggestions will be a good starting point and will help guide the conversation a bit. WebComplete Blood Count (CBC) This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. To name a few, the liver is responsible for: The liver is also responsible for making bile, which flows through ducts in the liver to the gallbladder. To perform a liver biopsy, the vet will remove a small piece of the liver and submit it to a veterinary pathologist. Dog is eating and drinking, good spirits, hasnt had a bowel movement yet. We put him on a liver supplement for 30 days and the ALP level was higher than his previous test. Hi good evening . Shes also had high ALT levels for a while. Thank you. Hi Laura, Best wishes! That was how we found that Sampsons ALP, while normal on his last yearly bloodwork, was now moderately high. It is never wrong to voice your opinion and ask questions until you are comfortable with how things are proceeding. In the GGT test, a healthcare professional measures the levels of GGT in a sample of blood. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. I understand your concern for your Beagle and these elevated liver enzymes. I hope you see positive results at Rockys next recheck. In cases where the ALP elevation is severe, your dog is feeling poorly, or your dog has other liver enzyme elevations, then your veterinarian may recommend additional liver function testing. Hi Laura, Thyroid levels can cause changes in almost every system of the body. Btw he had blood work three weeks back and levels were half of the latest results I shared w you Its now higher. Have you found out anything additional? I hope you can get the answers you need to feel comfortable with Teddys treatment plan. However given his overall good health, In leaving towards Denamarin and retesting his liver enzymes. Glucose is the end product of carbohydrate metabolism and is the primary source of energy for the body. High levels of GGT are a sign of liver damage. I think your vet is on the right track and an abdominal ultrasound would be the best next step in making a diagnosis. There really isnt a right or wrong answer at this point. He is acting his normal self , not eating or drinking anymore than his normal piggy self , playing, going for daily walks , skin / fur good . They may decide to do additional blood testing like checking bile acids, screening for tick borne diseases, or ruling out other issues like leptospirosis. If you dont planto make any changes based on the results, then theres no reason to test. Given that she has always had a hearty appetite, always compensated for heat by elevated water consumption and that her urine came back dilute, is it possible that this is an anomolous finding? If the liver is working well, these bile acids are pulled back out of the bloodstream to be recycled and used again. Cushings? I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choices for you and your sweet girl. Your dog must have fasted for 12 hours prior to the first blood draw. This will help identify your dogs health trends and catch any changes. Increased ALP activity is common in young dogs who are growing rapidly because normal bone growth releases B-ALP. Hi Dr. Buzby. Text: (843) 781-6430. If the testing doesnt provide the answers needed, you can always schedule a consult with a veterinary internal medicine specialist. Is that true? Glucose is blood sugar. My best recommendation would be to schedule a consult with an internal medicine specialist. Sampson recovered uneventfully and is back to enjoying his crunchy dog biscuits and even the occasional stick (although sticks are not on my list of safe chew toys for dogs).
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