Liver

[children11]

My dog Maggie is about 12 years old. 2 months ago she had complete blood work and xrays (she has this done every 6 months because of her age and because she had a tumor on her spleen about 6 years ago). Everything came back great.

Yesterday she wouldn't eat and just not acting herself. I took her to the vet. All her blood work came back good except her liver ALT was very high (over 1000). All her other liver test and other tests came back normal.

They did an ultrasound. All her organs looked good except her liver. Her vet said he didn't see any tumors and he thinks she might have cirrhosis.

Her vet gave me S-Adenosyl to give her 225mg once a day.

We are taking her in today for a biopsy.

1. If it was cancer, wouldn't the other liver functions and other tests be off?

2. Since her bloodwork 2 months ago was good, is it possible we caught this in time?

3. What does S-Adenosyl do for the liver?

4. What can you tell me about cirrhosis? Is it manageable?

5. Because all her other tesst came back good, is there hope?

Sorry for all the questions but she is our baby and I'm freaking out.

Bernice

 

[halblingefrau]

I'm sorry, I can't answer your questions but I can tell you I went through something similar with Angel a year ago. She hadn't eaten her dinner in two days which is highly unusual, and one night she wouldn't stop shivering. I took her to the emergency vet and she had a really bad UTI, very high fever, and ALT levels around 1200.

We put her on antibiotics for her UTI, and Denamarin and a liver support prescription diet. Re-tested her in 4 weeks and her ALT was up to 2500! I freaked out. We kept her on Denamarin, but took her off the prescription food because she hated it and it obviously wouldn't help.

She had two ultrasounds that showed healthy liver and other organs. We had a biopsy done and it showed liver cells "leaking" but not dead... so a liver that had been injured but wasn't "sick" if that makes sense.

I had just changed the girls' food about a month prior to the Kirkland brand lamb formula. I had Lucy tested and her ALT levels were elevated, but not as bad as Angel's. My mom's dog had visited and also had elevated ALT but not as high as Lucy's (he had eaten my kibble twice).

I took the girls off the kibble IMMEDIATELY and switched them to Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural. I was beside myself for another 4 weeks, and when Angel's ALT levels were tested again they were NORMAL. I am planning on having her bloodwork done again next month, but it appears all is well based on her eating habigs and other behavior.

My vet never ever mentioned cirrhosis. He thought it was a toxin, since ultrasounds and biopsy didn't show any signs of cancer.

I hope this helps. I know what you are going through. *hugs*

 

[children11]

I'm sorry, I can't answer your questions but I can tell you I went through something similar with Angel a year ago. She hadn't eaten her dinner in two days which is highly unusual, and one night she wouldn't stop shivering. I took her to the emergency vet and she had a really bad UTI, very high fever, and ALT levels around 1200.

We put her on antibiotics for her UTI, and Denamarin and a liver support prescription diet. Re-tested her in 4 weeks and her ALT was up to 2500! I freaked out. We kept her on Denamarin, but took her off the prescription food because she hated it and it obviously wouldn't help.

She had two ultrasounds that showed healthy liver and other organs. We had a biopsy done and it showed liver cells "leaking" but not dead... so a liver that had been injured but wasn't "sick" if that makes sense.

I had just changed the girls' food about a month prior to the Kirkland brand lamb formula. I had Lucy tested and her ALT levels were elevated, but not as bad as Angel's. My mom's dog had visited and also had elevated ALT but not as high as Lucy's (he had eaten my kibble twice).

I took the girls off the kibble IMMEDIATELY and switched them to Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural. I was beside myself for another 4 weeks, and when Angel's ALT levels were tested again they were NORMAL. I am planning on having her bloodwork done again next month, but it appears all is well based on her eating habigs and other behavior.

My vet never ever mentioned cirrhosis. He thought it was a toxin, since ultrasounds and biopsy didn't show any signs of cancer.

I hope this helps. I know what you are going through. *hugs*

We had a biopsy done yesterday. He said she has a mass on her liver. I can't stop crying. The biopsy didn't come back yet but I read the report from the vet who did the biopsy. He stated depending on the biopsy the mass can be removed (if it's a slow growing cancer) buit she has a heart murmur and I don't know if she would make it through surgery. She is a strong dog. Been through 2 emergency surgeries (a tumor on the spleen and bloat).

She's my baby and I really don't know how to go on without her.

The tech at the vet's office said to spend time with her and give her lots of attention.

I was thinking to myself "yeah what if it was your human child? Would you feel the same if someone said that to you?" My animals are my kids and I don't want someone telling me to spend as much time with them. Screw her!!

 

[halblingefrau]

I understand. My dogs are like kids as well. The vet tech's advice was probably meant to help you deal with the waiting until the official results of the biopsy come back. Because, until you have a definitive diagnosis and plan, all you really can do is love on your baby and wait. Once you have the biopsy results, you'll be in a better position to know your options for treatments and make the best choice for your girl.

And if the mass is operable and your girl pulls through just fine, you should still give her lots of love an attention because they all deserve it.