High ALT Liver Test -

[staceypal]

I need advice.

I have a year and a half yellow lab.   Last year, when we had his bloodwork done, we noticed that his liver ALT levels were high.  (close to 500)   The vet at that time put him on clayamox for a few weeks and re-tested.  His levels only decreased slighty.   Out of concern, we had a ultrasound done.  Ultrasound results came back absoutley normal.   The vet pretty much said, lets play the "wait and see game"  

Since then, we have switched vets.   We recently had bloodwork done and again my dog's ALT liver levels are still high. (Everything else is normal in his bloodwork!)  My dog acts fine. He's very active, not lethargic at all, eats & drinks well, hasn't been throwing up, no jaundice or anything like that.   The vet now recommended to do a liver bx .   She says, the wait and see game could only lead to more serious things.  If we wait, years to come, if something came up, it may be too late to correct the probelm.  

I've done some research.   Most liver diseases the dog shows signs and symptoms.   I would think
if things were really serious with my dog, he'd be pretty sick. What do you think?

I am doing a liver bx in a few weeks.  

Any ideas on what this may be?  

[Lupatrian]

And ultrasound showed nothing

[SSS2808]

Milk thistle

[Lupatrian]

PS vet has her on Denamarin in the meantime.

[Lupatrian]

I recently had full bloodwork done for all of my dogs. My lab - who has in-remission autoimmune issues - has tested high twice for alb:glob @1.3, and alt @249. I had been giving her MultiGuard Plus for years - which contains Ivermectin. My Q is, I am stopping that now - based on your post (THANK YOU); how long would it take for enzymes to reduce if that is the culprit? Switching to Interceptor as you recommend. OR 2nd Q: how dangerous is it really to not give heartworm prevention to dogs? Because of the autoimmune, she gets mininal vacines - is heartworm medication likely to trigger an eposide? And hell, it seems to me that NONE would be a whole lot healthier than giving them something you can legally buy, but turns out to be POISON. Good GOD. Thank you. -deb

[cheriewood]

I am so sorry about your little dog mine as well has a high liver count and also did a bile count which was high. I understand deliver can rejuvenate itself I can't afford to have a ultrasound so I have to go with my gut and tell myself to do with the doctor said which was Royal canine for liver disease dogs I give my dog you know quarter of a can at a time when she will eat fresh water from a bottle and lactose for her gut an antibiotic she also get say Sam e for dogs with liver problems I hope I am doing enough,she's all I have left.

[MurphRose]

My vet in NC recommended Denamarin for pets - it works a lot like milk thistle - and little Rosie's ALT has come down in the past year from 848,000 last June to 149,000  on  2-6-16 (high normal is listed at 100,000) - I did a lot of research on this and found a lot of books with diets - I found a good book by Cyndi Smasal called Hope for Healing Liver Disease in Your Dog. I hope things worked out well for you as I a lot of time has passed since your post. Hopefully it will also help someone else doing research for their dog.

[Sophiesmom12]

I too went thru the dehydrated chicken strips from China . My dog had bleeding colitis and had anti biotic therapy for two days, she is doing well, but now has an elevated enzyme in liver, we are looking at possible cause heart worm pill now? It's scary when you don,t know what is causing it?