Thank you again. I am confident your vet will try their best to keep your sweet boy happy and healthy. GGT can help confirm or rule out liver problems, as well as other diseases. High levels of GGT are a sign of liver damage. When an occasional limp would present, our vet would just do a 1-2 week course of rimadyl (wonder drug for Caesar) and limit his walks to bathroom and back so to rest the affected joint. There are many diseases and issues that can cause an elevation in liver enzymes. Higher doses of steroids, such as those used for immunosuppression in cases of IMHA in dogs or other immune-mediated conditions, tend to cause higher ALP elevations. He has had three seizures in the last 5 weeks unfortunately also . You have to start somewhere, and this is the most logical testing to begin with. The liver is an amazing organ that has, by many estimates, over 500 critical jobs in the body. The most detailed one that I have found on the internet so far related to ALP. He was drinking LOADS of water and had a voracious appetite(always been very food motivated tho). Praying for a positive outcome. WebIt is a marker of intrahepatic (eg, feline hepatic lipidosis) or extrahepatic (eg, bile duct obstruction) cholestasis. I thought maybe old age but lets get him checked out. Fortunately, it sounds like your vet is staying on top of things and has a plan to follow up with ultrasound. If at any point you want to proceed with more diagnostics instead of waiting for the recheck, dont hesitate to let your vet know. When your veterinarian performs general wellness blood work on your dog, either as part of a yearly exam or as part of a pre-anesthetic check-up, chances are the blood work will include a chemistry panel. Chloride 107 108 119 mmol/L My 11 year old mini schnauzer has the same situation going on and Im at a loss as to what to do for him next! What Does a High ALP in Dogs Mean? I hope you can find the answers you are looking for. the Tru-cut biopsy technique) which is significantly bigger than the needle for a fine needle aspirate. Thx. Any suggestions on ramping up the anti inflammatories through diet? Elevated levels indicate dysfunction, damage, or red blood cell destruction. If your dog has an elevated ALP level, ensure you tell your veterinarian about all the medications your dog is taking or has recently taken. Vet performed a full body set of xrays in March 2022 and his arthritis had progressed. My 9 and 1/2 year old rescue mix received high ALP scores about six months ago. I understand your concern with these elevated liver enzymes in your pup. There is really no way to know for sure how long it may take the liver to respond to the supplement or if it will respond. This typically includes a CBC (i.e. I am hopeful you will find the answers needed to find the best course of treatment for your sweet girl. I havent had any other tests done on him but I am wondering if it has to do with Cushings Disease because he has a pot bellied appearance. I am happy to report that the procedure went great. 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. My best recommendation would be to schedule a consult with an internal medicine specialist. And if the tests show any abnormalities at this young age, theres a better chance of stopping them from becoming worse. The goal is to find a vet with whom you are comfortable partnering to address your dogs health issues and wellbeing. Any information would be helpful as I have worn out the internet trying to find any type of answer. Make sure your veterinarian compares these results to your dogs young adult values. 2. I would not be worried about the sedation for the ultrasound. I am hopeful you will find the answers you need to make sure your sweet boy is well taken care of. Since I havent examined your dog myself, I cant make specific conclusions or recommendations. I was able to cross reference all these other levels (ALT, GGT, and total bilirubin.and glucose, cholesterol, albumin, and BUN) to the blood work we have done. On the vets advice we changed her diet to a hepatic diet and Samilyn supplement. Is there something Im missing? Is your dogs breed predisposed to specific health issues? My little girl is a 10 year old miniature schnauzer weight at 12.5kg. Praying for a positive outcome. Glucose can temporarily increase in the blood if the dog or cat is excited by having a blood sample drawn. My dog is also overweight, is that something that can elevate his ALP? Dr. Julie Buzby January 6, 2022 94 Comments. I researched the DogMX spray you mentioned and found that one of the active ingredients is a steroid. Two of the most common are: This is a common medication vets use to treat dog seizures that can benignly increase L-ALP levels. I have definitely seen levels this high (and higher) resolve with little to no intervention. A veterinary cardiologist or internal medicine specialist would be a wonderful resource for this situation. ALT, or alanine transferase, is what is known as a hepatocellular liver enzyme. I hope the testing will give you a definitive answer so treatment can be started right away. Structural problems that block the flow of bile out of the liver, into the gallbladder, or from the gallbladder into the intestinal tract, can also cause a high ALP in dogs. I understand how frustrating it can be to see your dog decline and not know how to help. My worry is is receiving a positive cushings disease when something else may be ongoing. inflammation of the stomach and intestines from various causes). This will help identify your dogs health trends and catch any changes. As we stick to yeast free, they said it could be a protein allergy or seasonal allergies now too. 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!) She was fine one day, throwing up the next, rushed her to the vet thinking pancreatitis, because shed had it before, they kept her overnight, and called the next day for me to come in. UTI. This was cancelled as routine bloods showed ALP 521 and ALT at 180. What I find interesting is that is has gone up over the years. They should be able to make the referral. Text: (843) 781-6430. My 9 year old Maltese had senior panels done and almost all levels were normal with the exception of the ALP and cholesterol. 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. I have a shih tzu 10 years old. Our 9 year old Sheltie had an elevated ALP level in September of 322 and ALT of 295. I noticed weight loss, loss of appetite and changes in stool. [more]. complete blood count), full chemistry panel (if the ALP elevation was found on a short panel), T4 level, and urinalysis. I will read up on that. 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. My 9 year old Boston Terrier was shedding a whole bunch more than Id ever noticed. Julia Henriques is Managing Editor of Dogs Naturally Magazine. Hi Lee, Do you need to do all the tests your vet recommends? He drinks a lot of water. This test is a great tool to useas a part of the dogs permanent record. Hi Gemma, This enzyme can often help veterinarians rule out other potential causes of elevated liver enzymes, because if the GGT is not elevated along with the other enzymes, liver disease may not be the issue. I have a 9.5yo (approx) Corgi/German Shep mix (my service dog) who on a recent exam showed an ALP of 190. If liver enzymes are found to be slightly elevated on one set of lab work, that doesnt always mean there are ongoing liver issues. I agree it is SO HARD to be subjective with your own dog! 2) diet recommendations for our dog with HCC and arthritis; Scottish Terriers can also have a similar condition. 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. Is there something youre afraid might happen to your dog that a bloodtest can reassure you about or confirm for you? Im panicking a lot since we dont know the worst/best case scenario but this 2577 with 131 as a normal range seems really bad . Many times test results dont provide a black and white answer. Latanaprost, NeoPolyDex, and Dorzolimide. If this is the case, your dog may need more testing to get a definitive diagnosis and decide if the problem is caused by the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands. Shes a very happy and healthy girl and Im so hoping theres a benign answer for all of this. Hi Ashley, Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Glucose can temporarily increase in the blood if the dog or cat is excited by having a blood sample drawn. Obviously I do not know if this is true in your case but gall stones are likely to change the other tests as well while pancreatic cancer is much less common! A liver biopsy is the most definitive way to determine the underlying cause of liver enzyme elevations. A month is a reasonable time period to recheck lab work. I think the ultrasound results will help to narrow things down and then other lab work or diagnostics can be recommended based on the new information obtained. You are treating to get the symptoms to resolve. It has been incredibly hot and humid and she has been drinking considerable amounts of water; however that fluctuates depending on the heat and this in and of itself it not unusual for her. Bless you both. I understand your concern with these elevated liver enzymes in your senior pup. Your vet may obtain the sample through an open abdominal surgery or laparoscopic surgery. I am glad you were able to catch this abnormality on routine lab work. Best wishes! She lives in Chicago with her partner Marc and rescue Samoyeds Tarka and Otis. 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. Wishing you both the best. He had bloodwork done and his cardio lab work was all normal. WebGGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase). Took him in yesterday and repeat blood work shows ALP 8000. And there seemed to be no tumor on adrenals so can it be a pituitary tumor causing the problem I am wondering? If you have lingering concerns and want to go ahead and pursue further testing, I highly recommend you discuss this with your vet. Glucose is blood sugar. They are normal except for most recently higher amounts for Lymphocytes (5,256) and Cholesterol (375). Hi Nathan, I neglected to add one detail she has ALWAYS had a penchant for eating poop from the cats litter box (nasty, I know). Glucose can temporarily increase in the blood if the dog or cat is excited by having a blood sample drawn. We thought it was a behavioral issue related to the baby, so we put off getting her to a vet. If at any point you feel the need to reach out to a specialist (internal medicine) just ask your vet. The only way to find the best treatment is to first get a diagnosis. I hope you find the answers you need to help restore your sweet girls health and quality of life. DNM RECOMMENDS: Maintain your dogs overall health with Four Leaf Rovers Protect, a daily soil-based probiotic that supports the immune system and helps remove toxins. If you dont planto make any changes based on the results, then theres no reason to test. Feel free to keep us updated on how things progress! Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. This test is essential for pets with fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. It sounds like your vet is on the right track and this is the first thing that needs to be ruled out. Clinical Biochemistry. Praying your vet is able to make a diagnosis and get things stabilized quickly. WebComplete Blood Count (CBC) This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. I wish I had some super helpful advice but at least youll know you arent alone and Im keeping you in my thoughts. Dental disease by itself can cause increased liver values which may return to normal after a thorough dental cleaning has been performed. Doctors might order it if a child has signs of a possible problem with the liver or bile ducts, such as jaundice (yellowish skin or eyes), dark pee, light-colored poop, nausea, vomiting, or belly pain. If you suspect your dog has a health issue and lab tests confirm it, what are you going to do differently? We welcome your comments and questions about senior dog care. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. His ALP was 1400. Hi, I hope you can get the answers you need to feel comfortable with Teddys treatment plan. My dogs ALP level was 64 in October and as of last week was 223. Cushings? I think your vet is on the right track and an abdominal ultrasound would be the best next step in making a diagnosis. Veterinarian Randy Kidd DVM PhD holds a PhD in Clinical Pathology. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. WebGGT levels are increased in most conditions that cause elevation in ALP, i.e., cholestasis, glucocorticoid therapy, hyperadrenocorticism. I am glad your vet has scheduled an ultrasound and would be very curious to find out the results. I understand your concern for Teddy and the health issues he is facing. In the past 3 days she has had a sudden onset of blindness, from seeing to not seeing . I understand your concern about this elevated ALP in Marlowe. I highly recommend you have your dog evaluated by a vet as soon as possible, even if that means taking her to an emergency hospital. It also includes values that can offer clues about the function of the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. After all, you know your dog better than anyone, and youre the one wholl notice changes that suggest your dog isnt feeling his best. My almost 12 year old Lab, Carley, two months had an episode where her gait was affected. WebThis test measures the level of GGT in the bloodstream. Did you vet mention what they are trying to achieve with the steroids? I hope you see positive results at Rockys next recheck. As a result, he needed a dental procedure under anesthesia to remove the damaged tooth and clean the rest of his teeth. The tramadol helps him a LOT (not super common ya) and has even reduced the drinkingwhich our doc said can be from stress and a sort of self-soothing thing. I hope the Denamarin will be the solution to your senior girls problem. She was put on Samilyn, a liver supplement, for a month and then had another blood test to check ALP and test for Cushings; test came back negative but her count had raised to 2812. Just know you may spend the money and time and end up exactly where you are right now. These high C-ALP levels can either be due to the body producing increased amounts of steroids, as with Cushings Disease in dogs, or they can be from oral or topical steroid-containing medications. The way things looked last night I felt like she might need to be euthanized. The vet recommends a Cushings test. Shes been on Denamarin for about a month since the tests were done. They are now recommending a CT scan. Im a sensible dog mum but she is my world! This allowed your vet to catch this early and intervene on your little guys behalf. 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. Sometimes we will try a supplement to see if it can correct the issue before moving on to more advanced and costly testing. We rechecked lab work a month after his procedure and the ALP elevation was still there. osteosarcoma) or infections within the bone (i.e. Pre-anesthetic lab work helps ensure a dog isnt at an increased risk for complications with anesthesia or the specific procedure. He also takes a probiotic daily, dasaquin, and Welactin Fish Oil, and takes Heartgard monthly. Reading these other posts have been helpful. To perform an aspirate, your veterinarian will use an ultrasound probe to guide a small needle into the area of concern in the liver. Best wishes! polyuria/polydipsia for 1 month. Her ALT was 378 and her ALKP was 1429! The drawback of aspirates is that they do not always yield a diagnosis. 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. Bladder was fine. Alternatively, he or she can send your dogs blood to an outside veterinary diagnostic lab. This enzyme can often help veterinarians rule out other potential causes of elevated liver enzymes, because if the GGT is not elevated along with the other enzymes, liver disease may not be the issue. Since I havent personally examined your dog, it is hard to make specific conclusions about when to worry with the lack of eating. I think the odds of this being anomalous finding are very low. What Are Your Concerns? Getting early warning of a developing problem could be helpful in managing treatment. Hi Courtney, Some blood work revealed an elevated ALP first 403 in March and now 560 in July. Hi Corey, Any thoughts would be appreciated. grunting. The high APL came out of nowhere. If you dont see the improvements you are hoping for, I think the ultrasound investigation sounds like a very good next step. Apart from his sore tooth, Sampson was his normal squirrel-chasing self. Can the bloating and thirst be the very start of Cushings? But even if it does indicate a more serious problem, remember that your dog has a great ally in you and your veterinarian. We will come back to this later in the article because it is important. What Will You Do With The Results? But do you want a definitive diagnosis or are you willing to live with a bit of ambiguity? Have you found out anything additional? I am sorry Carley is having issues with elevated liver enzymes. I have a hunch that this is just going to be a blip on the radar for good old Sampson, and that the local squirrels wont be able to rest anytime soon. At the same time we had a baby, we noticed our dog was drinking more water, peeing more, and her legs would shake at random times. My primary vet offered referral to the vet general surgeon which I was thinking about. Hi Lovemydog, Don't Miss Our Latest Training Videos And Health Guides. Her adrenals looked ok too. Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Shipping Terms Doc prescribed Denamarin 2 tablets daily. Hepatocellular carcinoma (i.e. Her remaining liver function tests, albumin, bilirubin, glucose levels, creatinine, and CBC were all normal, but Im very worried about her blood work. RELATED: Read a veterinarians guide to what elevated liver enzymes in dogs mean , RELATED: Read about hypothyroidism in dogs and why its important to do a full thyroid panel . Only BW that wasnt WNL were: Explore the Top 10 Reasons, Dog Overheating? While stress can raise cortisol levels in the body, I have never seen it cause the ALP to increase outside the normal reference range. be? WebA gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test measures the amount of GGT in the blood. I have been in contact with my vet last night and today. Since you mentioned reading up on Cushings, I will attach links to other articles with more information. After weighing the pros and cons, Sarah decided to continue monitoring for now. Earlier we touched on the fact that the liver makes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), but other places in the body make it too. a baby. is always hungry and eats anything she can find on the ground. 5mg . Thank you! NEED HELP? Gamma-glutamyltransferase or GGT is an enzyme with far too many names. I am sorry Cocos ALP is still elevated despite the SAMe supplement you have been giving. Hi, A CBC gives information on hydration status, anaemia, infection, the bloods clotting ability, and the ability of the immune system to respond. He was energetic and had a great appetite. Surely her diet would be a good starting point in helping reduce her ALP? It is never wrong to voice your opinion and ask questions until you are comfortable with how things are proceeding. I was told to wait a year and see if had changed. Help your senior dog enjoy more good days. Praying your sweet boy can turn this around and live a long happy life. It is not a bad idea to pursue further testing. Gut health is very important, but I am concerned something else is causing your dogs elevated enzyme levels. That said, she has virtually zero prey drive and I would think if her appetite were insatiable especially with a cat in the house as well that would be an issue. Bile acids are made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the intestines to help digest fat after you, or your dog, eats a meal. I am sorry Phoenix is dealing with elevated liver enzymes and doesnt seem to be able to tolerate the Denamarin. Shes almost six, is a mixed breed, and has lots of energy. While there are some toxins and diseases that can affect the liver and cause an increase to the ALP, some dogs just get it, and we dont know why. Praying for good news and that treatment can be started quickly. I am amazed that she hasnt had any other issues with them in the past 11 years! Bur her ALKP level has increased from 346 a year ago to 560 now. They may recommend abdominal ultrasound, more lab work, or even a consult with a specialist to try and make a diagnosis. And just because the ALP is high doesnt tell you if the underlying cause is life threatening or rather benign. WebGGT (Gamma glutamyl transferase) GGT is an enzyme that is often considered one of the most sensitive indicators of liver or bile disease. They prescribed SAMeLQ 225 tabs. 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. WebA gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test measures the amount of GGT in the blood. Even these topical steroids can lead to ALP elevations during or after treatment. If you had any thoughts about what your next steps would be if she was yours, Id be super grateful. If things do not improve as hoped, the next step will probably be x-rays or ultrasound. Is there anything else this might Are you considering making a change to your dogs diet or general care? If elevated ALP activity is noted with a concurrent increase in serum GGT activity, specificity for liver disease increases to 94%.8. In the GGT test, a healthcare professional measures the levels of GGT in a sample of blood. restless and trouble sleeping. Then your vet will submit the slide to a veterinary pathologist for review. Within the liver, ALP is found along the outer layer of the liver cells. The nitrogen in the protein sources elevates the blood chemistry. Its a common enzyme found in many of your bodys tissues and organs, including your liver. Hi Kimberly, How will Denamarin help? Unfortunately, it is not quite that simple. She has degenerative heart valve syndrome, a grade 3 heart murmur and has been on vetmedin 1.25mg for the last 6 months for that. One like a SMAC-20 will provide 20 different blood chemistries. Although it may raise the question in some dog parents minds of Is my dog too old for anesthesia, a biopsy can be a very useful tool. Her ALT was slightly elevated. To perform a liver biopsy, the vet will remove a small piece of the liver and submit it to a veterinary pathologist. GGT can't diagnose the cause of liver damage, so it's usually done with other liver tests. Reading This Could Save Your Dog's Life. Changes on ultrasound can make the radiologist suspect this condition. My dogs ALP went from 64 in October to 223 last week. After reading your article I wonder if the next best step is an abdominal ultrasound? And now has a rash on her abdomen as well. Btw he had blood work three weeks back and levels were half of the latest results I shared w you For example, if your dogs BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) results are high, that might be a sign of kidney disease or it might just mean your dog was dehydrated when the test was done. In dogs, it has a higher specificity (87%) and lower sensitivity (50%) for hepatobiliary disease compared with ALP.7In general, GGT is a more sensitive marker of feline hepatobiliary disease than ALP.

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