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  1. #1
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    High liver enzymes

    Hi. I haven't posted in quite sometime, so hope I'm in the right place.
    Our dog Sadie is almost 13 years old and just diagnosed with inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). At her annual check-up, in February, her liver enzymes were elevated and were elevated last year too, but her vet wasn't overly concerned as they weren't that high and is sometimes common in older dogs. But because this is two years in a row she wanted to look further. Sadie had an ultra-sound done showing no cancer. The cause was then thought to be an infection. She was put on antibiotics for 2 weeks, levels dropped, so she was put on them again for 4 weeks. Blood tests showed they were back up. Not as high as first time, but up. Biopsy was done which definitely ruled out cancer, but thought might be a copper storage issue. Test results show copper levels within normal limits so now the diagnosis of hepatitis. They've put her on Atopica for a couple months and will then check to see if this med is working.

    I was wondering if anyone else's dog has had this issue and what route of treatment did you take? Results? I'm just reading up on this and have come across a couple articles that mention the use of milk thistle. Anyone heard of this and/or used it?

    Thanks for any and all comments.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Someone not long ago asked about elevated liver values and got several responses. I haven't had a dog with liver issues but here's that post.

    High liver levels?

    In this thread, the vet who sometimes responds on the board weighed in on elevated liver enzymes:

    Liver Enzymes

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Someone not long ago asked about elevated liver values and got several responses. I haven't had a dog with liver issues but here's that post.

    High liver levels?

    In this thread, the vet who sometimes responds on the board weighed in on elevated liver enzymes:

    Liver Enzymes
    Smartrock...... I'll take a look at these previous thread. Thanks very much.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Only incident of elevated liver values experienced here was in Potion who had a reaction to Rimadyl. Vet had her on Hepagen C (milk thistle) and wild salmon oil. While they are not a cure, they do support liver function. It took three months for her values to come back to normal range but when they started to drop to normal, it happened in a hurry.

    Sending good thoughts and mojo.
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    dlturnbull (09-03-2017)

  6. #5
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    https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/g...ighlight=Danny

    As with Sadie, Dan's levels had been going up and this year was the first mention of consistent increase. Dan's only elevation was the ALT.

    Danny is still taking his Denamarin/LiverAid. I also stopped using doggy toothpaste with sorbitol in it. Thinking positive for his recheck.

    Good luck with Sadie.

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    dlturnbull (09-03-2017)

  8. #6
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    Thanks, Sundance for your reply and including all the additional threads. You said your Danny was taking Denamarin. Our vet has put Sadie on Atopica. Do you know anything about that drug? I'm going to resource the Denamarin and see how it compares and maybe talk to our vet about it. It sounds like others have found success with it.

  9. #7
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    Our 13 yr old Molly has been experiencing ALT levels that have been slowly on the rise for 3 yrs now. The first year, the vet noticed that her ALT was slightly higher than normal, but not high enough to be concerned, as it could be temporary, & due to many different things, including simply an aging liver. I pretty much forgot about it, as the vet didn't seem concerned. The next year when she was rechecked, the ALT was higher still, so the vet said that the fact that it was still going up means there is something going on, even though it may still be simply an aging liver, so she put her on Denamarin ( Sam-E & Milkthistle). This year when Molly was checked again, the ALT level was down some, although not back down to normal. She takes 3 a day & they are fairly expensive. She also has arthritis, & cannot be given Rimadyl because of the liver condition, so the vet has put her on the new mediation, Galliprant, which has been helping Molly a lot. It's so hard when our babies get old......I hope your precious Sadie will be fine for a long time yet! Please keep us posted on how she is doing......

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    dlturnbull (09-04-2017)

  11. #8
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    Thanks, Mollysmomma. I've noticed others, as well as you, have mentioned Denamarin. I'm thinking of calling our vet and ask her about this medication. She's put Sadie on Atopica. So I'd be curious what she knows/thinks about Denamarin. Have you heard of milk thistle or used it with your Molly? I've read that it has good results. Luckily, Sadie acts and seems fine. She has no symptoms that are typical of liver disease/hepatitis.

  12. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by dlturnbull View Post
    Thanks, Sundance for your reply and including all the additional threads. You said your Danny was taking Denamarin. Our vet has put Sadie on Atopica. Do you know anything about that drug? I'm going to resource the Denamarin and see how it compares and maybe talk to our vet about it. It sounds like others have found success with it.
    Silybin (in Denamarin) is made from milk thistle...a super milk thistle extract that supposedly enhances absorption. I'm not familiar with Atopica but I thought that was for allergies/itching.

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    Mollysmomma (10-20-2017)

  14. #10
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SunDance View Post
    I'm not familiar with Atopica but I thought that was for allergies/itching.
    Atopica is cyclosporine, which is also used as an anti-rejection medication for organ transplant and has anti-inflammatory properties. She said her vet said her pup has inflammation of the liver so I'm thinking that's what it's being tried for.

    Canine Chronic Hepatitis – Inflammatory Liver Disease in Dogs

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    SunDance (09-04-2017)

 



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