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Constant bloat/Liver disease diagnosis

Published on: September 04, 2021 • By: shinadekeeley · In Forum: Dogs
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shinadekeeley
Participant
September 04, 2021 at 08:47am
Hello, me again :/ My pup( 1.3 male Bull Arab X) has been diagnosed with liver disease and a heart murmur. Managing it by giving him R/C hepatic biccies and some pro/prebiotic/binding powder. My question is; he has been bloated for 5 days now and just seems so uncomfortable. He paces the yard, has constant soft watery stools and is breathing heavier and just looks so sad 💔He still wants to play with his toys but now can't jump, gets super tired after 10 minutes (usually will go for 30 mins +) and drinks so much water. I just want to know, is there any way to lessen the bloat/his being uncomfortable? I feed him 3x smaller meals rather than just a big one. I have spoke to his vet and they didn't seem to concerned and said see how he responds to the biscuits/medications (samE supplement) but I honestly just hate seeing him like this. He looks pregnant or like a walrus.   I'm just so lost 😓😔😓😔 20210902_17073720210902_19381120210903_131052
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shinadekeeley
Participant
September 04, 2021 at 08:51am
Just wanted  to add a before photo so you can see the difference.. 20210203_165028
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
September 04, 2021 at 11:03am
Hello!  So the main symptoms you are reporting are:  a bloated abdomen, but passing faeces, lethargy and drinking excessively.  I might also add discomfort or pain (pacing / looking sad).    I am interested that you say that your vets are not concerned.  Have they said so? I wonder if they have registered all the symptoms, know roughly what is causing them all and feel that they are doing everything they can at the moment.   For example, if they knew there is a tumour causing the signs and that removal wasn't an option, and they have given as many drugs as they can give to try to help. Alternatively it could be the case that they don't free realise from where they are, how bad things are at home. Either way, it sounds as though you're now worried for your dog's welfare and need to call them to come up with a plan.   I know office hours don't begin until Monday, but that sounds like a long time to wait so I would suggest that you call them now. Perhaps you could have a list ready of what is happening and write down what you want to know - is my dog in pain?   Is there anything else you can give?  What do you recommend we do next? - for example. Best of luck.
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
September 04, 2021 at 12:32pm
Ps he is extremely handsome.
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
September 06, 2021 at 02:17am
Hello!  A high elevation in liver enzymes would be in the thousands.  Double the normal range might be seen as a relatively mild increase.  Unfortunately, it is simply not true that when liver enzymes get above a certain level, it might be cancer.  Some cancers cause a very mild increase in liver enzymes, some a huge one, some no increase at all.  The same, however, is true in liver infections, liver failure, liver inflammation.....  the numbers are not representative of the diagnosis.  Sometimes, liver enzymes can increase just because the liver is working hard, e.g. digesting some drug.  I have seen liver enzymes in the thousands in dogs that been normal not long afterwards and would often regard liver enzymes doubling above the normal range as a mild to moderate increase, depending on the case.  Hopefully, you have by now had some feedback from the emergency team regarding whether you need to be seen as an emergency or not (I say this because you mentioned some signs that might have suggested pain).  I think this is the most important thing to establish at the moment.  Hopefully one of the vets responsible for the case will talk to you soon as regards the possible diagnoses (they are in best position to explain the differentials (possible diseases) to you, and how far they are with ruling things out from it).  I realise that I may have worried you by using the word tumour as an example earlier;  please rest assured, this really was just an example.  Many, many things can cause liver inflammation and I have no way of knowing what your vets think it is in this case.
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shinadekeeley
Participant
September 06, 2021 at 03:10am
Hello, thankyou for you're responses!  I did call the emergency vet and they told me that as long as he is eating/drinking (though today he has refused his food) then even though it's uncomfortable for him it is quite "normal" for liver dogs to have the big belly.   Yesterday he actually got stuck in his kennel as he couldn't roll over due to being so big!! I am at a loss   I am waiting for a call back from our regular vet to see what they say. I'll include a pic of the original diagnosis in this reply... Screenshot_20210830-160219_Outlook
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shinadekeeley
Participant
September 13, 2021 at 01:05pm
Hey! I just wanted to say that today I put my precious boy to sleep. His condition continued to worsen and it was heart breaking to watch. Thank you for your time and effort to this forum 💙
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
September 13, 2021 at 03:10pm
I'm sorry to hear that but it sounds as though you made the right decision.  Thankyou for letting us know and luck after yourself at this time.
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