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Elaveted liver enzimes

Published on: January 28, 2023 • By: Motion · In Forum: Dogs
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Motion
Participant
January 28, 2023 at 10:22am
Hy, I have a small malteze. She is 7.5 years old and we went to do bloodwork before doing dental cleaning. Test showed  slightly elaveted ALT(188U/L) and GGT(13U/L). Also she had elaveted RETIC, EOS and PCT. Vet told us to come for abdominal scan in 7 days and take hepivital pills for liver by then. My dog did throw up whole meal these days though but I didn't thought much about it because she just swallows food mostly and she likes to play after and I though its normal. But then I realize she throw up once without even eating and some time ago she did snacth something outside that could be cat feacies(I am not sure what it was) but after that I am pretty sure she got parasite pill anyway. My question is, should I wait 6 more days before doing the scan and can it be hydatid cyst of tapeworm on her liver?
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
January 28, 2023 at 11:41am
Hello!  As a vet, my priorities for an animal usually go like this:  1) are they stable in themselves / might it be an emergency to treat the symptoms.  2)  what kind of disease is underlying the symptoms. 3) what exactly might be causing it.   I am not going to go from your list of symptoms straight to a diagnosis like 'hydated cyst.'  There may be many possibities - or differentials - associated with those symptoms, some of which your vet will be able to rule in or out immediately and some of which, tests will be needed to pinpoint.   Dogs can get various cysts on the liver, but theyre not the most common in the UK, so unless there are complicating factors, it may not be the firat thing that your vet tries to rule out.  Other possibilities / differentials may include gasteroenteritis, pancreatitis, a foreign body, and so on.   If you ask the vet what the most likely possibilities are, they may choose to rule those out first.
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
January 28, 2023 at 11:48am
However, we are getting ahead of ourselves even now, because we always need to start with point 1) - Is treatment needed now?    Frequently, even if the cause is not known, treatment can be essential - more essential than a diagnosis.  For example, a dog that is vomiting repeatedly,  may not be able to keep enough water down to properly hydrate themselves and may need emergency fluids.
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
January 28, 2023 at 11:53am
After all that waffle, allow me to answer your question:  simply call the vet and ask them how soon you pught to be seen next.  If your dog is still losing fluid and may be dehydrated, they might decide to ask to see you as an emergency.   If they are happy that things are stable, they might ask you to wait.   In my experience, small elevations of liver enzymes can happen for a lot of very common reasons, as well as a few more unusual ones like tapeworm cysts.
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
January 28, 2023 at 12:04pm
Your vet will by now know your dogs' situation better than I do, and be best place to comment on those possibilities.
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Motion
Participant
January 28, 2023 at 12:18pm
Thanks :) Well, my vet did told me that its probably nothing,  and since she vomited that morning before tests it may be that. She is acting all normal anyway, plays and runs around normally so I guess I will just not panic :D Thanks for your answer :D
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