What causes high liver enzymes in Chihuahuas?
Even severe dental disease can cause an elevation in ALT. In terms of primary liver issues, ingestion of certain toxins or chronic inflammation of the liver (due to infection, an over-reaction of the immune system, genetic disorders, etc.) tend to create the most significant ALT elevations.
Are elevated liver enzymes common in dogs?
Elevated liver enzymes are a common finding noted in blood work performed on both healthy and ill dogs and cats. One study documented elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations in up to 40% of dogs with elevated liver enzymes.
What to do if your dog’s liver enzymes are elevated?
For starters, if the other liver enzymes are normal, the dog has not lost weight, bloodwork is otherwise perfect, many veterinarians will simply recheck the blood in a couple months. If everything else stays in line, and the Alk-P is not rapidly rising, maybe even dropping, we’ll be happy, shrug our shoulders, and say we’ll keep tabs on it.
Why does my dog have a wonky liver?
The usual culprit is an enzyme called Alkaline Phosphatase, or Alk-Phos, or Alk-P. I commonly see this enzyme rise in older dogs that have no symptoms. The other liver enzymes always seem to be behaving – it’s just this one that’s wonky.
What kind of liver enzymes does a dachshund have?
My old dachshund mix has had an Alk-P over 300 for the last 3 years. He’s doing great. This enzyme drives a lot of veterinarians crazy. We need to look at the whole dog, and the severity of the increase.
What are the main enzymes in the liver?
The main two liver enzymes we look at on routine screens are Alk-P and ALT. There are a couple other players that tend to behave – GGT and total bilirubin. I rarely see an elevation in either of these without the main two first getting involved. These enzymes both loosely correlate to the gallbladder and bile ducts.
What kind of enzymes do dogs have in their liver?
ALT (alanine aminotransferase). Like AST, the ALT enzyme resides within the dog’s liver cells and is released into the blood with cell damage. Unlike AST, it is fairly specific for liver damage, as it is not produced by other organs in the dog’s body. Normal range is considered to be 5 to 107.
Why does my Chihuahua have a liver problem?
Chihuahuas and Terriers, as well as some other toy breeds, are prone to getting fatty liver disease. This illness is caused by triglyceride accumulation in a dog’s liver and leads to liver damage. Liver problems often come as a result of some untreated condition.
Where are ALT enzymes located in a dog?
Like AST, the ALT enzyme resides within the dog’s liver cells and is released into the blood with cell damage. Unlike AST, it is fairly specific for liver damage, as it is not produced by other organs in the dog’s body. Normal range is considered to be 5 to 107. Off the charts range is 2,000 to 4,000+ ALKP (or ALP) (alkaline phosphatase).
How to prevent liver problems in a dog?
How to Prevent Liver Problems 1 Remove Toxins from Dog’s Environment. Some toxins that your dog comes in contact with can be avoided. 2 Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet. Processed foods can cause damage to the dog’s liver. 3 Cleanse the Liver. Some holistic veterinarians suggest to cleanse your dog’s liver occasionally…