Dietrary choice in a bitch with mild raise in liver enzymes

RE: Dietrary choice in a bitch with mild raise in liver enzymes

scatty — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 22:45:51 GMT

Thanks everyone, in answer to Iain's question it was to remove a low grade mast cell tumour on the ventral abdomen (it was a small 1 cm raised plaque on the skin removed with margins as we suspected MCT from the FNA). The histology report indicated a very low tendency for metastasis and a complete excision was made. I couldn't see any sign of metastatic disease in radiographs and abdominal ultrasound. However, the ALKP could be a reflection of MCT disease I guess?

RE: Dietrary choice in a bitch with mild raise in liver enzymes

Iain Richards — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 22:27:28 GMT

The ALT is only just up, the ALKP is 4x normal, so probably insignificant. With normal bile acids, I wouldn't be concerned. What was the op the bloods were taken for?

RE: Dietrary choice in a bitch with mild raise in liver enzymes

Andrew Kent — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:41:17 GMT

Hi Scatty,

Personally I rarely use hepatic diets, even in dogs with liver disease, the exception being dogs that need copper restriction or protein restriction (which is the minority of dogs in the UK - copper related disease is more common elsewhere).

Equally in your case you have little evidence of hepatic disease other than the ALP and there are a number of other potential causes for that.

Were you able to assess the biliary tract on ultrasound? and the pancreas? If not it may be worth trying to organise this.

Otherwise, I would just go for a high quality, highly digestible diet whilst you monitor to see what happens with the ALP.

Andy

RE: Dietrary choice in a bitch with mild raise in liver enzymes

Catriona MacIntyre — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:25:01 GMT

Quite frankly, I'd opt for almost anything that is not Bakers!

I would have a look at possible other culprits for the ALP rise, e.g. gut and bone although I think it is likely to be hepatic in origin. Are there any other clinical signs?

I think I would lean more towards a specific hepatic diet, but you could also consider ursodeoxycholic acid if you think there could be some cholestasis there, and perhaps SAMe/silybin.

But then..... I'm no nutritional expert either! Royal Canin were very helpful when I needed nutritional advice for my own dog and his complex problems :)