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Animal Health – General (Expert Forum)
My dog... Liver failure / cancer?
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A - Small Animals, dogs, cats, C.V.A, Western Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncture
American Animal Hospital
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for general pet health questions, such as questions about medications, parasites, vaccines, infectious diseases, breed specific and genetic problems.
My dog... Liver failure / cancer?
by SteveBgr, Oct 13, 2007 04:21PM
Hi. My dog is 15 years old. Yesterday he stopped eating and he started vomiting
clear fluid. I thought something was wrong so I took him to the vet today... here are the results:
ALB = 3.6 g/dl <2.2-3.9>
AMYL = 376 U/L <500-1500> (Low*)
ALKP = 2544 (Uh-oh) <23-212> (High***)
Ca = 12.7 mg/dl <7.9-12.0> (High*)
Chol = 520 mg/dl <110-320) (High***)
Crea= 1.2 mg/dl <0.5-1.8>
Glu = 110 mg/dl <70-143>
Phos = 5.5 mg/dl <2.5-6.8>
TBIL = 10.4 mg/dl <0.0-0.9> (High***)
TP = 8.2 g/dl <5.2-8.2> (High*)
BUN = 27 mg/dl <7-27>
Na = 148 mmol/l <144-160>
K = 4.7 mmol/l <3.5-5.8>
Cl = 111 mmol/l <109-122>
GLOB = 4.6 g/dl <2.5-4.5> (High*)
WBC: 12.4 10^3/mm^3
RBC: 8.43 10^6/mm^3
HGB: 19 g/dl
HCT: 55.4%
PLT: 437 10^3/mm^3
MCV: 66 fl
MCH: 22.5 pg
MCHC: 34.3 g/dl
RDW: 15%
MPV: 8.3 fl
Diff:
LYM: 9.6%
MON: 1.9%
GRA: 88.5%
Is there anything I can do for him? He won't eat and we have to wait till Monday for IV.
She gave us Pet Tinic and Cerenia Tabs (16mg). (He does drink water, though)
What should the next attack be on his problem? I don't think that there's much we can do but it's surely worth fighting for.
clear fluid. I thought something was wrong so I took him to the vet today... here are the results:
ALB = 3.6 g/dl <2.2-3.9>
AMYL = 376 U/L <500-1500> (Low*)
ALKP = 2544 (Uh-oh) <23-212> (High***)
Ca = 12.7 mg/dl <7.9-12.0> (High*)
Chol = 520 mg/dl <110-320) (High***)
Crea= 1.2 mg/dl <0.5-1.8>
Glu = 110 mg/dl <70-143>
Phos = 5.5 mg/dl <2.5-6.8>
TBIL = 10.4 mg/dl <0.0-0.9> (High***)
TP = 8.2 g/dl <5.2-8.2> (High*)
BUN = 27 mg/dl <7-27>
Na = 148 mmol/l <144-160>
K = 4.7 mmol/l <3.5-5.8>
Cl = 111 mmol/l <109-122>
GLOB = 4.6 g/dl <2.5-4.5> (High*)
WBC: 12.4 10^3/mm^3
RBC: 8.43 10^6/mm^3
HGB: 19 g/dl
HCT: 55.4%
PLT: 437 10^3/mm^3
MCV: 66 fl
MCH: 22.5 pg
MCHC: 34.3 g/dl
RDW: 15%
MPV: 8.3 fl
Diff:
LYM: 9.6%
MON: 1.9%
GRA: 88.5%
Is there anything I can do for him? He won't eat and we have to wait till Monday for IV.
She gave us Pet Tinic and Cerenia Tabs (16mg). (He does drink water, though)
What should the next attack be on his problem? I don't think that there's much we can do but it's surely worth fighting for.
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A, Oct 14, 2007 11:29AM
, Oct 14, 2007 11:29AM
An adult dog can safely be fasted for several days, (unlike cats). So I would not worry about 3 days of fasting. I would be worried if he were not drinking. His albumin is within normal range, so he is not dehydrated. His blood work shows that he does not have kidney disease or diabetes. High calcium has several causes but most commonly it is high due to medications or cancer. What is worrisome is that he has abnormal liver enzymes. Abnormal liver enzymes could be secondary to taking prednisone or other medications, such as pain or arthritis medication; or, the elevations can be due to liver disease, liver and gall bladder disease, other gall bladder problems (gall stone) or liver cancer and/or other abdominal cancer. The CBC seems normal so the spleen does not appear to be affected. Has your dog been on NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Rimadyl, Previcox, etc) for arthritis? Has your dog been on prednisone? If he has been on these medications, they could elevate liver enzymes. These medications can cause gastric distress and as a result inappetance. Your veterinarian could give GI protective agents, and other GI medications under these circumstances. If your dog has not been on medications than the next diagnostics step would be to have Chest and Abdominal X-Rays performed and/or an abdominal ultrasound to see if there are any masses in his abdomen or chest. Tumors in the abdomen can be benign or cancerous. Hypothyroid disease can also elevate liver enzymes, so a thyroid check could be helpful.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
