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692231 tn?1227496103

Elevated Liver or Pancreas Enzymes

My Jasmine, 12 year old Jack Russell, has been losing weight and not her energenic self.  Got very finicky about eating and I took her to a vet who expressed her anal glands and we thought that was the problem.  Normally she is groomed every 3-4 months and the groomer does the expressing but I had not taken her to be groomed in abut 6 months.  The vet took blood and tested her for Valley Fever and wanted to see what else might be in her.  The test came back with elevated liver or pancreas enzymes, negative on the Valley Fever.   She suggested a 2 hour car ride to do a sonogram.  Jasmine hates riding in the car.  I asked why and the vet said to check out where the mass was and how big it was.  I asked her if she checked her for a mass when she expressed her glands and she said no.  I asked what would be the next step and she suggested one option would be to euthanize her because she would starve to death and that would not be a nice thing to watch.   I asked why then do a sonogram?  I brought her home and had her on charcoal for 3 days and now on Milk Thistle for dogs.  I have been able to get her to eat with much coaxing and a multitude of foods including baby food.  Her elimination is normal, the vet said she did not have a fever.  She is very lethargic.   We go on walks and I have to carry her home because she does not want to walk any further.  I also have a Bouvier who she is boss over and she has lost interest in controlling him anymore, very unusual for her!   She seems to be a bit more lively today vs. three days ago when I started the Milk Thistle.  The blood tests were sent to another vet who gives her shots, parvo, etc. as needed and he was going to call me with a second opinion.  He has been out of town and not gotten back to me.  I will not let her suffer but as long as I can get her to eat, will keep trying.   I know 12 is an older dog but Terriers, especially Jack Russels go on til 15 or 19 years.   Any suggestions?
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Avatar universal
I've just joined forum and posted on our springers liver problems under Bile Salts in Liver. Some of the problems you related are similar to what we initially had in October/november.  We started on the Milk Thistle compound but also give Vitamin E which is supposed to be a good antitoxident for the liver.  I know what you mean about the walks - sometimes the  mind is willing but the body is weak, so we take ours on much shorter walks, even when he wants to go on we turn back as we know that if he gets too tired going, he'll have major problems getting back.  We're also having the same problems with appetite - our Vet said that with liver problems (& panreatis and gall bladder) everything tastes like cardboard, so to try and make it appetising. Still difficult though, we were going a few days eating (although much much smaller quantities) and then a day not eating anything. We've just had a span of 11 days of eating and then 1/2 day not eating so we're quite happy at present.  Just before the 11 days of eating, I also upped the Milk Thistle and Vit.E to two doses a day - morning and night. Don't know whether or not this is working, but when your dog is sick you'll try anything.  I've just noticed that your post was in November - I hope that your dog is still with you and, if not, I'm truly sorry if I've brought back bad memories of the illness.  Please let me know what happened.  
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Avatar universal
I'm not a Vet., but your treatment of Milk Thistle seems to be right on.  Keep in mind that Activated Charcoal absorbs EVERYTHING; vitamins, minerals, herbs, medications, etc., etc.
You may want to review: http://www.holisticpetinfo.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LiverAid
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