High alt liver

[lindaholley]

could the balls that you purchase for pets that have a covering be harmful? We have a chihuaha mix 1 1/2 years old.  She loves to peel the coverings off the small tennis balls and other small balls.  We have quit giving them to her because almost everything comes from China. We feed her Blue Buffalo for tiny breeds and also mix in chicken breast.  I see that you also recommend wet food so we will be doing this also.
Thanks.

[tonyb286]

Yes, Milk Thistle is available specifically formulated for dogs. Human varieties should not be given, as they contain alcohol and sometimes other things that are unsuitable for canines. Here's a link for dog-friendly Milk Thistle (but there are lots, so you could just Google "Milk Thistle for Dogs").

http://search.petwellbeing.com/petcare/Milk-Thistle-For-Dog

Tony

[ginger899]

Many dog owners swear by the raw food diet. If this is a little hard for you to get your head around, then home-cooked meals basically lean meats and fish, with some vegetables -but with a nutritional supplement suitable for dogs added (if the vet can't provide one you will probably be able to buy one online and have it delivered.)

Cooking for your dog isn't too hard a thing to do. It means a couple of hours' cooking one evening, and the whole lot put in single portion freezer bags for the next couple of weeks etc.
My dog liked the crunch of dry food, so I let her have some. But as Tony says, it is not the optimum food for dogs! Or cats! We have been led astray by pet food manufacturers!
I used to add some kibble balls (high quality with all-natural ingredients) -to her dinner, just for the crunch.
But they are very dehydrating too. As long as there is plenty of juice in their home cooked food that will compensate (never throw away the water in which the meat/veg has cooked, and don't over-cook it.)

I agree with getting her liver values tested again, to see if there is any change, after giving her Milk Thistle. I think Milk Thistle is available for dogs, but if not, a Glycerin Tincture or a tablet will do. The dosage will probably be for an average human body weight.
There is information on the correct dosage for dogs here:

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/milk-thistle-for-dogs.html#dosages

Don't over-do it, and taper the dose when results are noted from blood tests. Too much can be harmful to the liver.

[tonyb286]

Hi. I've had dogs that do this too. Usually, they don't eat the fluffy bits, though my guess is some probably does get swallowed. The problem is, it almost certainly contains dye colorants, which can be toxic. I would suggest not giving the tennis balls anymore, just in case.

Personally, I don't like any dry dog foods - even the prescription dry foods. They were designed for human owners convenience, not for the benefit of dogs as a first priority. Have a read of my article and you'll appreciate why I think this way:

http://www.infobarrel.com/Why_Dry_Dog_Food_Is_Bad_For_Dogs

If liver values are high, try giving your dog Milk Thistle, which helps protect and repair the liver. Have another blood test done in two weeks time and see if the liver values have gone down and, if not, more exploratory tests will be needed to identify the cause.

Tony