Comment

Comment by Sarah ♥'s Sadie on July 16, 2009 at 11:04am

I didn't even think that it could be because of the flea and tick, we use Advantix, but I always turn down the lyme and giardia shots. Thanks for all of your insight everyone! I am trying to continue looking up causes and waiting out the two weeks until we get more blood tests. Luckily, she acts like nothing is wrong and is still playing and running around, so at least she is a happy doggy.

Comment by Cassie and Jaunty on July 16, 2009 at 12:59am

I have had sighthounds for the past 23 years. A lot of sighthounds have livers that don't work right,(don't metabilize chemicals in the blood). My first sighthound, a Scottish Deerhound died from liver failure, probably from 'spot on' flea and tick products that i used on him. And my last sighthound that I lost, an Ibizan hound, died after being on a popular arthritis medication (prescribed by a vet) for a month. Now don't let this scare you. I got my Cardi to get away from touchy livers. You caught it early and I'm sure everything will be fine. BUT, here is my message to EVERYONE - think twice about the chemicals you put into your dog. Read everything you can about the problem you are trying to solve and make an intelligent decision about what you should do. I also firmly believe that you know your dog better than your vet. Do you really want to load on the vaccinations, distemper combo, lymes, bordatella, giardia, every year? Spot on flea and tick stuff every month? And heartworm medication is certainly necessary, but some of the heartworm stuff has added ingredients to kill all sorts of worms. These are just my thoughts, I don't expect many people to agree with me. But from what I have learned from my dear sighthounds, (and what all sighthound people know)I feel better warning people about livers. Good luck.

Comment by Jenn on July 13, 2009 at 10:01pm

I am going to tell you not to panic, though I know I would be if I were you as well.

I looked at some stuff on the internet after reading your post and there are very mild things that can cause this and it can be easily correctable. Perhaps something in the new food IS raising her enzymes. But I've read about people who have switched food and their dogs returned to normal. As this is corresponding with a food change, perhaps this is a cause. Try your best to not worry, though I'm sure that is going to be hard!

Comment by Sam Tsang on July 13, 2009 at 8:39pm

There are many causes for elevated liver enzymes, it can range from overweight, gallstones, viral infection, diabetes to tumors of the pancreas. Get a second opinion and see if the vet can narrow down what's the root of the problem.

Comment by Beth on July 13, 2009 at 8:20pm

:-( Poor Sadie! Sounds like you caught it early, and treatment is under way. Who knows what caused it? I have also heard vets say that they are puzzled by the grain-free movement; cooked grains are highly digestible by dogs, hence the classic boiled chicken and rice meal for dogs with upset tummies. In addition, some of the "high quality" foods have very high levels of protein.
Domestic dogs are NOT wolves; most of them have lived for hundreds of generations surviving on scraps that they foraged, small critters they caught, and whatever the farmer/hunter/housekeeper tossed them, and they passed on the genetics of those dogs that thrived on such limited diets.

But I suppose that's going on a tangent, and I don't want to start a food fight here! Anyway, who knows if the food had anything to do with her liver issue. There are many other possible causes, and you were doing what you thought was best for your sweet Sadie. Please keep us posted, and I'll send good and loving thoughts her way.