What tests can tell me about my pet's liver health or disease?

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. When you get Rocky I would have your own primary vet repeat the bloodwork to get an updated baseline, and because the units measured and normal range can differ from one lab machine to another. If decreased liver function is suspected, you should plan to run a fasted bile acids (liver function blood test). The next diagnostic step would then likely be an ultrasound with a liver biopsy, if your vet thinks that’s necessary. Of course, I would defer to the vet who’s actually examining the dog, as there may be clues in the exam to justify going a different direction with diagnostics. But this is what I’d be anticipating. Hope this helps.

Each test has different purposes. The chemistry is an overview of the liver enzymes and elevation of specific enzymes has the potential to be caused by different mechanisms or diseases. The bile acids is likely the function test which should that the liver still is functioning appropriately. The 2nd chemistry is likely to compare to the first to make sure the elevations are not rising. Without actually seeing the tests, I cannot interpret them for you.

I'm very sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, liver disease is very complex. We notice elevation of the liver enzymes on the blood testing but that does not tell us why the liver is sick - only that it is sick. Multiple tests need to be done and even then, sometimes we can't figure it out. This happens in human medicine too. There are just some cases that are difficult. A liver ultrasound to look at the liver and gall bladder along with a biopsy should be done to look at the liver tissue. That would probably give you the most definitive answer if that has not already been done. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/liver-disease---testing )

The SGPT (ALT), BUN and CREA are fine to do as preliminary tests. If they are normal, that is great! If there are any abnormalities with these values there are other tests that can be done to evaluate kidney and liver health but you would have to ask after you get the results for us to be able to properly recommend any other tests.

Liver and kidney values (ALT, Alk Phos, GGT, BUN, Creatinine) are on Chemistry panels which can be ordered separately from Complete Blood Counts that measure neutrophil counts (elevated with infection), hematocrit (a measure of hydration status), platelet levels (an indicator of clotting function). I recommend asking your vet for pricing for just the Chem panel vs pricing for a CBC/Chem panel if desired. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The blood results show that Finn definitely has some problems with the liver. Some of the liver enzymes and bilirubin are mildly elevated, which is never normal. What is more, ALP and GGT results could not be determined. It means that there was a machine fault when measuring these parameters, or these values were too high for the machine to read. I would suggest to run bile acid stimulation test, ultrasound scan of the liver and repeat the blood test that was run at your vets on the 7/15/20. You may consider running ACTH stimulation test to check for Cushing's disease, but it is unlikely that Finn has this problem. Based on these results, it can be decided what to do next.

Hello, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would classify those liver elevations as mild to moderately elevated. Liver values can be quite fluctuant - those elevations are somewhat nonspecific and simply indicate that there is higher liver cell turnover than what would typically be normal. This can be due to anything inflammatory, infectious, cancerous, or otherwise disturbing to the liver. A blood test alone cannot usually say exactly why the liver values are elevated - to have more information, a liver function test such as bile acids could be run, or the liver could be evaluated via ultrasound to make sure it still has normal architectural appearance. If these results are 8 months old, then the best next step would simply be to repeat a liver panel of bloodwork, and see if those values have remained elevated. It's very possible they may have normalized by now; if they haven't, your vet can discuss the best next step with Bear's other history and exam findings. If the values are still elevated but you choose not to pursue further diagnostic testing, there are liver protective medications that your vet may recommend to help protect the liver from oxidative damage. Hope this helps!