Doberman With High Liver Enzyme Values - Which Path to Take?

[Russ]

Hi everyone,

Like most people here, I am seeking advice/suggestions for our dog. He is a male doberman, 6 years old we adopted at 18 months. He has been very healthy and on Blue Buffalo kibble. Recently we took him for a teeth cleaning and to get a large skin tag removed. The pre-surgical blood work showed he had elevated levels of liver enzymes; ALP 160 and ALT 419. We did have a historical blood test from three years ago where the same numbers were only slightly elevated, but it was not brought to our attention by the vet.

So we put him on Denamarin and 3 weeks later did another test, the levels were ALP 189 and ALT 500 (worse). Then we had some more complete blood and urine work done by an outside lab and it showed ALP 212 ALT 480 and AST 106.

Our dog is sub-clinical meaning he has no signs or symptoms of any health issue.

According to our vet, at this point it could still be other liver issues, and he is suggesting we get an Xray and an Ultrasound done. The dog being a Doberman I know he is at risk for this being a copper related issue and of course, the next step is the vet wanting a liver biopsy.

So my question here is has anyone else experienced this pattern and found alternatives other than paying for these expensive and dangerous tests to arrive at the same conclusion that the high liver enzymes already indicate?

Is there any harm in just treating the dog for a copper related liver issue and testing the blood later to see if it has worked?

I dont object to the needed tests, but if it ends at the same conclusion which is some form of hepatitis, what's the point of all tests just to confirm it?

If you have had similar issues or results I would love to know. Thanks

[timboyds...@aol.com]

Yes , I might be a little help to you, I also have a female Doberman with high enzymes, did a lot of research, took her to Malvern Vet assoc. Had ultrasound it showed Liver disfuction , kid of shrinking by appearance of the pictures on the ultrasound, they wanted a biopsy of Liver , could comprise her liver create more problems , so I dug deep and found that Zinc can break up the copper and release it , try to look into this for your dog, read into it, also she is on drug nicknamed Sammy,Milk Thisle, Zinc, seems to be working out , but I read that the Doberman Breed Females mainly are the ones that develops the Copper Enzime,read up on it all and educate yourself , they are our baby's and of course our family members, good luck!