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Hello everyone,
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with chronic hepatitis in your dogs? I searched for related posts but most are at least a few years old.
Sperry, age 3 1/2, has not yet been diagnosed, but at this point it is likely. Here is his history:
Thanksgiving 2018, poor appetite and occasional vomiting of bile. We tried the bedtime snack trick, which had worked in the past, but not this time. We tried a bland diet, weaned back onto kibble (hydrolyzed because of constant ear issues), and everything went pretty much back to normal. Vet didn't recommend bloodwork or other treatments. Sperry does have a history of going on a picky-dog hunger strike when he gets a taste of something he loves, so we were usually not worried if he didn't eat for a couple of days. He would always get hungry enough to go back to his dry food.
Around New Year's, he began vomiting multiple times a day, not bile, but undigested food and water. Vet gave fluids, cerenia, switched to bland home cooked diet. This is the first time bloodwork was done. ALT read high at 686. Our vet felt the elevated liver enzymes could have been a symptom of gastric distress and we rechecked a few weeks later when he was feeling better. ALT went down to 178, which in my understanding is high end of normal.
He had been acting normal since then, with the exception of his appetite being a little lackluster. Drinking, playing, just not eating much breakfast. He would usually finish all his food by bedtime and our vet felt that this wasn't cause for too much concern. Fast forward to about three weeks ago, when Sperry began refusing all kibble. We offered rice and lean ground beef (we stay away from chicken because of his chronic ear issues) and he ate it for a few days. Then he refused it. We resorted to canned food, which we hardly ever do and which he has never refused, and no luck. He wouldn't even taste it. We did more bloodwork last week and ALT was way up at 1500! ALP was 394. The vet sent him home with another hydrolyzed food from a different brand and he is somehow, magically, eating it enthusiastically. Hasn't missed a meal in almost a week. I am thrilled with this part.
On Monday we had a consult with a specialist and they elected to do an abdominal ultrasound. They found a small liver, but no other abnormalities. We will do a liver biopsy, hopefully next week, after his blood tests (clotting test) come back. From there, we will work with the specialist to manage treatment for this issue. For now, Sperry is taking Metronidazole, Ursodiol, and Denamarin. He seems to be feeling fine physically, acting like his normal self.
So, does anyone have any experience with this or know someone who does? I have been communicating with Sperry's breeder and she says she has never heard of this in one of her dogs. She has been reaching out to other breeders and the vets she works with and we have gotten a few positive stories and a few sad, scary ones. I adore our regular vet and had a very good meeting with the specialist, but I'm trying to gather as much information as I can. Sperry is only 3 and we have insurance for him, so we are trying to do everything we can to help him live a long, happy life. Thanks for anything you can pass along!
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with chronic hepatitis in your dogs? I searched for related posts but most are at least a few years old.
Sperry, age 3 1/2, has not yet been diagnosed, but at this point it is likely. Here is his history:
Thanksgiving 2018, poor appetite and occasional vomiting of bile. We tried the bedtime snack trick, which had worked in the past, but not this time. We tried a bland diet, weaned back onto kibble (hydrolyzed because of constant ear issues), and everything went pretty much back to normal. Vet didn't recommend bloodwork or other treatments. Sperry does have a history of going on a picky-dog hunger strike when he gets a taste of something he loves, so we were usually not worried if he didn't eat for a couple of days. He would always get hungry enough to go back to his dry food.
Around New Year's, he began vomiting multiple times a day, not bile, but undigested food and water. Vet gave fluids, cerenia, switched to bland home cooked diet. This is the first time bloodwork was done. ALT read high at 686. Our vet felt the elevated liver enzymes could have been a symptom of gastric distress and we rechecked a few weeks later when he was feeling better. ALT went down to 178, which in my understanding is high end of normal.
He had been acting normal since then, with the exception of his appetite being a little lackluster. Drinking, playing, just not eating much breakfast. He would usually finish all his food by bedtime and our vet felt that this wasn't cause for too much concern. Fast forward to about three weeks ago, when Sperry began refusing all kibble. We offered rice and lean ground beef (we stay away from chicken because of his chronic ear issues) and he ate it for a few days. Then he refused it. We resorted to canned food, which we hardly ever do and which he has never refused, and no luck. He wouldn't even taste it. We did more bloodwork last week and ALT was way up at 1500! ALP was 394. The vet sent him home with another hydrolyzed food from a different brand and he is somehow, magically, eating it enthusiastically. Hasn't missed a meal in almost a week. I am thrilled with this part.
On Monday we had a consult with a specialist and they elected to do an abdominal ultrasound. They found a small liver, but no other abnormalities. We will do a liver biopsy, hopefully next week, after his blood tests (clotting test) come back. From there, we will work with the specialist to manage treatment for this issue. For now, Sperry is taking Metronidazole, Ursodiol, and Denamarin. He seems to be feeling fine physically, acting like his normal self.
So, does anyone have any experience with this or know someone who does? I have been communicating with Sperry's breeder and she says she has never heard of this in one of her dogs. She has been reaching out to other breeders and the vets she works with and we have gotten a few positive stories and a few sad, scary ones. I adore our regular vet and had a very good meeting with the specialist, but I'm trying to gather as much information as I can. Sperry is only 3 and we have insurance for him, so we are trying to do everything we can to help him live a long, happy life. Thanks for anything you can pass along!