Signalment
- Age: 10 years
- Sex: male neutered
- Breed: Australian Terrier
- Species: dog
Disease Notes
- Certainty: confirmed
- Comments: Boomer presented to me in Jan 2016 with a dx via ultrasound of defuse lesions in the liver with a large primary lesion near the GB. Suspect primary hepatic neoplasia. THe GB had moderate "sludge" present. The owner reported to me that Boomer had been given "weeks to live." Boomer had been dx with probable copper storage disease in late 2015
Blood work from Jan as follows:
Alp - 3300
Alt - 212
T Bili: 9.9
GGT - 30
Normal glucose and Alb
Boom has had a history of steadily increasing liver enzymes for the last year. (At rDVM) Also dx with possible copper storage disease.
Values all worsened on ursadiol, denemerian and abx.
on 1/21/16 Boomer presented to me for the first time. He was BAR, happy.
Appetite increased "eats like a wolf"
Thirst normal
Stools: Hx of loose stools.
Behavior: "Happy, likes people."
PE: BAR/Sweet. Tongue - pink/purple with some white coating.
Pulse - Thin superficially, toned deeply.
Ear/paw temp: normal/cool
Abd distended, rounded and tense.
I treated with acupuncture: GB 25, Bl 18/Bl19 and Bl 23 (patient was not very tolerant of needles and I am sort of a newby so I stopped there.)
Prescribed diet change to home-cooked, low copper.
Started SMS mixed with GXZYT - 1 gr of each BID
Started Hepagen-C (Thorn) K9 immunity and Pet Cod liver oil.
Blood work at rDVM on 2/18/16
Alt still elevated at 220
Alp down to 1020 (previously 3389)
TBili down to normal at 0.5! (Previously 9.9)
GGT 14 (previously 30)
Owner was overjoyed and rDVM couldn't believe response.
Patient stayed on same regiment:
Blood work on 4/5/16 was much the same except now ALT eas elevated at 473 and AST had increased from normal at 34 for now elevated at 60.
Other findings stayed the same.
Blood work on 6/30/16
ALT more elevated at 627 (up 200 since April)
AST still elevated at 59
Alp down to 979
TP normal
GGT still elevated at 15
T Bili normal at 0.6
PE on 7/8/16
BAR happy "Doing great" per owner. "Grabs toys, plays"
Pulse thin, weak superficially and moderately toned more deeply.
Ears/paws - cool/normal
Tongue - red/pink, dry, more red around edges.
Less potbellied appearance! Abd more soft.
Sclera, clear/white.
I am new to using herbs - would love any advise on helping to lower the ALT and AST. Alt has gone steadily up 200 in Jan, 473 in April and now 627.
Boomer is still on SMS and GXZYT. I'm wondering if I should back off the SMS? Maybe try XYS??? Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much!
Delia - Final Status:
Treatment and Outcome
Problem Notes
- Elevated Liver Enzymes And Liver Mass: Boomer presented to me in Jan 2016 with a dx via ultrasound of defuse lesions in the liver with a large primary lesion near the GB. Suspect primary hepatic neoplasia. THe GB had moderate "sludge" present. The owner reported to me that Boomer had been given "weeks to live." Boomer had been dx with probable copper storage disease in late 2015
Blood work from Jan as follows:
Alp - 3300
Alt - 212
T Bili: 9.9
GGT - 30
Normal glucose and Alb
Boom has had a history of steadily increasing liver enzymes for the last year. (At rDVM) Also dx with possible copper storage disease.
Values all worsened on ursadiol, denemerian and abx.
on 1/21/16 Boomer presented to me for the first time. He was BAR, happy.
Appetite increased "eats like a wolf"
Thirst normal
Stools: Hx of loose stools.
Behavior: "Happy, likes people."
PE: BAR/Sweet. Tongue - pink/purple with some white coating.
Pulse - Thin superficially, toned deeply.
Ear/paw temp: normal/cool
Abd distended, rounded and tense.
I treated with acupuncture: GB 25, Bl 18/Bl19 and Bl 23 (patient was not very tolerant of needles and I am sort of a newby so I stopped there.)
Prescribed diet change to home-cooked, low copper.
Started SMS mixed with GXZYT - 1 gr of each BID
Started Hepagen-C (Thorn) K9 immunity and Pet Cod liver oil.
Blood work at rDVM on 2/18/16
Alt still elevated at 220
Alp down to 1020 (previously 3389)
TBili down to normal at 0.5! (Previously 9.9)
GGT 14 (previously 30)
Owner was overjoyed and rDVM couldn't believe response.
Patient stayed on same regiment:
Blood work on 4/5/16 was much the same except now ALT eas elevated at 473 and AST had increased from normal at 34 for now elevated at 60.
Other findings stayed the same.
Blood work on 6/30/16
ALT more elevated at 627 (up 200 since April)
AST still elevated at 59
Alp down to 979
TP normal
GGT still elevated at 15
T Bili normal at 0.6
PE on 7/8/16
BAR happy "Doing great" per owner. "Grabs toys, plays"
Pulse thin, weak superficially and moderately toned more deeply.
Ears/paws - cool/normal
Tongue - red/pink, dry, more red around edges.
Less potbellied appearance! Abd more soft.
Sclera, clear/white.
I am new to using herbs - would love any advise on helping to lower the ALT and AST. Alt has gone steadily up 200 in Jan, 473 in April and now 627.
Boomer is still on SMS and GXZYT. I'm wondering if I should back off the SMS? Maybe try XYS??? Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much!
Delia