Question Details
Elevated Liver Enzymes And Liver Mass In A Dog
by jk176 - October 29, 2021    View Case Report
Valentina is a 14 years old fs Dachshund.

History - 1/2020 back pain/hind limb weakness/knuckling, cp deficits - resolved with prednisone, weight 19 lbs
2/2021 evaluated for Chinese herbs - tongue lavender/hangs over teeth, pulse toned, deep L >R, good appetite, increased thirst/urination frequency, coughs when picked up, 3-4/6 murmur
started on Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang Nat Path 1/4 tsp BID

echo cxr 8/20 - no cardiac meds indicated

1/21/21 - CHF started on furosemide, pimobendan, elevated liver enzymes noted
AST 84, ALT 257, ALP 163, HCT 60%

2/2021 abdominal ultrasound - echogenic material in gb, portion immobile - rule out early mucocele, heterogenous hepatic mass right liver - fna/cytology - hepatocellular proliferation with mild atypia

started ursodiol, standard process milk thistle forte

6/2021 - weight 16.6 lbs, louder coughing, doesn't keep her up at night, can only go on short walks, progressive elevation in liver enzymes AST 103, ALT 314, ALP 230, globulin elevated at 4.0, cxr - no evidence of CHF

Started Nat Path Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang 1/4 tsp BID

8/19/21 - wt stable, presented for lethargy, decreased appetite, diarrhea
progressive elevation in liver enzymes AST 237, ALT 695, ALP 405, globulin 3.9

9/10/2021 - d/c GXZYT, started Xiao Yao San

episode of vomiting/diarrhea 9/23/21 - owner d/c'd xiao yao san and Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang

exam 10/8/21 wt 15 lbs - v/d resolved, eating well, increased thirst at same level as before, hind end weakness - collapses when walking, hard time crouching to defecate/urinate, leaks urine in bed, developed head tilt
PE - mm pink, crt wnl, moderate to heavy calculus, small cataract OS, right head tilt, no resting nystagmus or other cranial nerve deficits, 3/6 murmur, ambulatory x 4, hind limbs splay our on table, no cp deficits, tense lumbar spine
tongue lavender/small - not wet, pulse weak/toned, not slow or fast, ears/feet cool, body neutral to warm

significant progressive increase in liver enzymes
AST 566, ALT 2554, ALP 745, globulin 4.3
plt 558, HCT53%
bactiuria - treated with Clavamox

10/28/21 wt 14.3 lbs - dramatic decrease in 2 weeks, abdominal ultrasound - slowly growing heterogenous mass in right liver, solitary hypoechoic splenic nodules, gb sludge, increased prominence of jejunal lymph nodes

Assessment - Liver blood stagnation - liver mass/severely elevated liver enzymes, spleen qi deficiency - cool extremities, weight loss
liver yin deficiency - increased thirst, weight loss despite good appetite
head tilt - internal wind?

Overall she seem on exam like an deficient cold case, but her liver mass/liver enzymes seem like an excess so I am at a loss as to what formula would help her. Maybe Minor Bupleurum - but her pulses don't fit?
Replies
by naturevet
November 2, 2021
Hi there,

I agree that XCHT is probably the best fit for the case. It covers:

  • Head tilt


  • Polyuria with polydipsia

  • Decreased peripheral perfusion

  • Cardiac issues

  • Liver tendencies to neoplasia and mucocoele

  • Lymphadenopathy

  • Cough

  • High platelet count


I'd start with Xiao Chai Hu Tang, and keep Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang in mind if the cough does not resolve. XCHT can address tendencies to low appetite, too, given its Ginseng content; and diarrhea, particularly if there are tendencies to colitis or dysbiosis. The two formulas can be used together. The weak pulse may suggest concomitant Blood deficiency, but given the diarrhea while on tonics, you may want to wait a bit before introducing XFZYT, if you go that route

Hope this helps you out!

Steve
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