Dog with high ALT numbers, dark urine, senstive to touch?

Ashley

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I went to the vet today but it yielded next to no help. Almost felt like I was being taken for--to some extent. Was told when it was all said and done that I should go to a specialist for my dog. Since I was told nothing, except that the blood work was abnormal, I am wondering if any of these symptoms sound familiar or specific to something particular. I am 9 months pregnant (being induced next week on the 28th) and needless to say am having to weigh my options and figure out what type of urgency I am looking at.

My dog is a 4.6lb Chihuahua with symptoms of dark urine (highlighter color), he's tired, and is very sensitive to touch on the belly area. Will squeal when you pick him up.

His ALT levels were very high-934, his ALP's were too high to read, his granulocytes were high at 12.6, and his platelets were down at 120.

I asked if we could at least try to go the conservative route before deciding on the specialist (hoping for some improvement by Thursday). The vet prescribed these medications: Adenosyl, Butorphanol, Clavomax, and Metronidazole.

Finally, I have read that Milk Thistle can be helpful with liver issues. Would it be beneficial for me to pick up Milk Thistle for dogs and start him on this?

Any thoughts on what this could be (I'm been told everything from an infection to gallbladder issues) would be helpful. As I said, I'm 9 months pregnant and will be giving birth no later than the 28th. I am trying to take care of this and figure out how urgent things how and what is best: i.e. a specialist?

Thanks for feedback.
Jessica, you are silly. I *did* bring him to a vet hospital. Do you think those numbers from the blood work just popped into my head magically? Gah.

We are considering seeing another vet for a second opinion, though.
Dog is 4 years old... Doesn't have a bloated belly... as for the water, I cannot be for sure.

He did have glucose in his urine but diabetes was ruled out (so they said).
 
How old is the dog? Is his belly bloated? Does he have any hair loss, or bruising?

My first thought was Cushing's disease, and with that comes Diabetes. Knowing if he has had an increase in water intake would help.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_hints_of_cushing_s_disease.html

"Alkaline phosphatase (often abbreviated ALP or SAP) is one of the so-called “liver enzymes,” meaning that it is chiefly found in the liver. There is a form of this enzyme which is produced in very high levels in response to cortisol. This enzyme is not harmful in excess levels but since such marked increases in its levels are associated with cortisol, this would be a good hint that either this patient is taking cortisone type medications or has Cushing’s disease."

Let me see if I can find more...


*EDIT: I searched for "Dark Urine" on the Marvista Vet website, here is what I found:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html

Does your dog have any yellowing of the eyes or gums? My other concern would be kidney failure. Did they do a Urine Culture on your dog?
 
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