Re: My doggie has been on treatment for cushings, her vet is incompetent I need help!
Hi Marce,
Do you by any chance have the normal values for these levels you posted? That would help us a great deal.
Your vet is wrong about the liver not being affected by Cushing's. It is one of the main organs that is affected. However, liver disease can present with the same signs as Cushing's, including elevated cortisol, yet not be Cushing's. Has Brownie had an abdominal ultrasound? If not, can she get on there in Peru? If she can, I would have one done asap if at all possible to look at the liver. A biopsy may need to be done at the same time.
I can share a little about liver values -
• ALKP (ALP) is important in metabolism and is found in liver cells.
High levels indicate bile duct obstruction, Cushing's, liver disease,
certain cancers and may be due to certain drugs such as steroids or
phenobarbital. Low levels indicate starvation or malnutrition.
• AST is important in the breakdown and elimination of nitrogen.
High levels indicate muscle damage, heart muscle damage, liver
damage, toxin ingestion, inflammation and various metabolic
disorders. Low levels indicate starvation or malnutrition.
• ALT is also important in the metabolism of nitrogen and is most
often associated with the liver. High levels indicate liver damage,
toxin ingestion, Cushing's disease and various metabolic
disorders. Low levels indicate starvation or malnutrition.
• GGT is also important in nitrogen metabolism and is found
within liver cells. High levels indicate bile duct obstruction, liver
disease, pancreatitis, Cushing's and can be caused by high levels
of steroids. Low levels indicate starvation and malnutrition.
As you can see, Cushing's is listed as a cause for all of these values along with other considerations. So Cushing's DOES have an impact on this organ, no question about it.
The flip side is this, tho - if a pup has liver disease, none of the treatments used for Cushing's should be used with that pup. So the first step is to find out why those values are elevated. Is the liver diseased or is something else going on? I would think it highly unlikely that the Trilo is causing these elevations tho if there is liver disease present, it may be aggravating it.
Please let us know what you decide to do about further testing on the liver and especially how Brownie and you are doing, 'k?
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
"May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"
Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.