Raised ALT
posted by Monty at 17:26
Hiya,
As I'm sure you all know, all of us here have donated blood recently. One of the things that happens is PBBuk do a blood test; to find out what blood group you are, and to make sure there's nothing untoward.
My blood group is DEA 1.1 Negative (so' Jack by the way) - that's good as it means our blood can be used by anyone, and being greyhound blood it's as good as you can get 'coz we have lots of red blood cells - much more than other dogs. Kai and Troy are DEA 1.1 positive, so their blood can only be used by another positive.
Thing is though, my test showed a raised ALT enzyme level. This is potentially not a good thing - raised ALT (or alanine aminotransferase to give it it's full name) is an indicator of potential liver damage, though not always, and it might stop me being able to give blood. Anyway, PBBuk suggested to dad and me that I get checked out to see if their test was the figure on the day, or if the level was continually raised. So the other day I had to miss out on breakfast - not good - before going to the doctor for a checkup and blood test. Today we went back for the results.
I have a high ALT level; Mr. Edwards said his tests were in line with the PBBuk test. But the thing is, I don't feel ill at all, and like Mr. Edwards said, is he going to treat the test results or me? He asked a few things about me and my health like:
Then I got the once over again and was pronounced unjaundiced, bright eyed, alert, and generally healthy. In other words, not a dog with liver problems.
'Course, like Mr. Edwards said, maybe my ALT number is me; maybe I'm just that way.
Anyway, what we agreed on is that I take some tablets for a few weeks that should help my liver out, wait another week to let them clear out of my system, then go back and have another blood test.
So I'm taking Zentonil, which is "a nutritional supplement that serves as an aid in all cases where the liver is under stress". 'Coz it's to help me get back as a blood donor, Mr. Edwards was very nice and let dad pay only what it cost him to buy, but it was still over 200 Knuckle Bones (Note from dad: the exchange rate is 2KB to the Pound); if he hadn't have done that it would have been over 400 Knuckle Bones!! (Another note from dad: the same product at Vet UK costs 222 Knuckle Bones - sorry £111.)
So now it's a case of wait and see what happens. I'm back at the doctor in a few weeks; I'll let you know what happens.
Keep your paws crossed for me.
As I'm sure you all know, all of us here have donated blood recently. One of the things that happens is PBBuk do a blood test; to find out what blood group you are, and to make sure there's nothing untoward.
My blood group is DEA 1.1 Negative (so' Jack by the way) - that's good as it means our blood can be used by anyone, and being greyhound blood it's as good as you can get 'coz we have lots of red blood cells - much more than other dogs. Kai and Troy are DEA 1.1 positive, so their blood can only be used by another positive.
Thing is though, my test showed a raised ALT enzyme level. This is potentially not a good thing - raised ALT (or alanine aminotransferase to give it it's full name) is an indicator of potential liver damage, though not always, and it might stop me being able to give blood. Anyway, PBBuk suggested to dad and me that I get checked out to see if their test was the figure on the day, or if the level was continually raised. So the other day I had to miss out on breakfast - not good - before going to the doctor for a checkup and blood test. Today we went back for the results.
I have a high ALT level; Mr. Edwards said his tests were in line with the PBBuk test. But the thing is, I don't feel ill at all, and like Mr. Edwards said, is he going to treat the test results or me? He asked a few things about me and my health like:
- Do I drink a lot - no
- Do I eat my food - yes, and anyone elses if they leave any
- Does my wee smell - to other dogs it does 'coz that's part of how we do social networking, but not to humans
- Am I listless - I'm a greyhound, so listless is in the job description, but not when we are over a Salcey or there's a squirrel at the top of the garden
Then I got the once over again and was pronounced unjaundiced, bright eyed, alert, and generally healthy. In other words, not a dog with liver problems.
'Course, like Mr. Edwards said, maybe my ALT number is me; maybe I'm just that way.
Anyway, what we agreed on is that I take some tablets for a few weeks that should help my liver out, wait another week to let them clear out of my system, then go back and have another blood test.
So I'm taking Zentonil, which is "a nutritional supplement that serves as an aid in all cases where the liver is under stress". 'Coz it's to help me get back as a blood donor, Mr. Edwards was very nice and let dad pay only what it cost him to buy, but it was still over 200 Knuckle Bones (Note from dad: the exchange rate is 2KB to the Pound); if he hadn't have done that it would have been over 400 Knuckle Bones!! (Another note from dad: the same product at Vet UK costs 222 Knuckle Bones - sorry £111.)
So now it's a case of wait and see what happens. I'm back at the doctor in a few weeks; I'll let you know what happens.
Keep your paws crossed for me.
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4 Comments:
Where's Speed Cop
I'm glad to hear that you're well Monty. Your vet sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulders and is doing the right thing for you.
Hope to see you again soon,
Patch and Mikey
Hope everything goes well Monty. Hope to see you Sunday at Walsall.
Josie sends her love. xx
Dew claws crossed for our mate Monty - please make sure you let us know what happens when he's seen the vet again
Alison & Sol -x-
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