Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
The standard tests to diagnose kidney disease are urinalysis and complete blood profile. Dogs with chronic kidney failure may have anemia, abnormal electrolyte levels, and elevated blood pressure. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels in the blood are evaluated to assess kidney function. BUN is rather ambiguous and can be elevated for a number of reasons. It is not…
Does an abnormal result on your dog’s lab work automatically mean there is a problem? Not necessarily. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek an explanation and retest. Cookie’s elevated ALT ALT is short for alanine aminotransferase, which is an enzyme found primarily in the liver but also in other tissues (kidneys, heart, muscles, and pancreas). When a cell is damaged,…
Checking ALT levels is the mainstay veterinary test for liver disease in dogs. The typical reason of ALT elevation is liver and bile duct disease but there are other potential causes. Further information: Why Are My Dog’s ALT Levels Abnormal? Cookie’s wellness exam Regular wellness exams are one of the most important things you can do for your dog. Many…
In dogs, the main way allergies manifest is through the skin and chronic ear infections. A dog can, however, have [sometimes serious] respiratory symptoms. Thank you, Krystn Janisse, for sharing Shadow’s story. Shadow’s story Shadow was a healthy active 5-year-old Labrador Retriever. He found his forever home with my family in the fall of 2003 at the age of 4.…
Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is a common endocrinological disorder in dogs. It is estimated that one to two dogs our of a thousand/per year will get it. The symptoms are often written off as signs of normal aging and the diagnosis is complicated. Recent research at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna has shown that…