Dog Help ALT Level Hey there. Wondering if anyone can help me...my gf's parents' yorkie has an ALT level of 94 we just found out - apparently 75 is normal...what the hell does that mean? He's a young dog - I think maybe just around one year. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

ask the vet who did the measurement

Wise Crack Thanks, odTM, why didn't I think of that?!??!?! Oh, yea, right, because he said more tests were necessary and he's in SC - hmmmm...If only there were someplace I could go to see if anyone has experienced this kind of thing before to find out what could possibly cause an elevated ALT other than liver disease...

pet forum is a more obvious place to ask And if the VET does not know what it means (which is why more tests are needed), how should WE know what it means.

testy, testy I am simply seeing if anyone had a similar problem with their pet - I have seen countless number of dog related threads on here, so I figured there were a lot of pet owners...I'm not saying you should know, I'm just trying to see if anyone else has gone through this with their dog and, if so, what it meant in their case...good grief...

Where did the Yorkie come from? If it came from a pet store, or one of those disgusting Puppy Palaces, it wouldn't be surprising if it has health issues.

Not a pet store... They bought it from a friend whose Yorkie got preggo the good ole fashioned way...no mills or stores...

what is the genetic history of the parents? Any liver issues in the parents or parents' parents?

Not that I know of...

well, liver problems are quite prevalent in Yorkies. Were the parents health-tested prior to being bred? Are these people competent breeders or backyard breeders? I hope for the dog's sake that he does not have liver problems so young.

Parents The people they got the dog from have had I think two litters before they had Cooper (gf parents' dog) and nothing had ever gone wrong before...as far as I know the parents are in good health. I too hope it's not severe liver disease so young - that's why I was hoping to find another possible explanation for the elevated ALT level. Thanks.

Thank you! Again, odTM, you are truly a lifesaver, your brilliant ideas are second to none...what would I have done without your sincere, intelligent advice? PS - Are you ever not logged on?

did you know liver problems are prevalent in Yorkies? B/c it does not seem that you knew that. The reason I told you that is b/c given that fact and the fact that the dog has high ATL levels which can indicate liver issues, in all likelihood the dog has liver problems even as young as he is and that is what you asked in your original post. I am TRYING to help you. I do not see why you are being so snarky but that is certainly your right and privilege.

google and talk to the vet