What causes alkaline phosphatase levels to be high in dogs?
Vets become concerned when this enzyme gets too high because it means that something is irritating or damaging the liver. There are a variety of reasons this enzyme can go up: infection, inflammation, toxin ingestion, a tumor and copper storage disease are all on veterinarians’ rule-out lists.
What does high alkaline phosphatase indicate?
High alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels may be a sign of a liver problem or a bone disorder. Liver problems and bone disorders cause different types of ALP. But your test results can’t tell which type of ALP is high.
What does it mean when a dog’s ALT is high?
Below is a breakdown of what your vet is evaluating when he or she looks at liver values. AST and ALT are enzymes contained within liver cells. When levels are increased in the blood, it means that the enzymes have leaked out of the liver cells due to cell damage.
What do you feed a dog with high alkaline phosphatase?
Good proteins to feed for liver disease are eggs for the most bioavailable protein and choline content, poultry and a little fish such as sardines, salmon and cod. Proteins to reduce or avoid would be red meats high in phosphorus.
Can a dog recover from high liver enzymes?
Sometimes we misinterpret really high ALTs as irreversible disease and a poor prognosis. If you have a dog with acute liver injury, it might have a sky-high ALT, but if you can support the dog through that initial injury, then the disease could be reversible, and the liver can get back to normal.
When should I worry about alkaline phosphatase?
Values above 130 U/L are usually considered to be high. High levels of ALP in the blood may indicate bone, liver, or bile duct disease. ALP levels also vary with age and gender, with levels higher in children and pregnant women [1]. Higher ALP levels can occur in people with blood group B or blood group O [2].
Can alkaline phosphatase be high for no reason?
Causes of high ALP levels. ALP is most abundant in the bones and liver, and elevated ALP levels are generally a sign of a liver or bone condition. An obstruction of the liver or damage to it causes ALP levels to rise. Elevated levels can also result from an increase in bone cell activity.
What cancers cause elevated alkaline phosphatase?
Serum ALP levels are elevated in patients with primary and metastatic tumors of the liver and bone, such as hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer and bone and liver involvement in breast cancer.
What foods cause liver damage in dogs?
Things like organ meats and fish contain higher levels of certain compounds (purines, some of the amino acids) that can be particularly harmful for dogs with bad liver disease.
What are the signs of liver failure in dogs?
- Lethargy and fatigue.
- Low appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Drinking less or more than usual.
- Vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Shaking caused by nausea or discomfort.
What is the best dog food for liver problems?
- Hill’s Prescription Dry Dog Food Best Overall. …
- Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food Best Value. …
- JustFoodForDogs Veterinary Diet Dog Food Premium Choice. …
- Eukanuba Fit Large Breed Dry Dog Food. …
- Royal Canin Hepatic Dry Dog Food. …
- Purina Pro Plan Dry Food.