Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

My pet's liver enzymes are high. Is their liver damaged or sick?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 7 months old

What does the increase elevated level of enzymes in SGOT ,SGPT and GGT indicate? Does it mean that liver is not working fine or what ?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Emily, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 18th, 2017

Those increases mean the cells of the liver are leaking those enzymes at an abnormally high rate. This could mean liver damage from a toxin, an infection, drugs and/or trauma like from a car. Depending on how high they are increased it may be a normala variant from the average or it may be something more serious. These tests aren't great indicators of liver function. Values such as protein level, glucose, blood urea nitrogen and special tests like bile acids are better indicators of function. It may be more beneficial for you to post a consultation request that allows more back and forth questions and answers specific to Bruno's case.

Vote icon

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 28th, 2018

    Not concerning in my opinion. There may be a mild liver damage/injury but these exams do not say anything about the nature of the problem. A more complete description of the clinical signs could help us to give you more specific answers.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 6th, 2019

    Hello. At such a young age those elevated liver values may not be anything to worry about or it could be a sign of a congenital problem called a Portosystemic Shunt. At this point in time, if your vet has not told you otherwise, just feed Scooby a regular maintenance dog food, nothing high protein. He should have his liver values monitored & if the values stay a little elevated, a bile acids test should be run. One mild elevation in liver values does not necessarily indicates that there is really something wrong with the liver, but you do want to monitor this for a while to see if a trend is developing. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Being so young I just went for his routine blood test of his liver function test and I got SGOT slightly high I thought all values will going to be on limit because he his still young but it was high please check his liver report which I attached
Since young dogs are still growing it is always possible for liver values to be elevated. The AST and ALP can normally be elevated in younger dogs. I would not be concerned unless Bruno is acting ill. If he has any vomiting, diarrhea or anorexia I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has an elevated primary liver enzyme (ALT) level of 561 IU/L. His bilirubin and AST levels are also High. I think he may have eaten something. What should I do?
Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. If Sancho's liver values are elevated due to the ingestion of some foreign material, be it a plant or other toxin, & he is eating with no vomiting or diarrhea, your veterinarian may be taking a wait & watch approach. Usually, we will administer emetics ( to induce vomiting ) & an intestinal absorbant such as charcoal if this was an acute issue. But often we do not see these elevations for hours to days after an insult to the liver has occurred. If Sancho is well, rechecking the values in several weeks is prudent. The values may change by this time. If not, we need to see if this is a chronic issue with the liver, or possibly even the gall bladder. Medications may be need ed at this time, including some neutraceuticals such as Sam-e and milk thistle. It is important that you stay in close contact with Sancho's veterinarian for any recommendations. Take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. My 1 year old dog just got her lab work back and her ALT/SGPT (ALT) was elevated, at 137, when the normal range is 10.000 - 100.000 U/L. When tested 9 months ago her level was only at 32. She is going back in a couple weeks for a re-test and f
There are many reasons that Ellie could have an elevated ALT value. This liver enzyme is very reactive and common benign causes of elevation include jostling of the liver (like missing a jump and hitting the upper abdominal area instead), or a small amount of bacteria getting in the blood stream and being processed by the liver. It can indicate more significant problems like toxin ingestion or the beginning stages of liver disease. The elevation at this point is considered minor but it is important to monitor her closely for any signs of lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea or decreased appetite as these could indicate a progression of things. There is a supplement called Denamarin that can help the liver when it is having elevated enzymes. Most commonly, the reason is benign. Make sure to follow up with the blood work to identify the trend. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My 15 mo Cairn Terrier seems perfectly fine, yet liver enzymes were slightly high, 145, at routine 1 year wellness exam.. Retested 3 weeks later- 237. Was put on Denamarin and special diet from vet, 30 days later 391. Had access to sago palm leaves,
I assume when you say liver enzymes you mean ALT? There a few enzymes we look at and elevation in 1 value makes us consider different causes then elevation in another. ALT elevation is caused make liver cell injury and leakage of enzymes in to the bloodstream. As the liver sees all the blood of the body it can be quite a reactive organ. So the question is whether the liver enzyme is up because of something wrong with the liver/vessels to liver themselves (such as an infectious or inflammatory cause (hepatitis) or a shunt (more common in younger dogs)) or something the liver is responding too (toxicity, disease of over organs). Unfortunately all parts of sago palm are toxic to dogs with the seeds (nuts) being most toxic. And it can be quite challenging to know if this is the cause. If it is sago it depends on the degree of ingestion as to how severe the case is. Unfortunately the treatment for this is supportive as you have been doing. The values may continue to increase or hopefully ma
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I m attaching his LFT liver function test report can you please check all the values and to me SGPT is looking elevated so is his liver function is ok or not ? Why he has elevated SGPT values what can cause elevation in SGPT
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco. I am not sure what is going on with Danny, but he is a young dog. The photo is very blurry but it looks as though ALL his liver enzymes are elevated: ALT, AST and ALP (alkaline phosphatase). These enzymes DO NOT indicate whether the liver is functioning normally or not. They indicate that the liver cells are leaking these enzymes in to the blood stream. This could be from liver inflammation secondary to an infection with in the liver or gallbladder, intestinal inflammation, pancreatitis, inflammatory liver conditions or cancer. In order to know if Danny's liver is functioning normally your Vet needs to do a bile acid test. Danny would go in fasted and then the Vet draws a blood sample. They then feed Danny and take a second blood sample an hour later to measure how the liver clears bile from the blood stream I hope this helps and Danny is ok
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
very slightly enlarged heart, enlarged liver, fluid buildup in stomach. blood test no abnormal enzymes in liver
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Abnormal liver enzymes typically indicate a more acute injury, and can actually return to normal as conditions become more chronic. Fluid build up can be due to low proteins in the blood, which are not being made by the liver or lost through the intestines or kidney. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have, or take a look at any results you have from Kimi.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 1,8 year old German Shepherd dog has problems with liver, but nobody knows why. She feels fine, she's energetic, playful, everything is fine, bet her test result of hepatic profile is not good. We did echoscopy and everything is fine with kidneys,
Increases in ALT (aka: GPT) activity can be seen with both primary and secondary hepatic disease and are not specific for the cause of hepatic disease. So, all you know is the liver is inflamed but we do not know why. If the ultrasound was normal I would not be overly concerned at this stage. I suggest you talk to your vet about putting her on a liver support vitamin like Denamarin (I don't know if you can get it in your country). And keep checking the liver enzymes every 3-4 months. If no improvement the next step would be a liver biopsy. ( https://www.denamarin.com/#home )
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What could cause a senior dogg's liver enzymes to be high? Her bile test was normal, her liver did look enlarged a little. She also pants more and sometimes there is a high pitch that comes out of her nose when sleeping.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Liver enzymes can be elevated for a variety of reasons and thankfully, it is not always something severe or that needs treatment. This of course depends on many factors that I do not know at this moment such as which specific enzymes are elevated. However, normal bile acids test indicate normal liver function which is good. Some of the things that can cause liver enzyme elevation include hepatitis, cholangiohepatitis, Cushing's disease, among many other possibilities. Further diagnostics will depend on the specific pattern of liver enzyme elevation but can include abdominal ultrasound, a blood test for Cushing's disease, among other diagnostics. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further investigation of these changes. I hope that this is nothing concerning. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Is his liver normal his liver test report is attached I have seen SGPT elevation so what causes that ? Do he has liver disease ?
His ALT (SGPT), Alkaline phosphatase and Globulins are all increased which means that the liver has been affected, is likely inflamed and needs further testing to define what disease process is there. Some possibly causes for these elevations are: hepatitis, Addison's disease, infectious diseases (ie leptospirosis), and cholestatic disease. I would recommend going forward with a bile acid test +/- an abdominal ultrasound. Also is a complete blood panel wasn't run then it should be done. This will hopefully get to the underlying cause for these elevations and explain why Danny has a hepatopathy (abnormal liver). Best of luck moving forward with his care and I hope he turns out well.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! My dog appears to be healthy other than thyroid and he is on medication. Currently on urinary so good because he is prone to struvite crystals. Latest annual check up his liver enzymes were slightly elevated . Does this mean he has liver disease
Hello, sorry to hear about Tootie. Not necessarily, the liver may be affected by a disease that could be happening in another organ such as cushings or diabetes. An infection in his GI tract or urinary system can also sometimes cause elevation of the liver enzymes. If there is no disease identified an another place of the body, then liver injury may be intermittent or it may be that his live is diseased. Inflammation, infection, or even benign and malignant tumors may affect the liver. Your veterinarian will likely recommend recheck bloodwork, diagnostics imaging such as an abdominal ultrasound and liver biopsies. Hope this helps and best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored