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Why are my dog's liver enzymes elevated? Is his liver function normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

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

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

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2 Answers

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Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on July 16th, 2017

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. 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

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 16th, 2017

    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.

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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.
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