My dog's liver enzymes (ALT/GGT) are high. What should I do?

Question

My ginger has alt and ggt values high and also some popping in a front joint. The vet didn't say why those values were high or what they could mean ? Any ideas what could be possibilities to have them check for ? Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Pinscher | Female | unspayed | 9 years and 5 months old | 12 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

ALT and GGT are both liver enzymes, so usually if they are elevated this would mean that Ginger may have a liver problem of some kind. These values can be elevated in dogs with hepatitis, gallbladder problems, or a tumor in the liver - but if the elevations are fairly mild, they can also be due to normal age-related changes in the liver, in which case there would be no reason to worry. For me personally, in an older pet that is otherwise healthy and does not have any symptoms of a problem, I often recommend repeating blood work in four weeks before doing anything else - liver values can fluctuate quite a bit, and often they are back to normal at the recheck appointment so we don't worry. If they are still elevated after four weeks, then at that point I would usually recommend abdominal x-rays and ultrasound to check for any problems. This is something that you can discuss with your vet if you're concerned, or get a second opinion if needed.

My dog's liver enzymes (ALT/GGT) are high. What should I do?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

My dog has a sudden fluid-filled lump on his back. Is it a bug bite?

Why is my dog burping, sick, and not eating with an upset tummy?

My dog limps after exercise with hip pain. Is it hip dysplasia?

Why does my dog bunny hop and struggle with her back legs?

When is it time to humanely put my senior dog with arthritis down?

Why is my dog licking her paws and wrists constantly all of a sudden?

Share