Please help with blood work results

[SILLY6PAK]

I had the dogs blood work done yesterday. All was normal except Abby! Her BUN was slightly elevated and her Amylase and Lipase were high.
I have done a search on here and came up with Pancreatitis. Problem is other than the elevated Lipase she has NO symptoms. No vomiting, no loose stools. She is slightly over weight. She eats a low fat, low fat diet (Solid Gold) and never people food except boiled chicken.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?
I will call the vet tomorrow but I would like to have an idea. My regular Vet is on vaccation and this guy is very dismissive.

 

[Luvnmyboxer]

I hope things turn out well for Abbey. If you dont care much for this vet that's there temporarily I guess you could always call another vet and see if they have any tips for you. I bet you can't wait for your vet to return, it really sucks sometimes when people are so un-friendly and un-helpful when you need the help and reassurance more than anything.

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Thanka ao much for your reply. This really does suck!!! I called the vet this morning and he was in with a patient. Then I get a second fax of Abby's results and on the back page he says these hesults are insignificant no need to worry!

What the Hell? 1. Who can't pick up a phone
2. BUN is 30. High normal is 25. Lipase is 1261. High normal is 695. Amylase is 1240 whic IS just above high normal. I checked Abby's last years blood results and everything was normal except the Lipase was just above high normal. I believed they were right nott to worry last year but the Lipase has now doubled!!! That HAS to mean SOMETHING!!!!

 

[Net45582]

I would get a second opinion if you are not satisfied. These levels may be elevated due to the fact she is overweight-even sleightly. Is she active?...is she on any meds that may affect the readings?

 

[SILLY6PAK]

She is exceptionally active and only eats 2 cups a day. No other meds. I was sort of thinking the weight might go with whatever is going on. This vet doesn't even think she is heavy. Any Boxer owner would no that she is. Can I get a second opinion just by calling with the blood or do I have to go in with the dog?

 

[Net45582]

I'm pretty sure a vet would want to see the dog in question...if not to justify charging for the info....

 

[sgbtab]

maybe it is not elevated enough to be concerned. maybe she is eating something fatty to give higher results. IMO I would make sure to stay away from fatty foods. any time a dog would suffer from a Pancreatitis attack the owner is told to keep away from fatty foods.
I feed raw and I make sure to take most of the skin and fatty portions out. not all since some fat is good. I just make sure it's not to much.

 

[ktn67]

Maybe this will help

I'm cutting and pasting the appropriate references but if you want more information on interpreting your pets blood work you can check out the link here http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-labtests.htm

Following are the 3 results you asked about. Keep in mind there could be multiple reasons for the findings and you need to ask yourself what might be causing the elevated results. Please do NOT jump to the worst case scenario.

BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is influenced by the liver, kidneys, and by dehydration. Blood urea nitrogen is a waste product produced by the liver from proteins from the diet, and is eliminated from the body by the kidneys. A low BUN can be seen with liver disease and an increased BUN is seen in pets with kidney disease. The kidneys must be damaged to the point that 75% of the kidneys are nonfunctional before BUN will increase. Pets that are severely dehydrated will have an increased BUN as the kidneys of a dehydrated patient don't get a normal amount of blood presented to them, so the waste products do not get to the kidneys to be eliminated.

Amylase & Lipase - Amylase is an enzyme produced by the pancreas and the intestinal tract. Amylase helps the body breakdown sugars. Amylase may be increased in the blood in animals with inflammation (pancreatitis) or cancer of the pancreas. Sometimes pancreatitis is difficult to diagnose and some dogs and cats with pancreatitis will have normal amounts of amylase in the blood. Lipase is another pancreatic enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of fats and which may be increased in patients with pancreatic inflammation or cancer.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jill's boxer]

lipase is sometimes elevated if the dog has eaten recently before the bloodwork was drawn (especially in dogs that have weight issues). often times you will even see the fat right in the sample once it is spun down before going to the lab, so that might be at least a partial explanation for the elevated lipase. Her thyroid level is very low, which will affect her metabolism--which again might explain the elevations in her lipase and amylase levels...getting that under control might help alot. As for the BUN, when considering kidney issues, more important than the level of the BUN by itself, is the BUN to Creatinine Ratio--where that ratio falls distinguishes between kidney problems and dietary protein metabolism issues...I am sorry you are having trouble getting answers from your vet, having worked for vets for years, I have to agree that sometimes they tend to be slow in returning calls, depending on what is happening in the hospital that day--many wait until lunchtimes or after the day's appointments to shift throught their callbacks. If you were to seek a second opinion, you would need to have your dog seen by the new vet--I don't know many vets that would give a "cold diagnosis" based only on a lab report for a dog they haven't seen and evaluated themselves. In my opinion, and I am not a vet, but have been a tech for many years, if you are able to address and get the thyroid issue under control, the other levels may settle down as well as her metabolism picks up, her weight will also start to be more manageable and come down.

 

[SILLY6PAK]

God you people are the best. It means so much to me that you helped. I ended up calling my Equine vet and he at least had plausable answers. Apparently there is probably nothing to worry about and she had an irratated stomach from probably a high protein sourse. The day before she went to the vet we had the farrier at our place. When they trim the hooves the dogs love the trimmings. The farrier has told me before it is high in protein and can upset their digestion. Huge relief. Still wish the BUN was not elevated but the BUN/Crestinine ratio was normal.

This site saved my sanity the past 24 hours. I wish I had found you all years ago.

Thank you