charbess Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 (edited) After 20 years with the same vet he pulled up stakes and opened his own practice far and away from us. The new vet we saw Monday is not experienced with greys and alerted me to some iffy numbers on Cooper's Wellness Workup. Doing my due diligence here so can someone please give their opinion? Coop will be 7 in January 2017 and the two readings that came back "high" according to Antech Diagnostics are ALT (SGPT) 147 and Creatinine 1.8. The vet recommended a recheck in a month but if these are within the normal range for greys I may skip it. I have printed out some info from www.greyhoundhealthinitiative.org and a couple of articles by Dr. Suzanne Stack and delivered them to his office with a request he confirm his suggestion for a recheck. Any opinions appreciated, thanks. Edited November 3, 2016 by charbess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I don't know much about ALT levels, just that they can indicate liver issues and I think there's some sort of connection with both it and elevated creatinine. Someone better versed will have to respond to that. That being said, the creatinine isn't markedly elevated. My greyhounds have always run a 1.6-2.0 there. Turbo's normal was 1.8-2.0 with no kidney issues, so I wouldn't be overly concerned. Do you have earlier numbers? Maybe worth giving milk thistle and rechecking? I just don't know what normal ALT levels are. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charbess Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share Posted November 3, 2016 I don't know much about ALT levels, just that they can indicate liver issues and I think there's some sort of connection with both it and elevated creatinine. Someone better versed will have to respond to that. That being said, the creatinine isn't markedly elevated. My greyhounds have always run a 1.6-2.0 there. Turbo's normal was 1.8-2.0 with no kidney issues, so I wouldn't be overly concerned. Do you have earlier numbers? Maybe worth giving milk thistle and rechecking? I just don't know what normal ALT levels are. That is the question I need to find an answer to...the vet just called me and thanked me for all the info I dropped off but he doesn't have the answers on ALT either. I appreciate the fact he admitted to not knowing something but I hope he educates himself on greys. He still wants to see her in a month to see if these values are anomalies. I have the uneasy feeling that this is the blind leading the blind but that may be my cynical evil twin voicing her reluctance to educate the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Creatinine is a kidney marker. In some greyhounds it can tend to be slightly elevated. I am unsure about exact numbers to help you because I am unfamiliar with the American units. ALT is a liver enzyme that elevates when there is increased liver cell death. It is unrelated to creatinine and is not appreciably different between sighthounds and non-sighthounds. Again, I can't tell how elevated that is because I don't know the American units. With Canadian units we typically become concerned around the point of 2x elevation or higher, but I don't know how that translates to American. I would do the recheck bloodwork in a month as recommended, because of the ALT elevation. Quote Kristie and the Apex Agility Greyhounds: Kili (ATChC AgMCh Lakilanni Where Eagles Fly RN IP MSCDC MTRDC ExS Bronze ExJ Bronze ) and Kenna (Lakilanni Kiss The Sky RN MADC MJDC AGDC AGEx AGExJ). Waiting at the Bridge: Retired racer Summit (Bbf Dropout) May 5, 2005-Jan 30, 2019 Like us on Facebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 The AST can run higher in ghs but, no mention of the ALT running higher. The creatinine can also run higher than 1.6--my own dog runs 2.0-2.2 normally (but, with a normal bun). One thing you can do is check your dogs specific gravity on a first a.m. urine sample. The urine should be the most concentrated at that time of day-if the kidneys are functioning well the USG should be at, around or above 1.030. I would just recheck bloods in a few months to recheck the ALT. Do you have this already??? http://www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org/Library/2010-greyhound-medical-packet.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lothianjavert Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 I can't help you with the ALT but Sully was always around the 1.8 to 2.0 range for creatinine but with normal BUN. Rook was 1.8 last time, normal BUN. Quote In vino veritasRachael with Rook, missing Sully, Sebau, and Diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 I haven't had a greyhound yet who didn't have slightly elevated creatinine levels. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charbess Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 The AST can run higher in ghs but, no mention of the ALT running higher. The creatinine can also run higher than 1.6--my own dog runs 2.0-2.2 normally (but, with a normal bun). One thing you can do is check your dogs specific gravity on a first a.m. urine sample. The urine should be the most concentrated at that time of day-if the kidneys are functioning well the USG should be at, around or above 1.030. I would just recheck bloods in a few months to recheck the ALT. Do you have this already??? http://www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org/Library/2010-greyhound-medical-packet.pdf I did not have this in its' entirety. I am running a copy right now for my file and one for the vet. Thanks so much for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charbess Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Creatinine is a kidney marker. In some greyhounds it can tend to be slightly elevated. I am unsure about exact numbers to help you because I am unfamiliar with the American units. ALT is a liver enzyme that elevates when there is increased liver cell death. It is unrelated to creatinine and is not appreciably different between sighthounds and non-sighthounds. Again, I can't tell how elevated that is because I don't know the American units. With Canadian units we typically become concerned around the point of 2x elevation or higher, but I don't know how that translates to American. I would do the recheck bloodwork in a month as recommended, because of the ALT elevation. I will do that, thanks very much for your insight, Krissy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charbess Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 I emailed Dr. Guillermo Couto with this question and he very graciously answered me:"Thanks Jean; that creatinine is normal, and most Greyhounds have ALTs that can go up to high 140s to low 150s. However, we do not know if that is normal for Cooper. I would consider repeating it in 6-8 weeks. I am attaching a brochure with services in case you are interested in additional info." Sure feel better knowing Dr. Couto is available if needed and that he actually reads his emails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Not only does he read his e-mails he responds lighting fast--<3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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