Re: 10 Month old Doberman mix Liver problems

Robin wrote:

>The first step to diagnosing CAH is getting two separate liver panels
>2-3 weeks apart. A moderately elevated ALT on both tests (and 900 is
>moderate) will indicate a biopsy is needed. Needle biopsies are not
>always accurate, laproscopic biopsies where they can get a decent chunk
>and also view the liver are best. '

Thank you for this information. We will carry out another liver panel
in 10 days time (which will be 2 weeks apart) to see if anything has
changed, and I will post here. Then we will move towards the biopsy if
things haven't improved. At the moment, I am concerned about giving her
the antibiotics and steroids when we do not really know what is going
on, and I am resting with the judgement of the vet in the most part,
but am considering reducing the metronidazole dosage at least.

>I haven't been following this thread and don't know if this is a male or
>female mix, but CAH is almost unknown in male dobermans, totally unknown
>in intact male dobes. It seems to be a disease of bitches and a few
>neutered males. When I had Jasper in the CAH study at the University of
>Missouri, he was the only male dog in the study--neutered.

Bonnie is a spayed female 10 month old mixed breed. We are only
presuming she is part Doberman, and likely that one of her parents was
possibly purebred Doberman. She looks very similar to the Dobermans we
have seen on the island as pets, and it is likely that one of them went
with a stray dog on the island, and produced a litter including Bonnie.
I am not sure how likely it is that she has the inherited problems of
some purebred Dobermans, but I have a feeling that it has at least made
her more susceptible. Any thoughts or knowledge on Doberman mixes in
the study?

.