2 week blood test results

Tucker went back to the vet yesterday for a blood test and the results came back this afternoon. I am thrilled beyond belief to report that his ALT has gone down from 4731 to 206 in just 2 weeks!

He'll continue on his medication and we'll do another blood test in 2 more weeks.

I'm feeling really good about his future. Today is a good day indeed.

Feeling Great!

Tucker has been feeling so great! It just makes my heart smile to see him acting his goofy old self again. He's been playing and running around quite a bit. The pic is of him "talking" to me as he does again when I get home from work. I just love this goofball!

He'll get an updated blood test on either Saturday or Monday and I'm quite excited to see what the results are.

Feeling a bit better

Luckily Tucker doesn't act like he's sick. The only change in him so far has been that his energy level hasn't been quite right for the past month or so (which of course I didn't realize until after his diagnosis).

Starting Wednesday night April 5th I've noticed that his energy has picked up a bit. He's starting to act more like his silly old self too, barking at me when it's dinner time and telling me about his day when I come home from work. He's also been playing with the other two bassets a little more. I hadn't realized how much I missed how totally goofy this sweet boy can be.

The prednisone has of course caused him to start drinking more than normal and I'd notice him panting more than usual also . Turns out the panting is another side effect of the prednisone so it doesn't look like it's anything to worry about.

Tuckers appetite has never waned either, he's always very excited to get his breakfast and dinner. Of course the bedtime snack is important too!

Tuckers Diagnosis - March 28, 2006

Tucker was given a preliminary diagosis of Idiopathic Chronic Canine Hepatitis on March 28th 2006 after having elevated ALT levels on 3 blood tests. The first elevation was discovered during a routine pre-anesthetic blood test taken in preparation for a dental.

His most recent ALT was 4731, normal high is 60.

He was placed on Milk Thistle the evening of March 28, on the 30th his vet had me add Prednisone, Actigall, Sam-e, and Vitamin E

The following is his medication schedule including dosages

Morning:

1/2 capsule of 175 mg Milk Thistle
1 20 mg Prednisone
1 200 mg Sam-E
1 400 iu Vitamin E

Evening:

1 capsule of 175 mg Milk Thistle
1 20 mg Prednisone
1 300 mg Ursodiol (generic Actigall)

Tucker is currently being fed California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato kibble, 1 cup twice daily. He's also given 1/4 tsp of Prozyme with each meal.

The predisone will be reduced to once a day on April 14th.