Alt And Ast Levels Very High For A Long Time

[ceku]

Hi everyone,

My cat (2,5 yr old, neutered female) has elevated liver enzyme levels for a long time. They sometime decrease but on the next check up (3-4 times a year) they skyrocket back again.

Last time veterinarian gave aminoacid shots, prescription cat food (hepatic) and beta glucane supplements. But all of these just decrased her ALT 850 to 615 (which has a maximum limit of 84) Now we are using hepatic food and a human drug named ursactive (properly dosed for cat by veterinarian) but didn't see the results yet.
They also took a US scan and said she has some liver damage but situation is not bad.

Other than high levels of blood test, she looks like a healthy cat. Her appetite is normal, she plays and jumps around and poops once a day.

Do any of you had the same or similar issue? How did you overcome of this health issue?

Thanks

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I did find one article here for you, although much of it you probably know, and I put out a call to some others who may know more than I do (and that won't take much!).

Elevated Liver Enzymes In Cats - Should You Be Worried?

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Has your Vet recommended an Ultra Sound of her liver just to check it out? Our old girl had ALT that would go high (in the high 400s), she would get an antibiotic and it would go lower (into the 200s) and then in 6 months or so it would be back up into the 400s again. We never knew why, but she was 15 with chronic kidney disease, so we didn't bother with an ultra sound, because what would we do if they found something ? BUT, with such a young cat in what appears to be good health, why not?

Otherwise, I have no idea what the problem might be. The good news is that the liver, unlike most organs, can usually be healed, and even regrow

 

[di and bob]

I just wanted to tell you I have had an experience much like this, except with my husband! He had elevated liver enzymes years ago when he was younger and had EVERY test done imaginable, nothing. They kept telling him to quit drinking, he hadn't had a drink in years! Then they said he must be a secret drinker, believe me I was with him 24/7, I wouldn't notice!? I truly think it was connected to his gallbladder, so you might try to research that and find a diet good for cat's digestion and gallbladder. He had also suffered an injury to that area, a blow on the right side taht brought him to his knees at work, so we wondered about that too, but for so long? We never did find out what it was, but over the years it did straighten out, so don't give up, it could be from an injury, etc. and takes a LONG time to heal itself. all the luck!

 

[ceku]

I did find one article here for you, although much of it you probably know, and I put out a call to some others who may know more than I do (and that won't take much!).

Elevated Liver Enzymes In Cats - Should You Be Worried?

Hello,
I have read that article just before I posted this thread and took some notes for my vet to check on our next visit. Thank you so much!

 

[ceku]

Has your Vet recommended an Ultra Sound of her liver just to check it out? Our old girl had ALT that would go high (in the high 400s), she would get an antibiotic and it would go lower (into the 200s) and then in 6 months or so it would be back up into the 400s again. We never knew why, but she was 15 with chronic kidney disease, so we didn't bother with an ultra sound, because what would we do if they found something ? BUT, with such a young cat in what appears to be good health, why not?

Otherwise, I have no idea what the problem might be. The good news is that the liver, unlike most organs, can usually be healed, and even regrow

Hi! They did 3 US scans in the last 3 years first two came up clean but for the last one (about 2 months ago) vet said he saw some damages in the liver but they are not that bad and we are now trying to reverse it by prescription food and medicine.

 

[ceku]

I just wanted to tell you I have had an experience much like this, except with my husband! He had elevated liver enzymes years ago when he was younger and had EVERY test done imaginable, nothing. They kept telling him to quit drinking, he hadn't had a drink in years! Then they said he must be a secret drinker, believe me I was with him 24/7, I wouldn't notice!? I truly think it was connected to his gallbladder, so you might try to research that and find a diet good for cat's digestion and gallbladder. He had also suffered an injury to that area, a blow on the right side taht brought him to his knees at work, so we wondered about that too, but for so long? We never did find out what it was, but over the years it did straighten out, so don't give up, it could be from an injury, etc. and takes a LONG time to heal itself. all the luck!

I will surely research about this and ask about it to vet. Thank you so much! I was also thinking; if nothing else works out my last resort is to find a human doctor who is experienced about liver and ask her about this problem..

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Is your vet a cat specialist? If not, a second opinion from one might be in order.

 

[ceku]

Is your vet a cat specialist? If not, a second opinion from one might be in order.

No he is not but he is the third vet who couldn't figure this problem out. And all of them said it might be because she is a purebred cat since purebreds have more health issues. But they also admit this is an issue and must be treated

 

[Antonio65]

Hi! They did 3 US scans in the last 3 years first two came up clean but for the last one (about 2 months ago) vet said he saw some damages in the liver but they are not that bad and we are now trying to reverse it by prescription food and medicine.

Has the vet told you anything about supplements for liver health? Something like Denosyl?

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi, here's what I did when a vet visit/blood draw came back in early 2017 with elevated liver numbers for my big guy who'll be 13 in May, and the vets had no clue and no help. I got him started on milk thistle powder daily, got him almost completely off of food with menadione, got him started on an addition of store bought raw and put a water filter on my kitchen sink faucet. Everything is better including his energy levels. Best of luck to you!

 

[ceku]

Has the vet told you anything about supplements for liver health? Something like Denosyl?

Hi, here's what I did when a vet visit/blood draw came back in early 2017 with elevated liver numbers for my big guy who'll be 13 in May, and the vets had no clue and no help. I got him started on milk thistle powder daily, got him almost completely off of food with menadione, got him started on an addition of store bought raw and put a water filter on my kitchen sink faucet. Everything is better including his energy levels. Best of luck to you!

Hey guys! Thanks a lot for your help

For a long time we used milk thistle extract & beta glucane but didn't help... I never heard of Denosyl though, I googled it and found about SAM-e supplements but they are not sold in my country.. and Amazon doesn't ship it here

 

[Antonio65]

I never heard of Denosyl though, I googled it and found about SAM-e supplements but they are not sold in my country.. and Amazon doesn't ship it here

Where are you based?
I live in Italy, Denosyl is no longer imported here and I bought a valid equivalent that is called BeSame by Candioli (an Italian manufacturer).

Besame 100

Unfortunately the page is in Italian only, but you can try with Google Translator.
Hopefully this product can be received in your country.

I've been giving it to my cat for 5 weeks now, and the last blood works a few days ago showed a big improvement in my cat's liver levels.

 

[Furballsmom]

Oh bummer. I guess I'm thinking there's something he's being exposed to that is defeated only until the next exposure, that he's particularly sensitive to...the water? Hang in there!

 

[ceku]

Where are you based?
I live in Italy, Denosyl is no longer imported here and I bought a valid equivalent that is called BeSame by Candioli (an Italian manufacturer).

Besame 100

Unfortunately the page is in Italian only, but you can try with Google Translator.
Hopefully this product can be received in your country.

I've been giving it to my cat for 5 weeks now, and the last blood works a few days ago showed a big improvement in my cat's liver levels.

Hi,
I live in Turkey. When i read the name Candioli it rang a bell, i did not use besame but vet gave us another product of theirs; Glutamax. I am hoping that if they have glutamax they might also import Besame to Turkey too (fingers crossed)

Thanks again! Hope your cat will get much better soon!

GlutaMax® FORTE paste

 

[Antonio65]

As a matter of fact, I'm giving my cat 1/4 pill of Glutamax Forte in the morning, and 1 pill of BeSame in the evening. The results are encouraging so far.
I do hope you can have it soon, through your pharmacy or on-line.
Candioli's manufacturing plant is 4 km from my home

 

[ceku]

Oh bummer. I guess I'm thinking there's something he's being exposed to that is defeated only until the next exposure, that he's particularly sensitive to...the water? Hang in there!

Thanks!
I never thought water will be a problem since i give her bottled water always...

But instead of water vet and I thought maybe she is sensitive to something in her supplements, treats like vitamins, biotin, malt pastes etc. So it is just her hepatic cat food and occasional home made treats (yoghurt, kefir mostly

 

[ceku]

As a matter of fact, I'm giving my cat 1/4 pill of Glutamax Forte in the morning, and 1 pill of BeSame in the evening. The results are encouraging so far.
I do hope you can have it soon, through your pharmacy or on-line.
Candioli's manufacturing plant is 4 km from my home

I never thought i would make a wish like that in my lifetime but I wish I live close to Candioli now I will call the vet first thing in the morning.

I used glutamax paste instead of pills and she hated it at the end i had to smear the paste to her fur so she had to lick it away so i recommend you to stick with the pills

 

[Antonio65]

I never thought i would make a wish like that in my lifetime but I wish I live close to Candioli now I will call the vet first thing in the morning.

I used glutamax paste instead of pills and she hated it at the end i had to smear the paste to her fur so she had to lick it away so i recommend you to stick with the pills

In these moderns days distance is nothing, everything is only a click away
I'm sure you can have it in a very few days .

In the past I had to give a paste to the same cat and used the same trick as yours, but it didn't work, she stayed dirty for days
The pills are flavored, they taste like yeast, not too bad