Toby's Too Fat - Underlying Health Issue?

[OntarioSheltie]

Originally Posted by Justicemom

I have seen it in Shelties and schnauzers with gall bladder issues.

Would a regular blood panel cover galbladder issues? Should I be concerned?

Toby has been acting pretty normal - For Toby anyway.

[Justicemom]

http://ezinearticles.com/?Gallbladde...ogs&id=1358866

Just from a quick search.

No ultrasound is needed by someone who knows what to look for.

[Justicemom]

Originally Posted by OntarioSheltie

Would a regular blood panel cover galbladder issues? Should I be concerned?

Toby has been acting pretty normal - For Toby anyway.

One schnauzer I saw had no signs except for sky high triglycerides and a distended abdomen and enlarged liver on radiographs. I sent her to the U of M for an ultrasound and her gall bladder burst while they were doing the U/S. Lucky they were able to whisk her into surgery right there, she had the gall bladder removed and was fine. I guess that is why the thought of gallbladder issues make me nervous.

[OntarioSheltie]

Originally Posted by Justicemom

One schnauzer I saw had no signs except for sky high triglycerides and a distended abdomen and enlarged liver on radiographs. I sent her to the U of M for an ultrasound and her gall bladder burst while they were doing the U/S. Lucky they were able to whisk her into surgery right there, she had the gall bladder removed and was fine. I guess that is why the thought of gallbladder issues make me nervous.

My vet did say that Toby's liver function was well within the normal range. I can't remember if she mentioned gal bladder, she gave me a lot of information.

Toby is the lowest energy of all my dogs, always has been. Since he's a bit over weight he's slightly less active, but not lethargic.

The vet more or less said to just keep en eye on him and that we should do more blood work to check on his levels.

[take4roll10]

Originally Posted by OntarioSheltie

Toby had a full blood panel done on Saturday and the vet just called with the results.

She said his thyroid levels, kidney and liver results are all well within the normal ranges, but that his triglycerides where exceptionally high. His cholesterol levels were also elevated, she said likely because of the high triglyceride levels.

The vet said that usually high triglycerides have to do with low thyroid levels, but Toby's thyroid levels were find.

She believes that Toby's problem is one of two things. She said she's seen this with a few shelties and thinks there could possibly be a genetic per-disposition to high triglycerides. This wouldn't surprise me, since Toby is from a puppy mill.

She said it could also be a side effect of the anxiety medication that Toby takes.

Since taking Toby off of the anxiety medication isn't an option right now, she suggested putting him on a lower fat dog food.

We've been more accurately measuring his food so we have him down to 28.4 lbs. My vet said that she'd be ok with him at that weight, but I still think we need to look into a different food for Toby since its been a struggle to get him down to that and he gets nothing extra except carrots and the odd cucumber.

As anyone else experienced anything like this? I was expecting a thyroid problem, I've never heard of anything like this before.

Did the vet tell you what his thyroid # was and what the range was? I only ask because I've been told that shelties whose thyroid is low-normal can have hypothyroid symptoms.

[OntarioSheltie]

Originally Posted by take4roll10

Did the vet tell you what his thyroid # was and what the range was? I only ask because I've been told that shelties whose thyroid is low-normal can have hypothyroid symptoms.

I don't know what the exact number was but she did tell me the range. Toby's number was right in the middle, not low or high normal.

[BarbV]

Melissa

I responded to your PM tonite.

Bestest to you and toby!