Gallbladder update

Sandy in CT

Sandy in CT

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Brodie had a follow up u/s this morning with some good news. I looked back at my posting from a few months back and reported that the vet felt Brodie had 20% sludge but mobile. This morning, he said last visit looks like 30% and this visit looks like 20% - shape was a tad different but took up less space. He said regardless of shape, does appear that he has less sludge than a few months back. We had started Coca and Luna Milk Thistle daily so we are going to continue that route and do a repeat u/s in 6 months. Vet stressed annual bloodwork MUST be done as most dogs who have problem gallbladders also see issues in liver enzymes. Brodie's last bloodwork was perfect, we will repeat it in 2025. Only negative thing was that he couldn't manipulate the sludge easy like he did last time. Not sure if it's because Brodie didn't drink anything prior to his visit. It was early and Brodie was more interested in 'where's my breakfast!' and wouldn't drink before we left.
 
Great news! So we are both now on the Keeping Watch list. I have been wondering if I still need to keep him on Ursodiol AND denamarin. The monthly cost of supplements/drugs is getting OOC here! I switched over to a different SAMe and silybin product thats a bit cheaper, hopefully the pills work the same as denamarin. Reviewers said their dogs liver levels returned to normal (hopefully they were real people!)
 
Vet had talked to me about the Denamarin but also had said I could try separate supplements instead of the costly name brand. I opted to use the supplement Ann suggested... vet calls Ann the Gallbladder Goddess of information and said if she approved of this, he approved of it. :) I also opted to try just the milk thistle alone with a follow up U/S instead of both Milk Thistle and SAME. I figured it keep one thing in the arsenal of can use in the future if the milk thistle alone showed progress; he feels it did. I will continue on with MT alone and see what it looks like in 6 months.

PS - The Coca and Luna Milk Thistle currently has a coupon code for 14% off... not huge, but 3.50 in my pocket is better than 3.50 in someone else's. I ordered 2 bottles but had to place 2 separate orders to get the discount on both bottles. I have Prime, so no shipping.
 
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OMG Sandy I laughed out loud at the "Gallbladder Goddess!" Henceforth you may call me GG. :ROFLMAO:I'm not sure it's a title anyone wants, but for those of you on the supplement train I currently have FOUR on Urisidiol since Misty has joined the club, one on Denamarin and the other three on the less expensive one I recommended to Sandy. You have to cut costs where you can. Mind you, two of mine being medicated have had their gallbladders out but they still want them on the meds, sigh.

Thanks for the tip on the C&L milk thistle, Sandy. I have it on my monthly subscription delivery but I'll order some extra for the savings!

I'm so happy to hear about Brodie's results. 20 percent is a good report! Attaboy Brodie! :D
 
I can tell you from the follow ups on my two - the surgeon said after 30 days post surgery I could stop the ursodiol and Denamarin. Well, both of them had one liver value shoot up from normal. After 30 days back on the meds for Elijah, everything is back to completely normal. So they will stay on permanently.
 
That’s great news Sandy! Supplements and the like are expensive and you have to cut costs wherever you can! I have Piper on medicinal mushrooms and other supplements plus the vegetables I feed them that probably cost me $150 per month (on top of their food) and if I can get a discount however small I’ll take it!
 
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