I've briefly mentioned on here my previous scottie dog, Jack. Jack was a beautiful boy, much loved, very spoiled and my best mate. When he was 8 he came out of the groomers and peed up the lamp post outside. It was pure blood.
Panic set in and though we were at first reassured it was probably a water infection it turned out to be much more serious. He was diagnosed with copper storage syndrome and given weeks to live. Not willing to give up on him that easily I developed a home cooked diet to aid his liver and battled. He fought on, his liver levels actually improved and we had 6 good months with him before we finally lost him just after his ninth birthday. It was a happy yet horrific time when I'd kiss him goodnight and sometimes pray he'd go quietly in his sleep so that I didn't need to make the decision. Ultimately the decision had to be made though.
To say we were devastated was an understatement. He'd taken up so much of my life with his treatments etc towards the end that when he died I was totally lost. He was the life of the house.
2 years later we'd pulled ourselves together somewhat and decided to have another Scottie dog. I insisted that as copper storage could pass through breed lines that we travel the breadth of the country to be certain there were no common relations. Murphy came home and all was well until yesterday.
He's 18 months old now and as I'd mentioned in another thread starting to mark so we decided it was time for castration. When I got to the vets there was an option for a blood test for older dogs to check liver function before the general anaesthetic. With Jack still very much in my thoughts I opted for the test.
11am I had a phone call, they couldn't perform the op as Murph's liver levels were raised. I collected him and they told me it was most likely an infection, prescribed Milk Thistle and Antibiotics and said we'd try again in a month.
I've been a paranoid wreck ever since. My first thought was 'I can't do this again'. I'm watching him like a hawk spotting little things Jack did and convincing myself he is doing them because he also has liver disease. I realise I am being completely ridiculous. I've convinced myself he's going to have some liver disease and I'm utterly heartbroken. I sobbed my heart out to DH last night because I couldn't bear to watch Murph go through what Jack did.
Funnily enough as we came out of the vets we were talking to a lady with a westie who'd had exactly the same problem 2 months ago but was now completely normal and had been through the castration.
Hand me a grip please. Tell me these are basic tests picking up an infection and I'm being paranoid through past experience. I don't think I slept a wink last night. I'll swear he worries me more than the kids do.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Talk some sense into me please.
SistersofPercy · 18/06/2015 16:20
Oh Perc, no. What a horrific bloody worry for you.
I can't believe you'd be unlucky enough to go through it twice. Especially after you went to such trouble to find a different bloodline. What are the chances? It can't be. There are tons of things that can go wrong with livers and they are very treatable.
And why would an 18 month old dog need a test for older dogs? Are you sure they've done the right test and are seeing the right results? So much to get wrong here. When do you see the vet again? Can you ask for a second opinion?
Fingers crossed you hear some good news.
Thanks ladies.
To answer questions yes, it's the same vet. I didn't get much chance to speak to her, just one of the nurses, but she did say the chances were very very small.
I did consider giving them a call and asking what was raised specifically bit then I talked myself out of it because I could be making my paranoia worse by finding out what was raised and Google diagnosing.
Jack went from a beautiful, lively boy to his death in six months. It had been ticking away inside him from the day he was born. He'd always been healthy so never had a test done that might have picked it up. DH jokes that Jack did everything at 100 miles an hour so his nine years were double that. He's probably right.
Adora, I asked for the test. It was a tick box on the consent form. I asked the nurse what it meant and she explained that raised liver levels could cause issues with a GA and they mostly did the tests on older dogs who are likely to have problems. I said for my own peace of mind id have it done. Of course now I'm glad i did.
That then sets me back to thinking if I'd had jack tested when he was castrated they might have picked it up with him. It's a slippery slope of 'what could I have done' that I know helps nobody at all but my mind plays through it anyway.
As for Murphy, he's lively today and thinking about it he had been quiet over this last few days because dh was winding me up saying he knew what was Coming. He probably does have an infection if I think about it calmly.
If they had said kidneys or anything else id have believed what they said about infection straight away , just the mention of the word liver and all rational thought escapes me.
I've decided whatever happens I'm going to keep him on milk thistle for life and perhaps vitamin B12. Despite the rarity of copper storage both liver cancer and cushings are not uncommon in the breed so I think I'll feel more comfortable.
Dh has been lovely,fully supportive of my little moment and has assured me that whatever happens our little man will always get the best of everything and be spoiled rotten. He's sent me to bed and he's taking dd to college tomorrow so I can catch up on some sleep.
I can't do much more until mid august. Murphy is coming on his first holiday with us so the timescale for rescheduling isn't there now until we get back. I just need to push it out of my mind now and relax a bit.
Thank you both again 
I wouldn't worry too much, if it was a serious liver problem they would have seen much higher numbers on the blood test, much more likely some sort of infection. but definitely repeat in a month 
the enzymes can be slightly raised for all sorts of reasons, but always best to have the blood test before a general anaesthetic, just to reduce any chance of complications.
Oh I see, right, yes that does make sense. 
Well I hope he's ok and you hear some good news. It's not hard to get paranoid, we both know the shock of losing a dog and it stays in the mind. I'm sure you do everything you can to avoid that happening again.
He's fine thanks . His usual bouncy self really. Still monitoring his water intake and it's completely normal. He's figured out the morning cheese contains an antibiotic and is firking it out 
Me? Not so good. Not worrying about him so much but should have been out for the day with DH and DD, got as far as the petrol station this morning and felt really ill. Thankfully I managed to make it home before throwing up and thats been my day thus far. DH and DD have gone to the event as not going meant letting a few others down so Murph is keeping me company in bed whilst I feel sorry for myself. I'm guessing it's just some 24 hour thing I've picked up but I wish it had waited until tomorrow
Oh dear, not good timing. I've been making cheese scones and lemon drizzle cake but I guess you don't fancy that. Never mind, make the most of the rest, normal life will resume tomorrow. Glad to hear Murphy is back to normal. Do you have a few more grey hairs? 
Cheese 
no no no. I woke up about one craving the prawn toast we had in the fridge and an ice cold coke. I've done both, I feel very dodgy for it but so far so good and ive kept it down.
Murph is actually snoring and showing off the balls he still has just to make a point. And yes, grey hairs area sadly ever increasing.
How's pup doing?
Oh dear. Have a [hug] and a sympathetic back rub.
Pup is great! Am going to put some pictures on of him soon. We've had him two momths and he's enormous now, all legs. He can jump straight onto the sofas no problem. Especially when my girls keep encouraging him I don't, oh no.
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