- 3 year old MN Maltese with a short history of diarrhoea (days) and bloating
- Bicavity effusion of pure transudate
- Bloods: very low albumin (13), globulin normal, low cholesterol, urea and crea low (?), liver enzymes normal, amylase/lipase normal, HCT 25, WBC 27 with high neuts and monos.
- Urine: sg 1.008, trace protein, full urinalysis pending with UPC. Blood pressure will also be assessed.
- The scan showed ascites, cystic kidneys and pancreatitis. The liver and intestines seemed normal.
- 3 year old MN Maltese with a short history of diarrhoea (days) and bloating
- Bicavity effusion of pure transudate
- Bloods: very low albumin (13), globulin normal, low cholesterol, urea and crea low (?), liver enzymes normal, amylase/lipase normal, HCT 25, WBC 27 with high neuts and monos.
- Urine: sg 1.008, trace protein, full urinalysis pending with UPC. Blood pressure will also be assessed.
- The scan showed ascites, cystic kidneys and pancreatitis. The liver and intestines seemed normal.
- I think the ascites is secondary to the hypoalbuminaemia which I suspect is secondary to a protein losing nephropathy. BUT I would have thought if the cysts were the primary problem then he would have been azotaemic especially if anaemia is due to kidney disease? Could he have a concurrent glomerular disease? I think the pancreatitis is causing the recent diarrhoea but could there be SI protein loss too even with a normal gobulin level? The cholesterol level was low despite pancreatitis. Could the pancreatitis be triggering this?
- The bloods were done inhouse and I have suggested repeat sampling to an external lab.
Comments
Although PLN is possible
Although PLN is possible would consider other etioloies pending the UPC as proteinuria was only trace on dipstick. With the low urea, severe hypoalbuminemia, anemia, inflammatory leukogram would wnat to rule out liver disease (shunt, primary portal vein hypoplasia, congenital cirrhosis) by means of pre-and post-prandial bile acids. Renal cysts most likley incidental.
Thank you, I will follow up
Thank you, I will follow up with bile acids. How do you interpret them in Maltese dogs?
in this case you would be
in this case you would be looking at severely elevated BA
It turns out this dog was
It turns out this dog was largely vegan and is improving on regular dog food!
The benefits of a good
The benefits of a good history.
Yes, I did not meet the
Yes, I did not meet the owners but queried it.