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Antibiotics!

Zoe

I have a 3.2 pound Chihuahua named Zoe, who was diagnosed with Liver Disease, 4 months ago.Her ALT Levels are very high (3000 range)and he Kidney Levels are a little Elevated (Not sure what the level is)! Her liver, judging by the x-ray taken is Not Enlarged, but actually a little small, according to the vet! We are still trying to determine the type of Liver Disease she does have, but haven't been able to find the answer yet. Toxicity has been ruled out if that helps any! Zoe has been seeing the vet regularly, every 2 weeks, for the last 4 months! Last week, when I took Zoe to the vet, he said that he suspected that Zoe may have a Liver Infection, he's not sure and he decided to put Zoe on Clavamox 125 mg, 1/4 tablet twice a day, for 1 week and then run bloodwork, to check her levels.He said the Antibiotics would not hurt her even if she did not have a Liver Infection! He's thinking about doing a Full Surgery Liver Biopsy,to see if he can determine the exact cause of the disease, but is trying to see if he can somehow avoid it, because she's so tiny and it would be so risky! She took her last 1/4 tablet of Clavamox last night (Sunday).The vet's office made the appointment for me, at the end of this week, to do some more bloodwork and check her levels again. What I am wondering is, how long do the Antibiotics stay in Zoe's system after she finishes taking them? Will the bloodwork still be accurate, after a week of stopping the Antibiotics? Will the Antibiotics still be in her system? I don't know whether that's too long in between to do the bloodwork and if I should call and schedule the bloodwork sooner. The only reason I did not mention the appoointment, to the vet at the time, is because I figured it was fine. Now that I think about it, I'm wondering if the bloodwork should be done sooner!Can you please help me? I truly appreciate it! Thank You for your time! Looking forward to hearing from you!

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• Master Advisor Matthew says:

  October 26th, 2008 at 06:37 PM

  Hi

  Your dog was put on Amoxicillin, the most common broad spectrum antibiotic, to rule out a bacterial infection of the liver (bacterial hepatitis). The antibiotics are usually only in the body at the therapeutic level for 24hrs, hence why you have to give them daily. Within a few days they would be almost completely gone. That is pretty irrelevant though - it doesn't matter if they are still in the system or not. What matters is whether the liver enzymes have come down. If they haven't I would recommend the following:

  1) an ultrasound scan of the liver to look for tumors, and abscess, a blocked gall bladder etc.

  2) Symptomatic treatment for liver disease (eg destolit, prescription diet for liver disease)

  Liver biopsy is a last resort. I would sooner try a different antibiotic before that to rule out bacterial resistance.

  Good luck

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• Elaine says:

  October 27th, 2008 at 07:04 AM

  Thank You so much for your quick reply and your advice! I truly appreciate it! If you get a chance, can you please tell me a little about the Destolit, and where I can find it? I would also like to ask you  if Unseasoned, Cooked Chicken Breast, would have to much Protein in it, for Zoe's Liver to be able to process or if it's ok to give to her on occassionally?  The first vet I took Zoe to, told me that it Is ok to give it to her, and the vet she is now seeing, told me that it has too much protein, for Zoe's Liver to be able to process and Not to give it to her!Thank You Again!

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