Prior to Melvin, I had only seen the letters ALT on the keyboard. Now that I have Melvin, I know the keyboard variety AND the liver enzyme version. A normal dog’s ALT level is somewhere between 10-84. I usually just ballpark that normal is below 100. Melvin’s number, in the time I have had him, has never been remotely close to that. Melvin’s level laughs at double (and triple) digits. Melvin’s ALT value has risen up year after year, no matter what we’ve tried. A year ago, we hit a high of 2,600. Two thousand six hundred is a long way from 10-84. We did bile tests and ultrasounds. We saw specialists. We knew it was likely the result of his lifelong need for medication.
Melvin has severe allergies. His former-not-forever family thought about putting him down to end his itchy suffering. Even after I got him, while I never considered putting him down, I wondered if he’d ever find relief. Part of our journey, in addition to hundreds of food trials, allergy shots and baths, was inevitably going to have to be…medication. It took years to find the balance of what meds worked for him.
“Do you want Melvin’s life to be measured in days or quality of life?”
“I want his life to be measured in joy”.
I remind myself of those nine words, daily. Every Sunday when I fill up his pill container for the coming week, I chant, ‘joy matters most’. I know that some of his medications (prednisone) are necessary for Melvin to live a pain-free and somewhat itch free life and I know those same medications will ultimately shorten our time together.
Now…to that end, I’m not great at simply accepting everything that’s told to me. I trust my vet but I trust myself too. So throughout the years, I have proactively weaned him off the some of the very medications that ease his itching, knowing full well I could upset the delicate balance. I do this because something tells me it can be done. A gut feeling. I do this while balancing diet changes, like the switch to raw. That switch was not ‘vet recommended’ but I read a lot before making that change and then I read a lot more before weaning him off some less-liver-friendly meds (Atopica). What I’ve come to find out is that there are options, and sometimes mom knows best; sometimes the vet does.
In the past year, I have successfully gotten him off three meds. That is three less things his liver has to process. We started him on a new liver supplement. He is thriving on a raw diet. It may not work forever, but it’s working right now. Joy does not mean we sit and wait for the end, Joy takes some work. Joy leaps.
Melvin had his regular every-six-months blood work done a few weeks ago. The vet called while I was in the Bahamas and while it would have been ok to let him leave a message and call him back upon my return, that is not how we roll in this family. We face things as they come, together. Turns out, it was a great phone call to answer, Melvin’s ALT value is now 1,100! It’s the first improvement, ever! The first time we didn’t have to use the + sign to figure out how much it went up. We finally got to dust off the minus sign!
Eleven hundred is still very high, it’s a number that would cause worry and emergency action for another dog. Eleven hundred is 1,016 higher than the ‘high’ level for the value. But you know what, this is Melvin, and hot damn if we aren’t showing that liver who’s boss!!! One day, one day it will be in the hundreds, I just know it!
Just to be sure it was not a false positive, we had Jake examine Melvin – he gave the ‘liver smells good’ thumbs up! Video of that examination below.
YAYYYYYYYY! Totally not to the same extend but we had allergy issues at my house as well and the vet just wanted to stick Tag on a bunch of drugs. It took awhile but I found a food that worked and I am happy to report that she is itch and drug free. Moms really do know best sometimes. Seriously, so happy for you guys!
Yes! I’m so glad you were able to find something that worked. Trust me, I know meds are sometimes the best course but as you know, with allergic dogs, it’s all about finding the balance! Yay both of us!
What wonderful news! I am so glad you went with your gut feeling. Jake looks like he needs some nursing scrubs, I am impressed with his assessment skills of Melvin. 😉
He could really rock some scrubs, need to look into that! And a stethoscope. And a monacle!
“I want his life to be measured in joy” may be one of the greatest one-liners I have ever heard. Melvin is one incredible pup, and you are one incredible mom for making sure he is able to measure his life in joy and good health!
I was talking to my dad about how I end up with dogs with such spectacular health challenges and he said – that’s how it’s meant to be. I’ll take it!
You are incredible. The way you deal with your boys’ (multitude) of issues amazes me every time. When you posted yesterday(?) about your vet call I was worried it was something not great – turns out this is awesome!!
I think you are incredible! I think we all are! Unconditional love requires we forge forward! I’m just thrilled we can all forge forward in such good company!
What a wonderful post, your love for Melvin really shines through and he’s lucky to have you there to make his life (and yours, of course!) as joyful as possible.
Thanks guys!!! Right back atcha!!!
You probably already know about this but milk thistle and sam E are good for the liver. I have a dog who has inflammatory bowel disease and will be on steroids for life; we were having similar liver problems though not to that extent. Last blood work at the vet his levels were back within normal range after residing much higher for over 3 years. He also has itchy skin and allergies and my vet also did not recommend the diet we put him on (we do a mix of raw dehydrated food and home cooked) however I feel it’s possibly the only thing that’s kept him with us this long. Melvin’s story so mirrors my boys that its downright spooky sometimes.
While we would never hope for company on this journey, sometimes it’s really helpful knowing you are not alone! We are always here for you!!! And feel free to email us at ohmelvinyojake@gmail.com if you ever need ear! Thanks for listening to us via the blog!
Woo Hoo for good liver values, I just know it’s going to come down even more!
I’m not familiar with this ALT thing but if Melvin is in a better state than that’s holy shit good 😉
My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I know I am getting experience daily by reading such good articles or reviews.