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Cholesterol, Low

The patient is a 14 month old M Miniature Australian Shepherd dog who presented with an acute case of vomiting, lethargy and ataxia.  The owner was unaware of any exposure to toxins or ingestion of obstructive material. Physical exam: 10% dehydrated; mm pink but tacky; abdomen tender on palpation; weight wnl. CBC/Chem: WBC 21,120, decreased cholesterol and protein; elevated CK, ALKP, ALT, BUN and ammonia. Lepto negative.

A 4-year-old MN Maltese was presented for an annual exam, but the dog had been noted to be losing weight. Physical exam was unremarkable. Blood chemistry revealed hyperphosphatemia, and elevated ALT, and AST enzyme activities . CBC found leukocytosis consisting of a neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, and monocytosis. The patient was nonresponsive to antibiotic therapy over a 3 week period. The patient was doing well on re-evaluation; he had a good appetite, but was still losing weight. Recheck blood chemistry still showed persistently elevated liver enzyme activities, hypocholesterolemia, low urea and creatinine concentrations. The neutrophilia and monocytosis were still present on the CBC, however thrombocytopenia was also present. Serum bile acids were severely elevated, both pre and post-prandial. A coagulation panel was within normal limits.