Bile Acid Stim Test

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:07:10 GMT

If the dogs aren't booked in until 2nd Aug, I would take the time to ring the lab again, explain fully, and ask for their advice

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Fiona Leathers — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:49:37 GMT

We usually offer normal food but with a little bit of vegetable oil in it. We had one dog that drunk straight vegetable oil out ot the bowl before we added the food.....made me feel very queasy!!

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

albatross — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:40:09 GMT

thanks for links. I spoke to Idexx and they gave me the protocol, but I didn't ask what sort of meal, and forgot to mention they were on epiphen/frusemide, and epiphen/kbr/vivitonin

Not on vetoryl as not sure if it is Cushings......
we may actually not do the acth stim/bile acid stim, as the dog has become very weak on the back end, and we may have to try anti inflams to see if we can sort that problem, before bothering about trying to treat the liver damage we know is going on, and the solution to other symptoms (the reason why we were doing the ACTH stim).

the other dog will have bile acid stim test anyway.......he is on epiphen/frusemide, does have the start of liver damage, and also has the start of respiratory problems.

both dogs are owned by the same person, two unrelated elderly large breed dogs.....
both lovely dogs, and the owners want the best they can afford, and for the quality of life their dogs can have......but are aware time is running out for their pets.....wish all our clients were as considerate and caring about their pets....

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:39:39 GMT

We too just take one serum gel tube, feed, and take 2nd sample 2 hours after the dog has eaten.

We have had occasions where the dog is inappetant, in which case we have either syringe fed a/d, or just syringed cooking oil.

I phoned Idexx with a query on this a few months ago regarding an inappetant dog - I can't remember what they advised though D'oh!

No idea if the epilepsy meds would affect it - would second the advice to phone the lab

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Catherine Raymond — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:59:08 GMT

If you use IDEXX here is the link

http://www.idexx.co.uk/animalhealth/laboratory/smallanimalprotocols/bile_acid.jsp

http://www.idexx.co.uk/animalhealth/laboratory/smallanimalprotocols/acth.jsp

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Catherine Raymond — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:57:59 GMT

Has been protocol since we found that one tube didn't provide enough serum!

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Steph Worsley — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:25:43 GMT

[quote user="Catherine Raymond"]

We do ACTH stim 4-6 hours post vetoryl tablet. As we use IDEXX we take two serum gel tubes and then inject vial of Synacthen (>5kg) and take second sample an hour later.

For BA Stims, we take two serum gel tubes and then feed a tin of a/d and take a second sample two hours later.

We ask owners to give the meds at home prior to admission just using a tiny amount of food.

IDEXX have protocols on their website. It is an annoying website to navigate but they have protocols for sampling, results interpretation on there.

[/quote]

can i just ask why you take 2 tubes prior to the test being started? unless the pcv is dramatically high they should have enough with 1 tube

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Catherine Raymond — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:23:21 GMT

We do ACTH stim 4-6 hours post vetoryl tablet. As we use IDEXX we take two serum gel tubes and then inject vial of Synacthen (>5kg) and take second sample an hour later.

For BA Stims, we take two serum gel tubes and then feed a tin of a/d and take a second sample two hours later.

We ask owners to give the meds at home prior to admission just using a tiny amount of food.

IDEXX have protocols on their website. It is an annoying website to navigate but they have protocols for sampling, results interpretation on there.

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Steph Worsley — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:22:58 GMT

a lot of people will say feed a/d but if you feed them anything it will stimulate the bile production so usually feed what they would have at home

if the owners can give meds without food then that is best as even a small amount of food prior to the pre sample being taken could affect it, if they need to have the food with their meds then i would try and get them in and have the first sample taken as close to their med time as poss then feed them with their meds

with regards the one having the acth stim, then ideally you would perform the acth stim (taking both pre samples at the same time) first then once you have the post sample from this feed and take the post bast later as lipaemia can affect the acth stim results

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Sally Seddon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:22:18 GMT

I *think* we usually give A/D

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Mrs Dot Dot — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:22:14 GMT

Hi.... phone your lab that you send the tests to, to get as much info as possible. We take a 2nd bld sample for ACTH stim test 1 hour after the 1st and giving synacthen.

For bile acid stim test we take a 2nd bld sample 2 hrs after the 1st (I think) and after feeding a high fat meal eg Hills a/d, with added oils or Sens control/ something they like with added veg oil... often we hand feed cos it looks yukky and fatty but most times they ake it

Re: Bile Acid Stim Test

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:20:23 GMT

not sure where the epilepsy meds would affect it, however, we advise the clients to feed a high fat meal - more often than not, we have found their normal food is fine for that.

I wouldnt imagine the epilepsy meds should affect any test results - however, I stand correct if Im wrong!