I wanted to share my experience with others in hopes this information may help someone else.

My male Maltese has liver disease. At 2 1/2 years old he became extremely ill; vomiting with blood, diarrhea with blood, and then had continuous seizures ending up in the Veterinary Neurological Center for 3 days. He had all the diagnostic testing, including blood work, x-rays, several ultrasounds and biopsy surgery. Corrective surgery is not an option in his case. After months of the previously mentioned diagnostic testing, various medical and dietary management (where he was often sick), I found what really helped y Maltese.

A strict diet of mixing equal parts of Hill's Dry Prescription Diet k/d and Hills Dry Prescription Diet w/d has really brought the blood work numbers down (see blood work results below). The numbers are still higher than they should be, but much improved. The Hills Prescription Diet k/d alone caused diarrhea. The Hill's Prescription Diet w/d added fiber, stopping the diarrhea.

My Maltese has been on this diet now for 2 1/2 years and the last ALT(SGPT) test in April 1997 showed even more improvement. I was thrilled !

The following blood work results show the improvement from being on the special diet. I started my Maltese on this diet at the end of OCtober 1994.



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ALT(SGPT)............DATE
(* Normal rage = 5-75)
369............January 1994
256............June 1994
289............July 1994
325............October 1994

After Special diet
116............April 1995
114............April 1996
88.............April 1997
90.............April 20, 1998
139...........April 7, 1999 (Vet said carrots would be o.k but were not)
82.............June 15, 1999 (Back on diet, results back down.)

BILE ACID TEST
(* Normal range 0-5) PRE...........POST........DATE
21............85..........June 1994
86............58..........July 1994
96............165........October 1994

After Special Diet
9.............59..........April 1995
7.............46..........April 1996




My Maltese is now 8 1/2 years old and on this diet he does not vomit, have diarrhea or any neurological problems. He acts like a normal 6 year old Maltese. Of course, he still has liver disease, but by eating this special diet there has been much improvement. Because of my Maltese positive reaction, my vet is now recommending this diet in similar liver disease problems. Each case is different and requires an individual diagnoses by a vet. There fore, if you have a similar problem, you may want to discuss with your vet the possibility of this diet being of benefit to your Maltese. Please call me if you have any questions (480)-990-2001.

Information on Flagyl (Metronidazole)
Before my Maltese was diagnosed with liver disease he was given flagyl (metronidazole) to stop his vomiting and diarrhea. He had a toxic reaction. He had continuous seizures, ataxia (loss of coordination of the muscles, especially the extremities) and nystagmus (an involuntary oscillation moving to and fro, like a pendulum) of the eyeball.). He was at the Veterinary Neurological Center for 3 days. The doctors didn't know if he would make it. It took 6 weeks for him to walk with normal balance. We later discovered the liver disease. His liver could not filter this drug.

Even with a healthy liver, some dogs can have a toxic reaction to flagyl.

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