Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Bile Acids Test

A bile acid test is a specific blood test that measures liver function in dogs and cats. Bile acids are digestive enzymes that help with the digestion of fats, and they are stored in the gallbladder. After digestion, bile acids are reabsorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream and return to the gall bladder via the portal vein. In normal liver function, all bile acids are recirculated back to the gallbladder within 2 hours. A bile acid test measures the levels of bile acids in the bloodstream before and after a small fatty meal is fed to the pet. If bile acids fail to return to the gall bladder during this time frame, it indicates a problem with liver function.

A bile acid test can help diagnose liver disease in pets showing clinical signs of illness. It is a non-invasive test and the only requirement is a 12-hour fast. However, the test has limitations, as it can still miss liver problems, especially if the problem is mild or only affects a small portion of the liver. The test also doesn’t provide information on the underlying cause of liver disease, so additional testing may be needed, such as an abdominal ultrasound or liver biopsy.