So after several years of feeding a salmon based kibble (TOTW, Natures Select and presently 4Health) I'm being advised to stop as there is the possibility its to rich for Adobo. Her bilirubin* (TBIL) is way to high since July it has varied from 5.4 to a low of 3.8. Only trouble is it shouldn't be any higher then .9 (Biko's is .3). Was advised also to take her to a specialist for a ultra-sound to make sure she doesn't have any obstruction of her gall bladder.

At first was just going to change her diet but after reading what its all about will need to make the appointment as was told.




* Bilirubin is by-product of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the molecule within red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen to the tissues. When the blood cells die or are destroyed, hemoglobin is released and quickly broken down and excreted by the liver as bilirubin. Therefore, bilirubin levels may be higher than normal when excessive numbers of red blood cells are breaking down, or if the liver is diseased and unable to clear the bilirubin from the blood. If there is an obstruction within the liver or bile duct so that the bilirubin cannot be released into the intestine, blood levels will also elevate.

I got sick really bad when I was 15, it originally was mono but then I started to turn yellow and my bilirubin went through the roof... My speen was huge and thats when my liver/kidney problems started. Did they check kidney/liver functions? That would be my first action..

From the exam Adobo received the vet for what ever reason suspects gall bladder obstruction. Figure I'll get that checked first then proceed from there.

Now I get to start the kibble roulette all over again, but then Adobo if I recall has been good with just about any kibble as per BM's and such. Biko on the other hand has been a real horror story trying to get him settled on a particular easy on the gut food, and salmon has worked for him. Probably should just go the 2 brands routine for a while

Forgive my ignorance but I am genuinely intrigued, how does the salmon factor into all of this (aside from the general being "too rich"? Sorry to hear about Adobo's situation, I hope everything turns out alright. When does she see the specialist?

I am very interested as Ginger is mainly on fish protein based foods, but not single fish source.

Is too much salmon the cause of her situation?

Anubis is mainly on a 6 sorts of fish kibble diet, so I´m interested in this too.

I'm assuming because of salmon normally having a higher oil content (?) that could be the trigger. I was just sort of stunned by what the vet was explaining to me and probably missed half of what she had to say (plus my hearing sucks) As always I think of things that need to be done while at work and then once home forget until its to late to do what needed done, but yeah I need to make the appt. ASAP.


The vet did use the analogy of prime rib of beef being great eating but isn't healthy to eat it with every meal.

I would like to keep both dogs on a fish base meal since they've both done so well with it. So need to compare white fish with the pink/red fishes.

Do you give fish oil supplements? If yes, could fish oil and salmon protein based food be too much?

What are the symptoms? Or did you just find out during a physical with one the tests they run?

I'm wondering if Orijen 6-Fish fish content is too rich that I would need to start looking at rotating or mixing in another protein for Ginger? It has boneless salmon and salmon meal listed as the first ingredients. However, it also has herring meal, boneless herring, boneless walleye, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), boneless lake whitefish*, boneless flounder, and boneless northern pike (in that order in the ingredient list).

As a matter of fact the pooches both get a Omega 3 fish cap of some sort, the same that Beth and I take. One in the morning then another in the evening after dinner.

Other well known oily fish are tuna, sardines, herring, anchovies, a whole slew of oily ones out there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Oily_fish


Of what I've read so far most of your "whitefish" cod, haddock, flatfish, etc. are far less oily with most of the oil contained in the liver of the fish.

I could be wrong, but perhaps it's the mercury in the fish? The gallbladder filters and ends up being directly affected by mercury. I'm thinking the fish based kibbles weren't the best sources of salmon. FWIW, I don't even eat fish and I give the dogs mercury free salmon oil and fish that is considered at low risk for mercury concentration.

It's just a thought - but I am willing to bet, that if mercury is the issue, then you should find the levels will go down. I'd just switch to a chicken, turkey or duck based kibble, give mercury free omega's and see if it changes.

Well for a up date on Adobo and her non- gall bladder/liver obstruction. Took her in to the specialist back on 10/23/2012. Doctor was impressed and perplexed at the same time with her scenario, seems any dog that he has ever run across with a TBIL above 3.0 has had the whites of their eyes turning yellow. (Just like humans do with hepatitis) Did the ultra sound of the complete digestive tract and and felt everything was fine. Wanted to do a bilirubin blood work up of his own so I told him go for it. Adobo's, TBIL was 0.4 completely in the safe zone.

Now I almost got PO'ed with my regular vet thinking his equipment was faulty and here I just spent almost $400 trying to solve a problem that didn't exist. But then I remembered Biko, recently had his yearly exam with blood work and his TBIL was only 0.3, so out with that theory.

So all in all nothing is wrong with the lil diva, which is a relief, but still flustered it cost a wad of bills to find out nothing. Far as I'm concerned now is that she has become a bit lazier in her middle age. Loves her afternoon walks but no longer has an interest in the 5AM strolls.

So now we all can peek at Adobo's naked belly.





Here I was expected an all pink belly this really surprised me with the tan and pink.