heh. this thread got necrobumped and this question is actually is very relevant to what I am being tested on this week.
Acute liver damage in horses: increased AST, hyperbilirubinemia, increased serum bile acids, low BUN, +/- increased SDH if hepatocellular lysis, +/- increased GGT if hepatocytes are merely stressed. High GGT and conjugated bilirubin:t bilirubin >30% more consistent with liver stress secondary to primary cholestatic process.
Liver failure/chronic dz: increased ammonia, decreased BUN. If chronic dz: may have normal or only mild changes in AST and SDH depending on % of remaining functional hepatocytes, but will have hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, prolonged PT & PTT, +/- hepatic encephalopathy.