The liver is an extremely important organ and is responsible for over 1,000 tasks 24 hours a day.
Some important tasks performed by the liver include:
- production of proteins
- regulation of blood sugar
- regulation of blood clotting
- metabolism of carbohydrates and fats
- production and storage of all vitamins (with the exception of vitamin C)
- production of bile for digestion
- filtering out of toxic substances
It is not difficult to imagine liver problems in dogs can cause a lot of health disorders to the dog patient.
Symptoms of Canine Liver Problems
The early signs and symptoms of liver problems in dogs are unfortunately non-specific.
For example, the dog patient may show the following signs:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea and vomiting (vomiting is more common than diarrhea)
- Soft and/or gray stools
- Excessvie drinking
- Excessive frequent urination
As you can see, the above signs and symptoms are similar to other health conditions. If a dog cannot get a timely and proper diagnosis, his liver will remain untreated until it reaches a more advanced stage. Toxins will start to build up in the body, causing symptoms that are indicative of liver failure.
Causes of Liver Problems in Dogs
A number of diseases, drugs, toxins, and chemicals can cause liver problems in dogs.
Diseases causing liver problems in dogs include:
- Leptospirosis
- Canine hepatitis
- Congenital liver diseases such as canine liver shunt and copper-associated hepatitis
- Heartworm infection
- Pancreatitis
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes mellitus
Liver cancer is a major cause of canine liver failure.
Quite a few chemicals and toxins can damage the liver and cause liver problems in dogs.
Some such toxins and chemicals are present in a lot of insecticides and pesticides, household cleaning products, and some flea control products.
In addition, toxic amounts of some chemicals and minerals can also be damaging to a dog’s liver (e.g. lead, arsenic, phosphorus, iron, selenium).
Certain medications for dogs, if used in excessive amounts or over a long period of time, can also cause liver disease in dogs. Some such medications include anti-fugal drugs, antibiotics, dewormers, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and anticonvulsants.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis of dog liver disease is by a number of tests, such as:
- Blood tests to determine the levels of red and white blood cells, and the levels of certain enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Dogs with liver disease often have elevated ALT and ALP levels.
- Bile acid test
- Urinalysis
- Radiology, ultrasound, and/or CT scan
The most definitive diagnostic procedure is to conduct a liver biopsy.
Treatment for canine liver problems depends of course on the type of liver disease, and may include the following:
Medications
Commonly used conventional medications to treat canine liver disease include:
Corticosteroids
Vets usually prescribe corticosteroids to treat chronic liver inflammation (often called chronic-active hepatitis). Corticosteroids can decrease inflammation and scarring.
Antibiotics
Dogs with hepatic encephalopathy usually receive antibiotics (such as Neomycin). Antibiotics kill ammonia-producing bacteria, thereby lessening the amount of ammonia exposure to the body. Antibiotics are also used in cases of infection.
Diuretics
Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) are used to treat ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen).
Oral Zinc Products
For dogs with copper-associated hepatitis, they usually receive oral zinc products (such as zinc acetate). These are used to decrease absorption of copper, and to reduce the amount of copper in the liver.
Diet for Dogs with Liver Disease
If your dog is suffering from liver disease, you need to also make some dietary adjustment. A diet appropriate for dogs with liver disease should be able to:
- supply enough energy and nutrients to the body so as to prevent malnutrition;
- minimize further damage of the liver by preventing copper accumulation, as well as accumulation of other toxins such as ammonia, and free radicals;
- support liver cell regeneration;
- prevent or minimize liver failure symptoms, such as hepatic encephalopathy and ascites.
The diet should have a high energy density, since dogs with liver disease usually have no appetite. The food should therefore be highly palatable.
If possible, feed the dog several small meals a day rather than just one or two. Your dog’s diet should include:
Fat
Fat is a concentrated source of energy and usually food that contains fat is highly palatable. Dogs with liver disease can tolerate larger quantities of fat in the diet (30-50% of calories) than previously assumed.
The only time to restrict fat intake is when a dog has severe cholestatic liver disease and fat malabsorption. In such cases, the dog gets essential fatty acids (e.g. salmon oil) instead.
High-Quality Protein
The liver needs protein during repair. But the protein in the diet must be of high biological value so as to minimize ammonia production, a by-product of protein digestion.
Dairy products (e.g. yogurt, cottage cheese), eggs, and white fish are easier on the digestive system and cause less ammonia production than meat products.
High-Quality Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a good source of energy for the dog but they must be highly digestible.
Undigestible foods are fermented by intestinal bacteria which will result in more toxins to be processed and removed by the liver.
Grains such as oatmeal and boiled white rice are good because they are high in soluble fiber. The fiber helps to bind and remove ammonia and other intestinal toxins (by-products of protein digestion and bacterial fermentation of undigested foods) from the system.
Vegetables act as a source of complex carbohydrates and they also provide fiber that helps to promote bowel movements to remove toxins from the body.
Supplements for Canine Liver Disease
Dietary supplements are recommended as part of the treatment for canine liver disease. If your dog has liver disease, consult with your vet on the use of the following supplements:
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is an herb that is good for the liver. It can increase bile flow and stimulate protein synthesis, thereby rebuilding cells damaged by liver disease. It also acts as an antioxidant which slows down the inflammatory process and prevents further cell damage.
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
Given in conjunction with a B-vitamin supplement, SAMe has been clinically proven in veterinary trials to safely and effectively restore and maintain liver function at the cellular level in pets. It may actually protect against liver damage caused by certain toxins or drugs such as acetaminophen, prednisone, etc.
(SAMe should be given apart from meals. Give the supplement to your dog either one hour before or two hours after eating.)
B Vitamins
B vitamins (especially B12) are essential for proper digestion and absorption of food.
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 is an antioxidant that is beneficial for dogs with liver disease. It boosts immunity, lowers blood sugar, and can slow tumor growth. It also produces energy for cell growth and functioning.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant and can be given to your dog as a supplement for liver health.
Recommended Supplements
ThorneVet Hepagen
VetriScience Laboratories Coenzyme Q10