Liver in Dogs: Symptoms, Types, Treatment, and Prevention

A dogs liver plays an extremely vital role in their overall health. It filters toxins from the bloodstream, aids with digestion, stores vitamins and minerals, regulates metabolism and produces proteins that are required for maintaining normal bodily functions. If a dog’s liver has been injured or compromised, it will disrupt the function of several bodily systems and cause severe illness.

The causes of canine liver disease include infection, toxin ingestion, genetic factors, medication, inadequate circulation of blood through the liver and the effects of aging. Liver diseases can be slow to develop in some dogs while developing quickly and potentially fatal in other dogs. Recognizing early on when your dog is experiencing signs of liver disease and seeking immediate medical attention can result in improved treatment options and help preserve your dog’s quality of life.

Types of Liver Disease in Dogs

Depending upon the cause, how severely the liver has been damaged and what area of the liver is affected, liver disease can manifest itself in several ways.

Acute Liver Disease

An acute liver condition occurs when a dog suffers from a rapid onset of liver dysfunction. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as poisoning, infection, heat stroke, certain medications and a sudden cessation of blood flow to the liver.

Chronic Liver Disease

A chronic liver disease develops progressively over time, usually spanning weeks, months or even years. Chronic inflammation or repeated injuries to the liver can result in the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) or destruction of liver tissue (cirrhosis). Once the liver becomes scarred or destroyed, it can no longer function correctly.

Congenital Liver Disorders

Some dogs are born with defects that prevent their livers from functioning properly. A common congenital defect is a Portosystemic Shunt (also called a Liver Shunt). In this type of disorder, blood flows directly into the general circulation without first passing through the liver. These disorders typically have a genetic basis and are identified in younger dogs and in certain breed specific lines.

Infectious Liver Disease

Certain bacteria and viruses can cause liver disease. For instance, Leptospirosis can negatively impact a dog’s liver function and requires prompt veterinary treatment.

Causes and Risk Factors

Toxins and Medications

The liver acts as the body’s filter system; thus, it has an inherent vulnerability to toxin exposure through various means (e.g., exposure to poisonous plants, ingestion of toxic chemicals or substances, taking too much of a prescribed medication). This toxin exposure can result in cell death within the liver.

Infections

The liver can become damaged from bacterial infection and certain viruses, which cause inflammation and cellular destruction.

Genetics and Breed Predisposition

Certain breeds have predispositions to liver diseases based on genetic traits. For example, genetic copper storage diseases will accumulate large amounts of copper and damage the liver in affected dogs.

Age Related Changes

As dogs age, their livers tend to degenerate over time. As we know, the liver’s cells’ ability to regenerate diminishes with increasing age.

Poor Nutrition and Other Diseases

Poor nutrition coupled with other medical issues such as hormonal imbalances and chronic illness can lead to liver dysfunction and ultimately, liver failure.

Symptoms of Liver Disease in Dogs

Early signs of liver disease will depend on how much damage has been done to the liver and can be very mild and difficult to recognize.

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Increased thirst and urination
• Lethargy and weakness
• Yellow discoloration of the eyes, gums or skin
• Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation
• Pale gums
• Changes in behavior, confusion or seizures in severe cases
• Dark urine or changes in stool color

Risks and Complications

The liver is very good at regenerating itself; however, if the damage is too severe or prolonged, there could be some possible serious consequences. Some of those consequences are listed below.

Liver Failure

If a significant portion of your dog’s liver becomes injured, the liver will fail to do its job, which may result in liver failure. Liver failure is potentially fatal.

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Dogs with liver disease that cannot detoxify their blood sufficiently can become poisoned by many different substances, including ammonia. These dogs can exhibit a variety of clinical signs that include, but are not limited to, confusion, unusual behaviors, seizures or an inability to walk.

Bleeding Problems

Your liver makes several important factors that help your dog’s body form clots when he is injured. If your dog develops liver dysfunction, the risks of abnormal bleeding will significantly increase.

Fluid Accumulation

In the advanced stages of liver disease, the liver may stop producing sufficient amounts of albumin, so the dog will have difficulty retaining fluids within his body. This can result in excessive buildup of fluids in the abdominal cavity, causing discomfort for the dog and swelling of the abdomen.

Diagnosis

The assessment of liver disorders is an interplay of clinical investigation (physical), diagnostic testing (laboratory) and imaging techniques.

Blood Tests

Assessment of liver dysfunction and potential damage to the liver is possible with laboratory tests. These could be measurements of various liver enzymes, biliary acids and proteins, as well as evaluation of glucose levels and coagulation capabilities.

Diagnostic Imaging

Abnormalities in the size of the liver, its structure (e.g., cirrhosis), presence of tumors, gallbladder disease, etc., can be identified by means of ultrasound or radiography.

Liver Biopsy

In certain instances, it will be necessary for your veterinarian to perform a liver biopsy to assess the extent and type of liver disorder you have. A biopsy can provide valuable data on the amount of inflammation, degree of fibrosis, presence of infection or cellular abnormalities.

Treatment

The course of treatment will depend on what is causing your pet’s liver issues and how severe they are.

Dietary Management

Your veterinarian might suggest that you put your pet on a special diet. These diets have been formulated to help support liver health in addition to providing necessary nutrients to your pet without overloading their liver with excessive amounts of nutrients. Some possible dietary suggestions that your veterinarian may make could include:

• Easily digestible nutrients
• Controlled levels of certain minerals
• Adequate high quality protein based on the dog’s condition

Medications and Supportive Therapy

Depending upon the severity of the liver condition, your veterinarian may prescribe medication for the reduction of inflammation, the reduction of symptoms, support of the liver or management of potential complications related to the liver issue.

In addition to prescribed medication, supportive treatments may also be required. Examples of supportive treatments include:

• Fluid therapy for dehydration
• Anti nausea medications
• Vitamin supplementation when needed
• Medications to reduce toxin buildup

Treating the Underlying Cause

Depending on whether or not your liver disease was caused by an infection, toxic substance ingestion, or another medical issue, treatment will focus on either removing the source of your problem or managing your current situation.

Prevention

Most of the time, you cannot prevent your dog’s liver disease; however, there are things that you can do to promote good liver health.

• Store harmful substances and drugs away from pets
• Do not administer human medication without veterinary advice
• Avoid overfeeding or underfeeding
• Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date
• Schedule regular veterinary checkups
• Monitor changes in appetite, weight and behavior
• Seek veterinary care early if symptoms appear

This is most relevant when it comes to older dogs and those breeds that have a predisposition towards developing liver disease.