What is Liver Disease in Dogs?

Introduction

When Jack noticed that his normally playful and energetic Dalmatian, Spot, had become increasingly lethargic and was losing weight, he grew concerned. Spot had also developed a loss of appetite and a yellowish tint to his eyes and gums. Deciding it was time to consult their trusted veterinarian, Jack scheduled an appointment and brought Spot in for a thorough examination. After running a series of tests, the vet informed Jack that Spot was suffering from liver disease, a diagnosis that Jack had never expected.

It’s essential to understand canine liver disease because it affects millions of dogs worldwide every year, and it’s the leading cause of death among dogs under two years old.

But how do we know if our dog has liver disease? And what exactly does it mean if he does? I’ll answer both questions in this article and explain everything you need to know about canine liver disease.

What is Canine Liver Disease?

Canine liver disease is a condition where the dog’s liver becomes damaged. The liver is responsible for filtering out toxins from the blood flow stream, and when the liver fails to do this properly, these toxins build up in the bloodstream causing severe health problems.

Liver diseases include hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, hepatic lipidosis, and hemochromatosis. It affects up to 10% of dogs older than five years old. Overt liver failure only occurs at least 70 to 90 percent of its functional capacity has been lost. These conditions affect dogs differently depending on what type of damage has occurred. Some types of liver disease may cause no symptoms, while others may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, jaundice, bleeding, or seizures. However, low albumin levels may be caused by poor liver function, even if the liver has lost less than 75% of its normal position.

Types of Liver Disease in Dogs

Canine Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It may occur due to viral infection, bacterial infection, drug toxicity, autoimmune response, nutritional deficiencies, or metabolic disorders. Viral hepatitis is the most common type of hepatitis seen in dogs. There are four main types of viral hepatitis: infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) hepatitis, parvovirus B19 (B19) hepatitis, and adenoviral hepatitis. ICH is characterized by fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, icterus, and jaundice. FPV hepatitis is characterized by depression, weakness, weight loss, fever, and vomiting. Parvo B19 is characterized by fever, cough, exercise intolerance, and muscle pain. Finally, adenoviral hepatitis is characterized by fever, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver tissue. Cirrhosis occurs when there is excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins, or certain medications. Yellowing of the skin and eyes, ascites, enlargement of the spleen, and increased appetite characterize alcoholic cirrhosis. Toxin-induced cirrhosis is characterized mainly by vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased activity. Dogs with advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) are more likely to develop ascites and gastrointestinal bleeding than dogs without these conditions. In addition, certain medications, including acetaminophen, NSAIDs, phenobarbital, and valproate, may induce liver size damage leading t cirrhosis.

Hepatic Lipidosis

This is caused by excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells. This disease is most commonly seen in adult dogs over ten years old, and in some cases, it can lead to death.

The disease occurs when no dietary restrictions are placed upon the infected animal. The body can only use those nutrients properly if the diet contains enough protein, carbohydrates, fats, or fiber. As a result, the excess goes into storage as fat. The liver condition begins to fail when the amount stored reaches toxic levels.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, fever, depression, weakness, lack of coordination, seizures, coma, and even death. A veterinarian must complete a physical exam and blood work to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment includes fluid therapy, nutritional support, and medication.

Fatty Infiltration

Fatty infiltration is also known as steatosis. Rich infiltration results from the accumulation of fat inside the cells of the liver function. This condition is usually secondary to obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Hyperadrenocorticism, and malnutrition.

Hemochromatosis

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal gland that produces too much adrenaline. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disorder that causes iron overload in the body, and iron accumulates in the liver, causing fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Causes of Liver Disease in Dogs

The most common cause of the canine liver disease is dietary indiscretion. This includes feeding diets that contain too much fat, sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, etc. Other causes include bacterial infection (e.g., salmonella), viral infection (e.g., parvovirus), genetic disorders (e.g., hemophilia), poisoning (e.g., lead toxicity), trauma (e.g., blunt force injury), and neoplasia (cancer).

Bacterial Infection

Liver disease in dogs is usually due to bacterial infection, and bacteria enter the mouth, nose, eyes, ears, or genitals. Dogs’ most common causes of liver disease include feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), toxoplasmosis, and coccidiosis.

Viral Infection

Viral infection is another cause of liver disease in dogs, and viral infections spread quickly through dog populations because they’re highly contagious. The most common cause of feline viral hepatitis (FVH) is FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus.

Genetic Disorder

Genetic disorders occur when a dog inherits two copies of a gene mutation from its parents, and this causes problems with metabolism, digestion, and immune system function. Some of these disorders can be prevented by screening breeding animals before mating and avoiding using them if they carry a gene mutation that may cause an infection. But unfortunately, many of these genetic disorders cannot be prevented or cured.

Poisoning

Poisoning among dogs causes liver shunt damage. Poisoned dogs may show symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, fever, and weight loss. They may also develop jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), icterus (a yellowish discoloration of the mucous membranes), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), and hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver).

Trauma

Liver disease is common among dogs, and trauma can cause liver disease in dogs. Traumatic injuries include car accidents, dog bites, falls, and other forms of violence. In addition to trauma, other causes of liver disease in dogs include infections, poisoning, certain medications and supplements, age-related changes, cancer, and inherited diseases. While some of these causes are out of the owners’ control, some steps can be taken to help prevent liver disease.

Neoplasia

Another cause of liver disease is neoplasia, which means abnormal cell growth. Neoplasms are usually benign tumors, but some become malignant (cancerous).

Dogs develop liver cancer because of genetic mutations when cells divide uncontrollably. This happens when DNA is damaged during cell division.

When a dog develops liver cancer, its immune system doesn’t recognize the tumor as foreign and fails to destroy it. Instead, cancer proliferates and spreads throughout the body.

Symptoms of Liver Disease in Dogs

Symptoms of liver disease vary depending on the type of liver damage. However, some symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, depression, weakness, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes).

• Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is the first sign of liver disease in dogs. This painful condition occurs when the liver disease enlarges early due to fluid accumulation. This causes abdominal discomfort and bloating.

• Lethargy

Lethargy is another symptom of liver disease in many dogs, especially in older animals. Older dogs often become sluggish and uninterested in food.

They may also appear depressed.

• Jaundice

Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. This happens when bilirubin accumulates in the bloodstream, and The breakdown of red blood cells produces bilirubin. It is usually caused by inflammation of the bile ducts.

• Diarrhea

Diarrhea is another common symptom of liver disease in felines. This is caused by intestinal irritation. In addition, diarrhea can lead to dehydration.

• Anorexia

Anorexia is the lack of appetite. This can occur in dogs with liver disease, particularly those with chronic hepatitis.

• Fever

Fever is another common symptom of feline liver disease. Again, this is caused by infection. Other possible causes include kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, and hyperthyroidism.

Diagnosing Liver Disease in Dogs

Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog exhibits any of these symptoms. Your vet may recommend blood tests to determine whether there is liver damage.

A vet will test whether the dog has been diagnosed with liver disease. Some of these tests include:

• Blood test
• Ultrasound
• Biopsy
• X-ray
• CT scan
• Echocardiogram
• MRI

Some dogs with liver problems recover entirely after treatment. However, some dogs need additional treatments, including surgery.

Treatment of Canine Liver Disease

Treatment for canine liver disease is often tailored to the individual dog based on the underlying cause. Some of the most common treatments for canine liver disease include medications (such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anti-inflammatory drugs), dietary changes (such as switching to a low-fat diet or specially formulated liver diet), supplements (such as omega-3 fatty acids and silymarin), and lifestyle changes (such as increasing exercise and reducing stress).

In addition to these treatments, surgical options are available for certain types of canine liver disease. For example, surgery can be an option if cancer is present in a dog’s liver. In addition, if a blockage is causing liver failure, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove it.

Finally, if canine cirrhosis is diagnosed, a veterinarian may recommend a course of steroids to reduce inflammation in the liver and help maintain healthy function.

Prevention of Canine Liver Disease

It’s important to note that liver disease in dogs is preventable. There are steps you can take to ensure your dog stays healthy. Here are some tips to help protect your dogs against liver disease:

• Feed a balanced diet
• Avoid feeding raw meat
• Don’t give your dogs prescription drugs without consulting your veterinarian first.
• Make sure your dogs get plenty of exercises
• Monitor your dog’s stool for parasites
• Check your dog’s drinking water regularly
• Consider adding supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids
• Get regular veterinary care

Frequently Asked Questions