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The liver is a very important organ and plays a central role in a dog's metabolism. Sadly, neither young nor old dogs are immune to liver diseases. But what illnesses are there and what can we do about them? The most important information about liver disease in dogs can be found in the following article.
To better understand the development of liver disease in dogs, it’s useful to look at the anatomy and main functions of the liver.
Anatomy of the Liver
A dog’s liver is located in the front part of the abdomen and is partially protected by the ribs. It is divided into seven lobes, each consisting of many smaller units.
These so-called hepatic lobules have a hexagonal shape and are made up of liver cells (hepatocytes). Numerous blood vessels (sinusoids) run between these liver cells. They transport blood from the portal vein and hepatic artery through the liver to the central vein.
During blood flow, liver cells absorb harmful substances and nutrients from the blood and metabolise them through conversion, storage, or breakdown.
In addition to blood vessels, there are also bile ducts in a dog’s liver. These hepatic ducts produce bile, which is then transported through bile ducts and the common bile duct (ductus choledochus) into the duodenum, aiding fat digestion. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder.
Functions of the Liver
The liver is an important metabolic organ in a dog’s body. It performs several crucial tasks:
Lipid metabolism: The liver extracts fats from the blood and stores them in hepatocytes. When the body needs energy, it converts these fat stores into energy.
Carbohydrate metabolism: Sugar molecules are stored in the liver as glycogen. When the body requires more energy, glycogen reserves are converted back into sugar. The liver needs the help of the pancreas for this, as insulin is produced there. Insulin ensures that sugar is absorbed into liver cells.
Protein metabolism: Proteins consist of amino acids. Excess amino acids cannot be stored in the liver and are converted into ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is toxic and thus converted into urea in the liver, which is then excreted in urine.
Coagulation factors: Blood clotting depends on coagulation factors (coagulation proteins) produced in the liver. If there aren’t enough coagulation factors (e.g., fibrinogen), it results in a coagulation disorder (coagulopathy).
As many different tasks as the liver performs in a dog’s body, there are just as many possibilities for various liver diseases.
Liver diseases in dogs often manifest through nonspecific symptoms.
What Liver Diseases Occur in Dogs?
There are many different liver diseases in dogs. They arise from various functional disorders or liver cell damage. The most common liver diseases in dogs include:
Deficiency in Coagulation Factors
If the liver does not produce enough coagulation factors or the body uses them up excessively, a dog may suffer from a bleeding disorder (coagulopathy). If the body develops bleeding, it doesn’t stop – the dog may bleed to death in the worst-case scenario. A typical example is coumarin poisoning from ingesting rat poison.
Jaundice (Icterus)
Jaundice (icterus) is not a separate disease but rather a symptom. The cause is an increase in bile pigments in the blood, which manifests as yellow-orange deposits in the mucous membranes and the sclera (white part) of the eye. Veterinarians differentiate the causes of this symptom based on whether a disease occurs “before,” “behind,” or in the liver itself.
Portosystemic Liver Shunt (PSS)
A liver shunt is usually a congenital vascular anomaly in the liver of dogs. In this case, blood does not flow through the liver but moves directly through a vessel (shunt) into the main vein. As a result, the liver misses out on important nutrients, and toxic substances like ammonia are not broken down.
Inflammation of Liver Tissue
Liver inflammation can be acute or chronic. The most common causes include viruses and bacteria, but protozoa and toxins are also possible culprits. A well-known example is the canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1), the causative agent of infectious canine hepatitis (HCC).
Notable is chronic hepatitis due to excessive copper storage in the liver. This is a congenital defect in copper metabolism in affected dogs. Increased copper deposits in liver cells lead to chronic liver inflammation. Breeds particularly affected include the Bedlington Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Skye Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and Dalmatian.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is the end stage of chronic liver disease in dogs. Prolonged damage results in the formation of hard scar tissue, which then nodularly pervades the liver. This leads to circulation disorders and further functional damage. Unfortunately, this cannot be reversed.
Symptoms of Liver Disease in Dogs
Given the liver’s diverse role in a dog’s metabolism, various symptoms can appear in cases of liver disease. The most common signs of illness include:
General symptoms: fatigue, lack of appetite, behavioural changes, fever
Of course, not every dog with liver disease shows all of these symptoms. Sometimes mild signs of illness hide a serious liver disease.
How Is Liver Disease Diagnosed in Dogs?
If the vet suspects liver disease in your dog based on the history (anamnesis) and general examination, they will likely first conduct a blood test. This allows measurement of important blood and liver parameters. Particularly important are inflammatory cells, bilirubin, urea, and glucose, as well as liver-specific enzymes like alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH).
Additionally, the lab will determine bile acids, ammonia, and coagulation factors through liver function tests.
If the vet suspects a tumour or other tissue changes, imaging techniques provide vital clues. X-rays, ultrasound, CT, or MRI may be used.
Furthermore, a cytological examination can be conducted via biopsy. Under a microscope, the vet can then identify structural changes or liver cell damage.
Treatment of Liver Disease in Dogs
The treatment of liver disease in dogs strongly depends on the underlying cause. The most common treatments include:
Symptomatic therapy (e.g., fluid therapy)
Specific therapy: antibiotics for bacterial infections, ursodeoxycholic acid for bile stasis, surgical procedures for tumours or PSS, anti-inflammatories
Your vet will decide the best combination of treatments for your dog’s liver disease based on the cause.
Note: Choosing a suitable dietetic food can support your dog’s natural bodily functions. However, please note that dietetic foods cannot cure or prevent diseases. Always discuss your dog’s proper diet with your vet. You can find special dietetic foods in the zooplus online shop.
Are There Home Remedies for Liver Disease in Dogs?
Liver disease in dogs always requires a vet’s care. However, there are numerous homeopathic remedies that can be used alongside treatment. Carduus marianus (milk thistle), chelidonium (celandine), and solidago (goldenrod) are just a few examples. However, please do not administer these remedies on your own. Your vet can advise you on which remedy is appropriate for your dog.
What Is the Prognosis?
The liver has a very high regeneration capacity of approx. 80%. Therefore, many liver diseases in dogs have a good prognosis. However, if the dog already has irreversible cirrhosis or liver tumours, this worsens the chances of recovery.
Prophylaxis: Can I Prevent Liver Disease in Dogs?
Many liver diseases, such as hereditary diseases or liver tumours, cannot be prevented. However, to avoid overloading an already damaged liver, you should feed your dog a protein-reduced diet. Vaccination protects your dog from the dangerous infectious canine hepatitis.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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