Liver Disease In Dogs 

The liver is an important part of the body that helps in getting rid of toxins to keep help you stay healthy, and the body of the dog is no different. Liver disease in dogs involves a lot of variables, especially because there are so many different ways that a dog can contract this disease. While in humans the leading cause of liver disease is abuse of drugs or alcohol, in dogs it is mostly due to viral or bacterial infections, which makes it all the more difficult to prevent and all the more tragic. Other sources of liver disease in canines can also be poisonous materials that may have been ingested by your dog, a heart disease that has altered the blood flow to the liver and even congenital diseases. There are also breeds that have a difficulty in excreting copper, such as Bedlingtons and Highland Terriers, and this makes them more susceptible to liver disease in dogs.

Liver Disease In Dogs Symptoms

What you need to do then is to take note of the many liver disease in dogs symptoms and always watch out for them. Many symptoms are indications of liver disease in dogs, especially when you observe these symptoms together. Loss of appetite, sudden and dramatic weight loss, lack of energy and seeming depression, and jaundice, or what is the yellowing of gums, whites of the eyes and even the skin are some of the most common symptoms.

Other symptoms that are not as common, but ones that you must still look out for, are things like dark colored urine or pale gums. In addition, if you notice that your dog seems to have gained weight but it is all in the stomach area, then it is possible that it is not weight gain at all but is actually fluid build up in the stomach area.

Treatment Options

Unless there is a specific type of poison that can be specified as the reason for the liver disease in dogs, there is no specific treatment that can be given. However, a type of therapy is used for this kind of sickness in canines. Conventional therapy consists of a kind of supportive care. This includes introduction of fluids intravenously as well as force feeding through a gastronomy tube. The aim of this treatment of liver disease in dogs is somewhat for cleansing of the liver.

Of course, supplementary treatment is also done through the kind of diet that is given to the dog following the conventional therapy. The best kinds of food that must be included are those that are high in quality and highly digestible carbohydrates. This is so that the dogs energy supply will be renewed. It is of utmost importance that you use high quality carbohydrates, as low quality carbs can definitely make liver disease in dogs much worse by making the digestion of ammonia more difficult. Make sure to have frequent feedings of simple carbs, such as plain white rice and boiled potatoes. Fiber, such as leafy green vegetables, is also an important part of the diet because it promotes healthy bowel movement.

There is no need to despair when it comes to liver disease in dogs, because you can always try to fight it. Because there is no exact treatment, there is no guarantee that it can be healed. All you can do is give your best and keep hoping that your pet will get better.