Liver Cleansing Diet for a Dog

Liver damage is extremely harmful to the dog's health. The liver is involved in almost all of the dog's biological processes. A damaged liver can be detrimental to the dog's health and may lead to death. However, if ingested, certain foods can cleanse a dog's liver of any potentially damaging toxins.

  1. Liver-Cleansing Diet

    • According to Dr. W. Jean Dodds, 2 cups of pollack or any low-fat white fish along with 6 cups of vegetables and potatoes will cleanse a dog's liver. The following vegetables are recommended: potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, string beans, celery and summer squash. Mix 1/2 cup of each vegetable with 2 cups of pollack, cod or other low-fat white fish.

    Milk Thistle

    • Adding milk thistle to a dog's diet can help cleanse the liver. Use the dog's weight as a percentage of a human dose to determine the correct dosage of milk thistle. For example, a 40 lb. dog would get 40 percent of a human dose, which is usually around 100 to 150 mg.

    Phenobarbital

    • Reducing the amount of phenobarbital, a drug used to treat canine epilepsy, will help cleanse a dog's liver. According to Swiftwater Farms, the toxicity of phenobarbital has been known to harm the liver.

    Negative Aspects

    • According to Dr. Jean Dodds, the liver cleansing diet is only necessary for canines with severe liver disease. The liver-cleansing diet will not help dogs suffering from mild liver problems, nor is it a necessary practice.

    Holistic or Medical

    • Liver-cleansing diets are generally considered to be holistic practices, according to "The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog," by Wendy Volhard. However, veterinarians have been known to recommend this diet to their patients suffering from severe liver problems.