When a dog̵7;s liver begins to fail, it is a serious health issue. (Reference 1) The canine liver serves multiple purposes: vitamin storage, metabolism, digestion and detoxing the body; though these are just a few of the over 1,000 different processes the liver is thought to perform. (Reference 1) Liver failure can affect dogs of any age, though it usually occurs in older dogs and has no predisposition between the sexes. (Reference 1)
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Vomiting
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Vomiting is one common symptom of liver failure. Unfortunately, vomiting is a very non-specific symptom and it must be combined with all other symptoms before the veterinarian will be able to determine what the cause of the vomiting is. (Reference 2, 4)
Diarrhea
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Like vomiting, diarrhea may occur and it is also considered to be a non-specific symptom of disease. Diarrhea may vary from dog to dog in terms of color and consistency and it may be with or without blood. (Reference 2, 4)
Jaundice
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Just as humans can develop jaundice, dogs can develop jaundice as well. In dogs, jaundice is seen as a yellow color to the skin or to the mucus membranes, such as the eyes, mouth and nose. (Reference 2, 3, 4)
Abdominal Enlargement
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Due to the loss of proper liver function, various buildups can occur within the body and result in an enlarged abdomen. (Reference 2) There may also be fluid present in the abdomen, known as ascities, which may add to the abdominal enlargement. (Reference 2, 3)
Behavior
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Liver failure can be stressful for the dog, even if the dog is unaware of why he is feeling ill. This can result in behavior changes, such as depression or aggression, for the affected dog. (Reference 2, 3)
Seizures
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In some dogs, seizures can result from the impending liver failure. When the dog suffers from a seizure, he will display many additional symptoms before, during and after the seizure. This includes restlessness, salivation and vomiting followed by collapse and muscle spasms. After the seizure, the affected dog may be disoriented. (Reference 2, 3, 4, 5)
Hemorrhages
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Spontaneous bleeding may occur, especially internally. Unfortunately, there is no real way for the owner to tell that a dog is internally bleeding without the knowledge and care of a trained veterinarian. (Reference 2, 4)
Increased Thirst and Urination
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As the body attempts to compensate for the liver̵7;s shortcomings, increased thirst and urination may occur. The increased urination is the body̵7;s way of helping to release some of the buildup that is occurring. (Reference 3)
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