Canine liver disease can be a very serious condition. There are many possible treatment options, and knowing all of them will help you to better decide how to take care of the problem.
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Cause
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Which treatment option you use will largely depend on what caused the condition, such as a bacterial infection, trauma, or another disorder or disease (anemia, cancer, etc.).
Medications
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There are several medications available to treat canine liver disease, such as antibiotics (for bacterial infections), corticosteroids (to treat inflammation and stimulate appetite), and penicillamine and zinc acetate (for copper storage disease).
Diet
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Liver disease can cause dogs to lose their appetite and, in some cases, to suffer from malnutrition. Dogs should be fed high-nutrient and high-vitamin diets to protect against this and may need to be fed with a syringe or feeding tube. Dogs with copper storage disease should be fed diets low in copper.
Supplements
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Supplements are often a good idea for dogs suffering with liver disease to aid in fighting against deficiencies. Choose a multivitamin containing vitamins K and E, but make sure that the supplement does not contain copper if the animal is suffering from copper storage disease.
Surgery
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Surgery may be necessary, especially in the cases of dogs suffering from cancer of the liver.
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