Liver disease is very complex, with many different causes and symptoms. Treatment includes dietary management, often by feeding Hill's prescription l/d food, along with supplements and medication. Dogs with liver disease may act depressed, be unwilling to eat and have gastrointestinal upset and a swollen belly, along with weight loss. Unusual-colored feces (gray) and urine (dark yellow or orange), abdominal pain and pale gums are other symptoms. In short, because the liver is not filtering toxins from the blood and allowing proper digestion of food, a dog with liver disease feels awful.
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Diagnosis and Choosing a Diet
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While there is often no cure for liver disease, palliative treatment and diet can increase both the length and quality of a dog's life. Initial diagnosis is usually made by diagnostic blood work--a CBC (complete blood count) analysis reveals malfunctioning liver enzymes and anemia. This is confirmed by the results of a chemistry screen and urinalysis. Your veterinarian will probably do an ultrasound to check for masses or abnormal liver growth, followed by a biopsy, which can usually pinpoint the cause of the disease. Once your veterinarian knows the cause, she can suggest a suitable diet.
Liver shunts, a common genetic cause of liver disease, requires a lower-protein, easily digestible diet. Copper storage disease--where dietary copper is stored in the liver rather than excreted--is common in several breeds, including Bedlington terriers, Dalmatians, and Doberman pinschers. Most recommended liver disease diets use low-copper ingredients such as beef and eggs to provide protein. Since many dogs with liver disease do not absorb and digest food efficiently, the diet should be relatively high in fiber to ease digestion and absorb excess ammonia and bile acids. Liver disease diets should also be low in vitamin C, sodium, potassium and anything else that can be harmful if not properly filtered by the liver.
Hills L/D Diet
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Hills l/d Canine (l/d stands for liver disease) is formulated to be suitable for most forms of liver disease. It's available from many veterinarians in both canned and kibbled formulas, and either or both can be fed. Hills recommends a gradual switch from your dog's regular food, by mixing a little of the l/d diet into the food and increasing the amount until your dog is eating only the l/d. The Hill's prescription diet will be more effective if you don't mix it with any other food.
Management of liver disease requires regular monitoring by your veterinarian, and he can guide you on how much l/d food to feed, and how often. Some dogs require up to six small meals per day. Your vet can also prescribe supportive medications and suggest additional supplements. Don't give any supplements before consulting with your vet, as they may interfere with the medication or l/d diet.
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