Dog liver disease is a fairly common disorder among older animals and is one of the major causes of canine death. Because of its important role in the dog's body, if the liver becomes compromised, other physiological systems can be affected and the dog can suffer a series of afflictions and illnesses that will need to be treated individually and systemically.
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Function
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Located in the dog's abdominal cavity, the liver is the largest organ in the canine body and plays a major role in numerous biological processes vital for survival. The liver produces amino acids that assemble into proteins and carry out numerous other functions in the body. This organ also plays a major role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats in the body---synthesizing glucose into energy, regulating fatty acids and manufacturing cholesterol. In addition, the liver removes waste from the dog's body, detoxifying the blood and ridding it of drugs and other toxic substances.
Causes
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Liver diseases can be categorized by their causes; for example, drug or toxin-induced liver disease results when the liver is unable to remove drugs or toxins from the dog's system. Infectious canine hepatitis is caused by a viral infection that results in hepatic necrosis (liver cell death) and is infectious to unvaccinated dogs. Hepatic neoplasia (primary or metastatic tumors) is a major cause of liver disease in older dogs, and symptoms are not usually noticed until the disease is well advanced. Portosystemic shunt is a congenital disease primarily of young dogs when blood vessels carrying wastes through the digestive system to be detoxified by the liver bypass the organ and the dog's entire body becomes toxic. This disease occurs more commonly in purebred dogs, with Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers being particularly susceptible.
Symptoms
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Because of the regenerative power of the liver, disease symptoms in the dog may not be seen until 70 to 80 percent of the organ is damaged. These symptoms may appear gradually or come on suddenly. The animal may show weight loss with a noted decrease in appetite, an increase in water consumption and urination and diarrhea and lethargy. The veterinarian may be able to feel liver enlargement upon palpation of the abdomen and the dog can be vomiting and jaundiced. There may be an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity with involvement of pain and fever. In advanced cases of liver disease, the dog may become ataxic (unable to control its limbs), can begin circling or pacing, begin having seizures and become comatose.
Treatment
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Once a dog has been diagnosed with liver disease, the treatment is normally palliative; intended to treat the cause and alleviate the symptoms, making the animal more comfortable and prolonging its life. Veterinarians may recommend hospitalizing the dog so that it can receive intravenous fluids and supplements such as Vitamin K, glucose, electrolytes and potassium. Vets can also prescribe antibiotics to treat any underlying infection. Additionally, most veterinarians will also recommend a change in diet to a food that is high in proteins and complex carbohydrates plus a daily multi-vitamin and supplements of Vitamin K and water-soluble Vitamin E.
Considerations
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If canine liver disease is diagnosed in its early stages, good veterinary care and dietary modification can often resolve the problem. However, once a major portion of the liver is compromised, the disease becomes incurable and the issue comes down to longevity and the quality of the dog's life.
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