Enlarged Liver in Dogs

An enlarged liver, a condition called hepatomegaly, is a symptom of liver disease or injury. Liver disease is among the most likely health issues to cause death in dogs. The liver detoxifies the blood, removes waste and bile products to aid in digestion, and performs functions that aid in growth, fighting diseases, supplying nutrients, providing energy and reproducing. Liver disease can not only significantly diminish your dog's quality of life, but it can be fatal to your dog. If you suspect your dog has a liver disorder, take it to your veterinarian as soon as possible. The liver can often heal itself if the disease is caught before too much damage is done. This makes it especially important to seek medical attention at the first indication that there might be a problem.

  1. Symptoms

    • While an enlarged liver is a symptom of liver disease, jaundice is almost always a symptom that also points toward a liver malfunction. Other symptoms of liver disease in dogs include loss of appetite followed by weight loss, infrequent urination, seizures, behavior changes, vomiting, diarrhea, and gray-white and soft stool.

    Diagnosis

    • If your veterinarian suspects that your dog has a liver disorder, the doctor will begin by doing a physical examination. Pale or yellow mucous membranes, spleen enlargement and liver enlargement will be findings in the examination that indicate liver disease. The veterinarian will then likely order a chemistry panel and blood work, possibly followed by a liver biopsy, to confirm diagnosis.

    Liver Disease

    • Liver disease can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, parasites, cancer, inflammation, obstructed bile ducts and poisons.
      Pancretitis, anemia, hepatitis, heartworms, cancer and cirrhosis are also illnesses that can damage the liver.
      There are also diseases that cause secondary liver problems, including hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

    Rest and Nutrition

    • In the cause of trauma, oftentimes hospitalization with supportive care and rest is all that will be required to restore health. The liver has an amazing ability to heal itself if the damage is not too extensive. Even in some forms of liver disease, rest and good nutrition may be extremely important to healing.
      Diet plays a role in the treatment of many types of liver diseases. Depending on what is causing your dog's illness, your veterinarian may prescribe a special diet low in copper, a daily vitamin and mineral supplement, or other special foods.

    Medications

    • Certain medications may help to treat liver disease, depending on how advanced the disease has become. Corticosteroids are often prescribed in chronic hepatitis, and antibiotics are prescribed if an infection or secondary infection is present.

    Surgery

    • Sometimes surgery is used to treat canine liver disease. Surgery can correct conditions in which a vessel is sending blood around the liver rather than through it.

    Supportive Care

    • There is no specific treatment for many types of liver diseases, and supportive care needs to be provided to keep the animal hydrated. Supportive care will also include ensuring that the dog receives adequate nutrition and that vomiting is controlled. This is often done through subcutaneous or intravenous fluids.