Liver disease is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the liver that typically cause damage and/or inflammation. This can be a primary liver problem or secondary to other underlying conditions. Left untreated, liver disease can have serious health consequences for your dog. Along with the guidance of your veterinarian, there are several preventative measures and treatment options available for liver disease that can allow your dog to live a long and healthy life.

Liver disease in dogs can emerge in different scenarios, with a variety of different signs and symptoms. It can be mild to severe, and quite often you may not notice symptoms in your dog. Blood tests may show signs of primary liver disease or injury, or elevated markers in your dog’s blood might arise from an entirely different disease that does not start in the liver, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, or Cushing’s disease (an overactive adrenal gland).

Liver disease can have many different causes, including bacterial infections, toxin exposure, viruses, or congenital defects from birth.

Signs and symptoms of liver disease in dogs:

• Weight loss
• Fever
• Decreased appetite
• Neurologic signs (seizures, disorientation, staring into space, circling)
• Lethargy
• Temporary blindness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Increased thirst and urination
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, gums, eyes)
• Ascites (a visible swelling or distention of the abdomen due to an accumulation of fluid)
• Pale-coloured bowel movements/faeces

How your veterinarian will diagnose liver disease may depend on your dog’s symptoms and how sick they are. Typically, the first step will be blood work, and it is likely that your veterinarian will recommend additional diagnostics as well.

If there is a concern about the presence of liver disease, your veterinarian may recommend performing one or more of these tests:

Blood chemistry test: A blood chemistry test will check the function of your dog’s organs. Your veterinarian will specifically be looking for abnormalities within your dog’s liver enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as other enzymes that can also indicate a liver issue, such as albumin, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, and cholesterol.

Complete blood count (CBC): A CBC will measure your dog’s red and white blood cells and platelets. For example, anaemia (low red blood cells) found in this test can be a sign of chronic liver disease.

Coagulation profile: Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) will show your dog’s ability to form blood clots and detect bleeding risk.

Urinalysis: A urinalysis will check your dog’s urine for protein, blood, infection, crystals, and pH levels.

Radiographs: Abdominal radiographs, or x-rays, may be taken to view your dog’s liver and surrounding organs. Radiographs can help your veterinarian determine whether the border of the liver appears irregular, if it is enlarged, or if there are any masses present.

Ultrasonography: An abdominal ultrasound can be used to view the liver and biliary system (the bile ducts and gallbladder). Ultrasonography offers a different perspective from radiographs and allows your veterinarian to obtain more information. Some things an ultrasound can show include: Measurements of the thickness and dimensions of an organ; An accumulation of mucus (also known as a mucocele) within the liver or gallbladder; Lymph node enlargement; An accumulation of free fluid (effusion) in the abdomen; Abnormalities within the veins and arteries attached to the liver; Architecture and composition of the liver.

Computed tomography: A computed tomography (CT) scan can be a useful tool in identifying mass lesions or abnormalities of the veins and arteries attached to the liver.

Bile acid stimulation test: A blood test that helps determine liver function. This involves taking blood samples to measure the amount of bile acids present before and after feeding your pet.

This test is usually sent abroad for testing.

Treatment of liver disease can vary depending on the underlying cause and severity of symptoms. You’ll work closely with your veterinarian to come up with a treatment plan.

For a dog with hepatitis, your veterinarian may recommend supportive care to help reduce liver inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis), which can include intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SQ) fluids, antibiotics, antioxidants, steroids, and supplements. Sometimes immunosuppressive drugs or dietary changes are also needed.