A healthy liver is essential to your dog’s wellbeing as it is the second largest organ in your dog’s body, after the skin. The early signs of liver failure in dogs, however, are frequently overlooked because the liver can still function normally even with 70% of it being diseased or damaged. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen in my clinical practice, many dogs with liver failure aren’t taken to the doctor until it’s too late.
You can identify symptoms that might be early indicators of liver disease, potentially save your dog’s life, and stop further damage with early intervention by becoming familiar with the subtle signs of liver disease in dogs and having your dog checked by a veterinarian on a regular basis.
Early signs of liver failure in dogs are difficult to identify because they don’t necessarily point to the liver. The liver does many things. Its functions include helping with digestion, detoxifying the blood, producing clotting factors, storing a variety of vitamins and minerals, and making proteins. Because of this, the early warning signs are frequently overlooked, disregarded, or linked to other conditions.
Can Pet Insurance Cover Liver Disease?
The expense of treating canine liver disease depends on the required diagnostic procedures, medical interventions, and medications. The average claim submitted by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance customers for liver disease in 2016 was over $960, and several claims totaled over $4,000. *.
That kind of expensive, unforeseen bill can be challenging to pay for, especially without the financial protection of pet insurance. You can get started right away with a free quote if your dog isn’t covered.
*Source: Internal Claims Data, 2016
If your dog has some symptoms of liver problems, your vet may ask you about their diet and medications. The vet may want to do blood tests and X-rays or an ultrasound to get a picture of what is going on with your dogs liver. They may also want to take a biopsy — remove a small tissue sample for testing.
Early detection of liver disease and the implementation of small changes before it worsens will help your dog. Take them to the vet for their annual checkups and vaccinations, which should include a leptospirosis vaccine. Ensure that your pet’s veterinarian is informed of any medications or dietary supplements they may be taking. Be mindful of what you feed your dog. Fatty foods can hurt their liver. Additionally, avoid letting your dog run loose in areas where there may be toxic plants or insects.
Common Signs of Dog Liver Disease
digestive system issues are one of the early dog liver disease symptoms most frequently seen. A dog may experience nausea, vomit, stop eating, or develop diarrhea as a result of an unhealthy liver. Another sign that something might not be right underneath the hood is if your dog is losing weight despite not being on a diet. Even though excessive urinating and drinking are typically linked to kidney disease or diabetes, liver dysfunction can also make a dog feel thirsty.
Not all liver disease symptoms appear on your dog’s insides. The body’s largest consumers of protein are the skin and hair, and the liver’s primary function is to produce proteins. The body will selectively shift all the proteins being made to the vital organs — gut, heart, and brain — and give less to the skin and hair if it senses that the liver isn’t keeping up with the demand for proteins. This can result in abnormal looking skin and hair. If there is a liver issue, you might observe hair that grows slowly or doesn’t grow back after the dog is shaved, brittle hair, dandruff, or hair loss.
Lethargy, irritability, or depression are just a few behavioral changes that can result from liver disease in dogs. In addition to hormonal imbalances, canine dementia, chronic arthritic pain, or hormonal disorders, liver disease can also be the cause of those behavioral changes.
A blood vessel genetic defect that affects the liver’s blood flow can occur in puppies at birth. A portosystemic shunt is what it is, and it may cause odd “head-pressing” behavior after eating, low birth weight, or failure to thrive.
FAQ
What are signs of liver damage in dogs?
- Lethargy and fatigue.
- Low appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Drinking less or more than usual.
- Vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Shaking caused by nausea or discomfort.
How do you check a dog’s liver?
When liver disease is suspected in a pet, the following screening tests are typically advised: a complete blood count (CBC), a serum biochemical profile, and a urinalysis.
What causes liver problems in dogs?
Acute Liver Failure Recovery in Dogs Determining and treating the acute liver failure cause is necessary for full recovery. Some conditions are treatable. Others will require long-term treatment with medications that could have serious side effects.