In liver cirrhosis the prognosis was poor, with 94 per cent of the dogs dead within one week of established diagnosis. For dogs with the other types of chronic hepatitis the prognosis was more favourable with the mean survival time ranging from 21.1 to 36.4 months.
Few medical conditions are more devastating than acute liver failure (ALF), in which a previously healthy patient can undergo rapid deterioration in liver function and be near death within 5 to 7 days after the onset of clinical signs.
Dogs with end stage liver disease suffer symptoms related to the liver's inability to perform its functions: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, bleeding tendencies, jaundice (yellow color to skin and eyes), behavior changes, and in severe cases, seizures.
Liver disease is a non-painful condition, however dogs and cats can be nauseous, neurological or accumulate fluid in the abdomen, all of which require medication to control.
Patients with compensated cirrhosis have a median survival that may extend beyond 12 years. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have a worse prognosis than do those with compensated cirrhosis; the average survival without transplantation is approximately two years [13,14].
Fluid buildup in the abdomen can develop and be uncomfortable. It may cause shortness of breath if there's pressure on the diaphragm. Fluid buildup may also cause nausea, loss of appetite, and abdominal and back pain . The person may also be at risk of developing an infection when this fluid is present.
Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure may see their livers fail over weeks to months, compared to months to years as is typical in chronic liver failure.
Livers are regenerative, so if liver disease is caught early enough, dogs can recover and live a happy, healthy life. But in severe cases, your dog may require more intensive treatment and in extreme cases, liver disease may even be too advanced to be treated.
Diet changes often help. Your dog may need a special diet to make sure they are getting the nutrients and calories needed to help their liver. Supplements such as SAM-E or milk thistle may help the liver recover. Antibiotics are used for infections of the liver.
The liver can be infected by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. The most common viral disease associated with the canine liver is infectious canine hepatitis, which can cause inflammation and scarring. This is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Additional Foods for Dogs With Liver Disease
Appropriate options include: Dairy products such as cottage cheese, yogurt, goat cheese, and ricotta cheese. High-quality proteins such as chicken and turkey without the bones, fish, and eggs.
“Things like organ meats and fish contain higher levels of certain compounds (purines, some of the amino acids) that can be particularly harmful for dogs with bad liver disease.
Nausea. Just like people, dogs can get nauseous from motion sickness, medication, eating too much, or eating the wrong thing, such as a toxic plant. They also can get nausea from kidney or liver disease, as well as other diseases. Shaking may be a sign that your dog is nauseous.
Liver failure can affect many of your body's organs. Acute liver failure can cause such complications as infection, electrolyte deficiencies and bleeding. Without treatment, both acute and chronic liver failure may eventually result in death.
Up to 88% of patients with ESLD experience painful muscle cramps that result in sleep deprivation and decreased QoL. Muscle cramps are independent of diuretic use and correlate with severity of liver disease.
The liver is supposed to break down the ammonia to make it less toxic, but in hepatic encephalopathy, the liver is compromised and cannot perform this task. This causes the ammonia and other toxins to build up in the brain, which causes confusion and mental deterioration.
Abnormal liver enzyme levels can usually be detected in blood tests. In isolated cases it may be possible to surgical remove then affected lobe, however this is difficult. The prognosis in most cases is poor, deterioration is rapid once clinical signs develop and death usually results within 3-4 months.
Occasionally puppies are born “liver-nose”. This is a unique difference to the more common black-nose Ridgeback, and has a light-brown nose. This is because the liver-nose gene is recessive, both parents must carry it, even though they may be black-nose themselves.
Pets with hepatic disease need carefully regulated portions of high quality and highly digestible carbohydrates. White rice, potatoes, and vegetables are good source of simple and complex carbohydrates for pets with liver diseases.
Grapes & Raisins. Any cookies, cakes or other treats containing grapes or raisins should be kept well away from dogs. Grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage or even kidney failure in dogs.
Xylitol and paracetamol are commonly encountered substances which can cause liver toxicity in dogs. Some blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and mushrooms produce compounds that damage the liver. Acute ingestion of some plants, particularly cycads, can cause liver failure in dogs.
The liver is part of the body's natural detoxification system, which helps filter out toxins. Foods that support liver health include berries, cruciferous vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fatty fish. Coffee and green tea contain antioxidants that are helpful for liver health.
Summary. The vitamin A content of the liver and kidneys of dogs fed fresh carrots is greater than that found in dogs on a meat and boiled rice diet. The level of the vitamin A concentration in the liver and kidneys is approximately 20 vitamin A animal units.