Liver disease in dogs is a prevalent health issue that has serious repercussions. If not caught in time, it can cause irreversible damage to the liver and potentially cause liver failure.
In this article, we will give you a brief overview of liver disease in dogs and then tackle the ideal dietary changes that can hinder its progression.
What Is Liver Disease in Dogs?
Liver disease is a term used to refer to a group of conditions inflicting damage or inflammation of the liver.
Although this condition may occur on its own, it is often the result of an underlying disease like chronic hepatitis, acute liver failure, portosystemic shunts, and bacterial infections.
Any dog can develop liver disease, but the following breeds are more vulnerable to it due to genetic predisposition:
- Bedlington Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dalmatian
- Doberman Pinscher
- Great Dane
- Labrador Retriever
- Maltese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Poodle
- English Springer Spaniel
- West Highland White Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Dogs with liver disease can be cured depending on the primary cause of their condition. Treatment options may range from medications and supplements to dietary changes and surgery.
How Does Diet Aid in Mitigating Liver Disease in Dogs?
Many of the life-sustaining functions of the canine liver largely involve the digestive tract. This means the type of food your furry pal eats has a direct impact on his liver health.
Providing him with the right diet increases his chances of having a better prognosis. Here are a few tips that can help you tailor the most suitable meals for a pooch with liver disease:
1. Copper Intake Restriction Might Be Needed
Liver disease in dogs is sometimes a secondary health complication caused by a genetic condition called copper storage disease (CSD). It causes the body to overproduce copper, which is metabolized in the liver.
Processing excessive amounts of the mineral can stress the organ, leading to inflammation and in worst cases, liver failure. Dogs with CSD resulting from liver disease will need to limit their copper intake.
A 2015 study shows it helps prevent the accumulation of the mineral in the canine body. Most copper-restricted dog food offers less than 0.12 mg/100 kcal of copper.
Beware that drinking water, especially coming from a well or a copper pipe, contains copper. You can check the concentration of this mineral by sending a sample of the water to a laboratory certified to analyze it.
If the results show more than 100 µg/L of copper, the water is not suitable for a dog with CSD. Consider using a reverse osmosis filter to reduce the copper concentrations in the drinking water.
2. Only Make Adjustments to Your Pet’s Protein Intake When Necessary
Proteins are essential for combatting the progression of liver disease in dogs. They are known to aid in liver regeneration and help maintain positive nitrogen balance. Thus, there is usually no need to set any protein intake restrictions.
However, an exception is made if the liver disease in dogs causes a health complication known as hepatic encephalopathy. It occurs when high levels of toxins, particularly ammonia, build up in the body due to poor liver function.
Choosing a dog food with a lower protein content reduces the amount of toxic wastes like ammonia produced by protein breakdown. In general, hepatic diets provide approximately 2.0–2.5 g/kg of proteins.
3. Highly Digestible Proteins Are Crucial for Better Liver Function
Aside from protein restrictions, diets intended to manage hepatic encephalopathy resulting from liver disease in dogs must contain highly digestible proteins. These proteins help minimize the amount of protein waste produced by the body and lighten the liver’s workload.
Sources of these proteins must be low in copper concentrations if the affected canine also suffers from CSD. Hepatic pet foods usually use eggs, peas, soy, and white meat chicken, ostrich, and turkey as protein sources because of their easy digestibility.
4. Choose a Low-Sodium Diet
The occurrence of ascites or filling up of the abdomen with fluids is a symptom of liver disease in dogs. This condition can turn life-threatening as it places pressure on the respiratory system, causing breathing issues.
It happens due to a combination of several factors, including a sodium imbalance in the body.
Completely eliminating salt from your dog’s diet is not advisable since it plays an important role in numerous body processes. The safest option available is to switch to a low-sodium diet.
If your canine companion is fed a homemade diet, consider using salt varieties with lower sodium concentrations, like pink Himalayan salt, iodized salt, or kosher salt.
5. Avoid Feeding Large Meals
Liver disease in dogs hampers the liver function, compromising the organ’s ability to aid in digestion, produce blood clotting proteins, and filter toxins from the bloodstream.
For this reason, reducing the workload of the liver is critical. Eating large meals means more work for the organ.
Thus, it would be best to divide your pet’s food portions into smaller amounts and then serve them to him at equally spaced mealtimes.
By doing so, his liver has more time to process the food and is less likely to become inflamed due to overwork.
FAQs About Liver Disease in Dogs
1. What Are the Symptoms of Liver Disease in Dogs?
Symptoms of liver disease in dogs commonly involve the gastrointestinal and neurological systems.
This condition can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pale feces, a swollen abdomen, and weight loss. Seizures, disorientation, and blank staring into space may also occur.
Other clinical signs to watch out for are lethargy, jaundice, fever, and excessive thirst and urination.
2. Can Dogs With Liver Disease Eat Meat?
Dogs with liver disease can eat meat, but their pawrents need to consult a veterinary nutritionist for potential restrictions first.
For instance, pooches with liver disease-induced CSD need to avoid organ meats and dark meats since they are high in copper.
3. Can a Dog’s Liver Repair Itself?
Technically, a dog’s liver can repair itself. However, sustaining too much damage leads to permanent tissue scarring, which inhibits the organ’s regeneration ability.
Early diagnosis and treatment of liver damage give affected dogs a better chance of receiving a positive prognosis.
4. How Long Will a Dog Live with Liver Disease?
There is no definitive approximation of how long a dog will live with liver disease. Life expectancy may vary greatly for canines with this ailment.
However, pooches with mild to moderate conditions are more likely to live longer compared to those with chronic liver disease.
Conclusion
One way to help your dog combat liver disease is by learning the right diet for his condition.
Make sure to work closely with a seasoned and trusted veterinary nutritionist when creating a dietary plan for your pooch. Doing so ensures that the choices you make are the best options available.
