Unfortunately, once your dog’s liver has progressed to failure, there is not much that can be done. This helps them get a better idea of what the underlying cause for liver disease could be such as cancer, infection, gall-bladder issue, or something else. Your vet may also want to schedule an abdominal ultrasound for your dog.Īn ultrasound allows your vet to look inside your dog’s abdomen and liver. You dog may have already been diagnosed with elevated liver enzymes and now is the time to find out why. The Bile Acids test gives a good indication if your dog’s liver is able to metabolize proteins and get rid of toxins or not. It will also usually include checking a Bile Acids test. This will involve checking what is called a Complete Blood Count and a Chemistry Profile. To diagnose liver failure, your dog will need to have comprehensive blood work performed. If your dog accidentally ingested too many pills of a medication they were prescribed, call your vet right away to see if it was one that could have harmful effects on their liver.Īlso, if your dog ever accidentally gets into any of your own medications, always call your vet to see if it was one that could be toxic to your dog. Try to keep these substances away from your dog.
Once in end-stage liver failure, another risk to your dog is losing blood since they cannot make blood clots properly.
The liver also makes blood clotting factors when it is healthy. This occurs because a normal function of the liver is to rid the body of toxins and to metabolize proteins.Īs the liver stops doing its job, toxins begin to build up in your dog’s body, causing these neurologic effects. This is called “ hepatic encephalopathy”. Other neurologic symptoms may include blindness, dizziness, seizures, disorientation, pacing, and aimless wandering. Once in end-stage liver failure, your dog may have significant depression and a change in mentality. When the liver stops being able to make albumin, your dog will leak fluid into the spaces surrounding their organs in their abdomen, causing them to look “pot-bellied”. The liver makes a protein, called albumin, which helps to keep fluid within your dog’s blood vessels and organs. You may also notice your dog’s abdomen becoming distended. These include a yellow discoloration to your dog’s skin, the inner aspect of their ear flaps, or to the white of their eyes. Middle StagesĪs liver disease progresses and your dog’s liver stops being able to do the things it normally does, you may notice more obvious things. If caught early enough, liver disease can be slowed down by starting your dog on special supplements and food. Usually this is when there is on-going inflammation in their liver due to an underlying cause, which we will discuss in a bit. They also may have some nausea and vomiting. In the early stages of liver disease, when the liver is still able to function to a certain degree, your dog may just be more tired than usual or have a finicky appetite. Other times, such as if your dog ate something toxic, they can develop liver failure very quickly and become sick within a 24-hour time period.
If you are ever concerned something is just not quite right with your dog, always schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. That is why it is good to not ignore any subtle changes to your dog’s behavior, routine, and appetite. Sometimes dogs can slowly develop liver failure and not show any indication anything is wrong until it gets really bad.
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