Pet Owner's Guide to Canine Liver Disease

The liver is an organ that is responsible for various functions in the body. Your dog will experience many different health problems if it isn't working correctly. Liver disease is fatal for many dogs each year. This condition affects older dogs in most cases. But younger puppies can develop this disease too.

Other health conditions are usually the reason why dogs develop liver disease. Some of the most common conditions to blame include anemia, hepatitis, and pancreatitis. Parasites can also bring about disease of the liver. Dogs that ingest toxins or chemicals like antifreeze will significantly increase their risk also. Medications can also cause liver disease. Dogs that eat a lot of fatty foods may also develop the condition since their body can't break them down properly. Diabetes and cancer can also lead to this disease.

In its early stages, you may not notice many symptoms of liver disease. Once diseases do appear, they include lethargy, weight loss, and loss of appetite. It is also common for the dog's abdomen to swell up. He may appear to be in pain if you touch this area.

Your dog's liver is responsible for carrying out many different functions as you have already read. It produces bile pigments that give feces and urine its color. Therefore, canine liver disease can cause your dog's urine to turn pale gray and his urine to be quite orange. Many dogs develop jaundice too. This disease isn't usually diagnosed in its early stages due to the fact that it doesn't cause many noticeable symptoms around this time. This is one of the main reasons why the condition is very deadly in dogs.

Vets will need to take a medical history and perform a physical exam in order to start diagnosing the disease. The vet may also order that your dog undergoes a urinalysis. Your dog will likely need to undergo several other tests including an ultrasound of the liver and a radiograph of the abdomen. Your dog may also have to submit a biopsy of the liver.

Whatever your dog's underlying condition is, it will need to be treated. If trauma is the underlying cause, hospitalization until recovery may be required. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. If your dog has any other underlying conditions, then the vet will need to treat them too for the liver will heal.

Dogs that have a liver disease will also benefit from a special diet. You will need to pay attention to the amount of vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, and fat that he consumes in his food. Feeding him a proper diet will minimize the liver's workload.

As an owner, it is best that you learn all you can about various diseases such as distemper in canines. You never know when your dog will get sick. Recognizing the signs quickly can go a long way. Click over to common-dog-diseases.com today to start learning about many different common dog diseases.