Your dog cannot tell the pet owner if something feels wrong. Subtle changes in a dog’s behavior offer important clues. The dog’s liver is an organ pet owners must not overlook. The organ helps with digestion and has functions to keep dogs healthy.
Understanding liver disease in dogs (โรคตับในสุนัข) helps recognize the warning signs to determine its type. Liver disease takes several forms. It can have different causes and symptoms that affect the dog’s overall health. Each type of liver condition affects every pet differently, from congenital problems to infections.
Pet owners are recommended to explore the types of liver diseases in dogs to determine whether their dog is suffering from one of them.
Liver disease in dogs
A damaged liver in dogs cannot function normally. The condition is more common than pet parents might think. The condition is serious. This eases the symptoms in dogs to help them live longer.
Pet owners must know about the disease, including:
- signs
- treatment
- prevention
All of these help pet owners get medication when liver disease in dogs is detected earlier. The liver keeps the dog’s body running smoothly. A functioning liver helps a dog’s digestion. It detoxifies harmful substances in the dog’s immune system.
Liver diseases in dogs are chronic or acute. Therefore, you must ensure early detection so they can receive treatment.
Types of liver diseases in dogs
There are several types of liver diseases in dogs.
Chronic hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis is a long-term inflammation that damages liver cells and causes scarring. The condition is caused by:
- infectious agents
- toxins
- certain medications
- autoimmune responses
Chronic hepatitis in dogs is caused by different diseases. It is because of inflammation in the liver. It is possibly caused by necrosis. Necrosis means cell death. Inflammation is caused by infiltration of the liver with various active white blood cells in the immune system.
Acute liver failure
Liver failure in dogs happens suddenly. It is caused by severe liver damage due to toxin exposure. The liver removes waste products from the dog’s body. It absorbs and produces proteins, including:
- produces clotting factors
- eliminates toxins
- helps in metabolism and digestion
The liver can regrow after damage. But excessive damage to the liver is difficult to regenerate. Many diseases result in liver failure if over 70% of the liver is damaged. Liver failure in dogs is an emergency condition. It is painful and can result in death. Dogs with end-stage liver failure often die within one week of diagnosis.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is progressive scarring on the liver. It develops when there is undetected inflammation of the liver from various causes, like hepatitis. The liver is not functioning well if the dog’s liver has cirrhosis. An increasingly scarred liver in dogs can lead to complications, such as:
- portal hypertension
- liver failure
Liver tumors
A dog’s liver can develop benign and malignant tumors. It develops from the liver cells or from metastasis from other parts of the body.
FAQs
What are the causes of cell death in a dog’s liver?
Liver cell death in dogs is caused by infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria.
Can foods cause liver failure in dogs?
Yes. Many common foods pose serious health risks to a dog’s liver. Examples of these foods are:
- chocolate
- grapes
- garlic
- xylitol
- nuts
What does a dog’s liver look like when diagnosed with cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis in the dog’s liver has a thick piece of leathery scar tissue.
How to treat cirrhosis in dogs?
You cannot completely treat liver cirrhosis in dogs because the scar is permanent. The mere treatment is managing the symptoms to slow down further liver damage.
Do liver tumors in dogs be surgically removed?
Liver tumors in dogs can be removed with surgery.