Introduction
The liver plays a vital role in a dog’s health, performing essential functions like filtering toxins from the blood, aiding digestion, and metabolizing nutrients. Liver disease is relatively common in dogs, especially as they age. Some estimates suggest up to 15% of older dogs may have some form of liver dysfunction.
Diet is extremely important for dogs with liver issues. The right diet can help manage symptoms, support liver health, and slow the progression of liver disease. Conversely, the wrong foods can tax the liver unnecessarily. Making thoughtful dietary changes is one of the most effective ways to care for a dog with compromised liver function.
This guide will overview the most common canine liver diseases, their symptoms, and diagnosis. It will provide detailed dietary recommendations to support your dog’s liver health through food choices, supplements, and homemade recipes. Proper nutrition is vital for dogs with liver disease and can significantly impact their wellbeing. This guide aims to help dog owners make the best diet choices when caring for a dog with liver problems.
Common Liver Diseases in Dogs
Some of the most common liver diseases that affect dogs include:
- Canine Hepatitis – This is an inflammatory liver disease caused by a virus. It can lead to scarring and hardening of the liver tissue. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
- Cirrhosis – This chronic liver disease occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. It is often caused by hepatitis or chronic inflammation. Cirrhosis prevents the liver from functioning properly.
- Copper Storage Disease – This is an inherited condition in some dog breeds where copper accumulates in the liver over time, leading to inflammation and scarring. It is especially common in Bedlington Terriers.
- Liver Cancer – Dogs can develop both primary liver tumors and metastatic tumors that spread to the liver from elsewhere in the body. Liver tumors often spread rapidly and can be difficult to treat.
Other less common liver diseases in dogs include chronic active hepatitis, granulomatous hepatitis, amyloidosis, and vacuolar hepatopathy. Many liver diseases lead to similar symptoms and require diagnostic testing for confirmation. Early treatment is key for preserving liver function.
Symptoms of Liver Disease
Some common symptoms of liver disease in dogs include:
- Lethargy and fatigue – Dogs with liver problems often become less active and have less energy. They may sleep more and be less interested in exercise or play.
- Loss of appetite – Liver disease can cause a reduced appetite. Dogs may eat less food at meals or show no interest in food at all.
- Weight loss – Appetite changes and difficulty metabolizing nutrients can lead to weight loss in dogs with liver issues.
- Increased thirst and urination – Liver problems can impact fluid regulation, leading to excessive drinking and urination.
- Vomiting and diarrhea – Gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea are common in dogs with liver disease. This is often related to a buildup of toxins.
- Jaundice – A yellowing of the skin, gums, and whites of the eyes may indicate a liver problem. This is caused by excess bilirubin.
Other possible signs include shaking, swollen abdomen, bleeding disorders, and behavioral changes. Catching liver disease early is important, so notify your vet if you notice any of these symptoms in your dog. For more information see: https://valevets.com/liver-disease/
Diagnosing Liver Problems
There are a few ways vets can diagnose liver disease in dogs:
Blood tests: Vets will run blood tests to check levels of two liver enzymes – ALT (alanine transferase) and ALP (alkaline phosphatase). Elevated levels indicate liver damage or inflammation. Other blood tests like bilirubin, albumin and BUN can also point to liver issues.
Biopsy: This is the most definitive way to diagnose liver disease and identify the cause. The vet takes a small sample of liver tissue and examines it under a microscope. This allows them to assess the type and severity of changes in the liver.
Imaging: X-rays and ultrasound allow vets to visualize the liver and look for abnormalities. They can check for signs of inflammation, scarring, tumors, or enlargement. Ultrasounds also enable guided biopsies.
The combination of blood work, biopsy results and imaging provide the most complete picture for accurate diagnosis of liver disease in canines (1).
Sources:
(1) https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/what-to-do-if-you-suspect-liver-disease
Dietary Changes for Liver Health
Making dietary changes is one of the most important things you can do for a dog with liver disease. The goal is to reduce the workload on the liver by lowering fat and protein levels while providing foods that help cleanse and support liver function.
Lowering protein and fat is key, as the liver processes these nutrients. Many commercial hepatic or liver diet dog foods are specially formulated to be low in protein and fat. Look for foods with protein around 20% or lower and 10% fat or lower. Avoid high fat meats like beef and pork.
Provide liver cleansing foods like beets, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberries, blueberries and spinach. These provide antioxidants to protect liver cells. Supplements like milk thistle and SAM-e also support liver health.
Homemade diets are another good option, allowing you to control ingredients. Work with your vet to ensure proper nutrition if going the homemade route. Provide high quality proteins like chicken, turkey or fish in moderation along with liver cleansing fruits and vegetables.
Recommended Foods
When feeding a dog with liver disease, it’s important to choose ingredients that are gentle on the liver. Some recommended foods include:
Lean Meats: Lean cuts of beef, chicken, turkey, and fish provide quality protein while being lower in fat and copper than other meats. Lean ground meats can be cooked and mixed into food.[1]
Eggs: Eggs are an excellent source of protein that is easy for dogs to digest. Hard boiled eggs can be mixed into meals.
Vegetables: Veggies like broccoli, carrots, green beans and spinach provide valuable vitamins and minerals. They can be lightly cooked and added to food.
Brown Rice: Brown rice is a good source of digestible carbohydrates and fiber. It should be thoroughly cooked before feeding.
Supplements: Milk thistle, SAMe and vitamin supplements can help support liver health. Consult with your vet on appropriate dosages.
Avoiding fatty, heavily processed or high copper foods is also recommended. Focusing on quality proteins, veggies and whole grains can help maintain a dog’s liver health.
Foods to Avoid
There are certain foods that should be avoided when feeding a dog with liver disease. These foods can be difficult for a compromised liver to process and may worsen symptoms.
Fatty and fried foods should be avoided as they are hard for the liver to break down. The liver helps process fats, so a diseased liver struggles with high fat foods like bacon, sausage, and fatty cuts of meat [1].
Foods high in copper like liver, shellfish, nuts, chocolate, and mushrooms should also be avoided. Copper builds up in a diseased liver and can become toxic [2].
Sticking to low-fat, high quality proteins like chicken, turkey, white fish, and eggs is recommended. Avoiding processed and fried foods supports liver health. Consulting your vet for specific diet guidelines is also advised.
Supplements
Certain supplements may help support liver health and function in dogs with liver disease. Some of the most commonly recommended supplements include:
Milk thistle contains the active ingredient silymarin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help protect liver cells from toxins. According to Wagging Right, milk thistle can help regenerate liver tissue in dogs with liver disease. The recommended dosage is 50-200 mg per 10 lbs of body weight.1
SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) is a naturally occurring compound in the body that supports liver health. It has been shown to improve liver function and benefit dogs with liver disease. The typical dosage is 20-40 mg per kg of body weight.2
Dandelion root can stimulate bile production and flow, which helps remove toxins from the liver. Dandelion supplements for dogs provide concentrated forms of this beneficial herb. Follow package dosing instructions or check with your veterinarian.1
Other supplements including vitamin E, zinc, and milk protein may also provide liver support. Always consult your vet before giving any supplements to your dog.
Homemade Liver Cleansing Diets
Homemade diets are a great way to provide dogs with liver problems a fresh, nutritious meal. Focusing on ingredients that support liver health can help improve your dog’s condition. Some recipes to try include:
Chicken and Oats:
This recipe features lean protein from chicken and high-fiber oats that are gentle on the liver. Simply combine cooked, shredded chicken breast, cooked oatmeal, cottage cheese, egg, and chopped carrots and green beans. Consult your vet for proper portions and any restrictions (Source).
Fish and Sweet Potatoes:
Swap chicken for canned sardines packed in water or cooked salmon. Combine with cooked, mashed sweet potato, which contains antioxidants like vitamin A and C to support liver health. Add in green beans and optional cottage cheese or eggs (Source).
Liver Cleansing Oatmeal:
Cook oats in low-sodium chicken broth with milk thistle powder, turmeric, carrots, and chicken. Turmeric and milk thistle aid liver function. Let the oatmeal cool before serving (Source).
Consult your vet before significantly changing your dog’s diet. Homemade meals should be fully balanced and tailored to your dog’s health condition.
When to See a Vet
If your dog is exhibiting symptoms of liver disease, it’s important to have them evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The earlier liver disease is caught, the better the chances of successful treatment.
Some signs that warrant an urgent vet visit include:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased thirst or urination
- Jaundice (yellowing of the gums, skin or whites of the eyes)
- Swollen abdomen
- Lethargy
- Blood in stool or vomit
If symptoms persist or worsen despite dietary changes, supplements or medications, immediate veterinary care is crucial. Delaying treatment may allow irreversible liver damage or failure to occur.
Veterinarians have access to specialized diagnostics and treatments that can help manage liver disease and improve quality of life. Getting an accurate diagnosis and starting a customized treatment plan as soon as possible gives dogs the best chance of recovering from liver problems.