Your dog’s liver health plays a critical role in their well-being and longevity. When dogs experience liver failure, it is considered an emergency that requires urgent treatment. Without the proper care, a dog’s health can quickly deteriorate.
Understanding the early signs of canine liver failure can help you seek treatment for your furry friend before their condition worsens. If you notice any concerning signs in your pup, contact our highly rated animal hospital in New York to schedule an appointment. We take liver failure seriously and will see your dog as soon as possible.
What Is Canine Liver Failure?
The liver is a major organ that filters toxins from the blood, produces bile for digestion, stores vitamins and minerals, and metabolizes nutrients, among many other tasks. It plays a vital role in the healthy functioning of your dog’s body.
Liver failure occurs when the organ experiences inflammation or damage, preventing it from performing its essential functions. The condition can either be acute, meaning it happens suddenly, or chronic, meaning it comes on gradually. Acute liver failure in dogs is often a life-threatening emergency.
When a dog enters liver failure, a range of health issues can occur. Knowing the early signs can help you respond to these symptoms promptly and seek treatment before your pup’s condition deteriorates.
Causes of Canine Liver Failure
Several distinct causes can lead to canine liver failure. Your veterinarian will attempt to pinpoint the cause as a means of preventing it from recurring after treatment.
These are a few potential causes of canine liver failure and liver disease:
- Toxins: A dog might develop liver failure after eating a toxic substance, such as xylitol, wild mushrooms, moldy food, or certain medications, such as acetaminophen.
- Infectious organisms: Your dog may contract an infection that leads to liver failure, such as canine hepatitis, histoplasmosis, heartworm disease, or leptospirosis.
- Genetic predisposition: Certain dog breeds may have genetic predispositions to conditions that cause liver failure, such as Doberman Pinschers, Bedlington Terriers, Schnauzers, and Yorkshire Terriers.
- Trauma: Dogs who experience internal or external injuries to the liver can also face liver failure. This can even occur when a dog consumes a foreign object that has trouble passing through the stomach and injures the liver.
- Cancer: Cancer can spread throughout a dog’s organs and sometimes impact liver functioning.
- Chronic illnesses: Certain illnesses can cause the liver to deteriorate, such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic hepatitis, and pancreatitis.
- Age: Some dogs experience liver issues as they age, and their liver’s efficiency begins to decline.
Early Signs of Canine Liver Failure To Watch Out For
Liver failure can happen to any dog, no matter their age or breed. As a result, dog owners can benefit from learning the early signs of canine liver failure. If you notice any of these potentially concerning symptoms, reach out to your veterinarian to determine your next steps.
Jaundice
Jaundice in dogs is often one of the first symptoms that occurs when the liver cannot process or excrete bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that forms when the red blood cells break down. This symptom appears as yellowing of the skin, the whites of the eyes, the insides of the ears, and the gums.
Jaundice can sometimes be challenging to notice in dogs with dark fur and gums. However, if you notice any discoloration in your dog’s eyes, contact your vet promptly.
Weight Loss and Loss of Appetite
The liver is responsible for metabolizing nutrients in the body. When it begins to lose efficiency, a dog’s metabolism can slow, leading to a loss of appetite. You may notice your dog not eating as much as normal or losing a significant amount of weight.
Increased Urination and Thirst
The liver also plays an essential role in helping a dog’s body maintain a balance of fluids. When a dog begins experiencing liver failure, this can disrupt the normal fluid balance, causing the kidneys to start producing more urine. It can also impact a dog’s hormone regulation, potentially leading to increased thirst.
You may notice your dog drinking more water than usual or begging to go outside more frequently. You may also notice them having accidents in the house when they do not normally do so.
Upset Stomach
An upset stomach alone may not be a sign of canine liver failure, but it often coincides with other concerning symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhea can both result from a compromised liver no longer able to regulate the production and flow of bile. You might also notice blood in the vomit or stool.
Lethargy
Lethargy in dogs is often the first sign indicating that something is wrong. If your pup seems to have lower activity levels than normal, sleeps more frequently and for longer periods, and appears disinterested in toys or walks, calling your vet is always a good idea.
A Distended or Swollen Belly
Ascites, or the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, is another common sign of canine liver failure. If you start noticing your dog’s belly looking swollen or larger than normal, this could be because the liver is no longer producing the normal amount of proteins, leading to ascites.
Symptoms of Late-Stage Liver Failure in Dogs
As liver failure progresses, a dog’s condition worsens. You might see the following severe symptoms in dogs experiencing late-stage liver failure:
- Complete loss of appetite or refusal to eat
- Prominent yellow discoloration of the skin, gums, or whites of the eyes
- Neurological signs, such as disorientation, confusion, seizures, or coma
- Bleeding disorders indicated by excessive bleeding, blood in the vomit or stool, nosebleeds, and bruising
These symptoms become very pronounced in late-stage liver failure. At this point, it can be challenging to treat the disease. This is why it is important to recognize early signs of canine liver failure and seek treatment for your furry friend as soon as possible.
What To Do If You Notice Signs of Canine Liver Failure
Noticing any of these signs or symptoms can be worrisome. You may not want to accept that your furry friend is sick or wish to wait a few days to see if their condition improves. However, the best thing you can do for your dog is seek veterinary care promptly.
Contact your vet and describe your dog’s symptoms in detail. They can advise you on whether to continue monitoring their symptoms or take them in for an appointment. Typically, a dog experiencing even one of the early signs of liver failure is cause for concern, and a veterinarian will want to take a look to determine the problem.
At the appointment, the vet will conduct a physical examination and look for signs of jaundice, abdominal swelling, and other physical symptoms. They may perform blood tests to assess your dog’s liver function; specifically, testing their bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels can indicate whether the liver is functioning as expected.
Alternatively, your vet may perform a urinalysis to look for abnormal levels of bilirubin or urobilinogen, which could indicate canine liver disease. After these tests, your vet may conduct an ultrasound or X-ray to examine the liver and look for abnormalities, such as enlargement, displacement, tumors, or cysts.
With this information, your vet can make an informed diagnosis of your dog’s condition.
How Vets Treat Canine Liver Failure
The goal of treatment for liver failure is to slow the disease’s progression to allow time for the liver to heal and regrow. Treatment may include relieving the symptoms of the disease and targeting the underlying cause.
Your veterinarian may prescribe any of these medications to help treat liver failure:
- Milk thistle or silymarin, which can help protect intact liver cells
- N-acetylcysteine, which is used as an antidote to acetaminophen toxicity and can treat conditions involving oxidative stress
- Pain medications
- Anti-nausea medications and antacids
- Vitamin K1
- IV fluids to supplement fluid and electrolyte loss
They may also recommend a specific diet to help combat the metabolic issues that often result from liver failure. Prescription diets can provide your dog with more antioxidants and contain more digestible protein to place less strain on the liver.
Depending on your dog’s condition when they arrive at the vet, they may need a feeding tube to deliver the appropriate nutrient levels.
The liver is capable of regrowing and healing with the right treatment. Acute liver failure that is caught early may be reversed. However, late-stage liver failure may not be fully treatable. Your vet may recommend symptomatic care to help your dog stay comfortable while the disease progresses.
For dogs with chronic liver disease, lifelong treatment is necessary. A dog may still have a good quality of life for some time after diagnosis.
Preventing Canine Liver Failure
Canine liver failure cannot always be prevented. Some dogs are predisposed to this condition or experience liver deterioration with age. However, other causes, such as ingesting toxic medications or foods, can be avoided.
Here are a few ways to minimize the risk of your dog developing liver failure:
- Store medications out of reach with the lids securely fastened. Medications like acetaminophen are highly toxic to dogs.
- Keep indoor plants and flowers out of reach of dogs and remove toxic plants from the yard.
- Store garbage out of your dog’s reach to prevent them from ingesting moldy or spoiled food.
- Seek vaccinations for infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis, which are two main infections leading to liver failure.
- Take your dog for regular veterinary checkups to catch early symptoms of health conditions and start early treatment.
- Speak with your vet about your dog’s risks of developing liver failure and other conditions based on their breed and age.
Schedule an Appointment With Hudson Animal Hospital
You want your dog to stay healthy and happy for as long as possible. Noticing signs of canine liver failure can be distressing, but placing your dog’s health in the hands of trained, experienced veterinarians can provide peace of mind.
At Hudson Animal Hospital, we regularly treat canines with acute and chronic liver failure. We will develop a personalized care plan based on evidence-backed treatments and close attention to your pup’s symptoms and overall health.
Call us today at 212-706-4088 to schedule an appointment with our highly experienced veterinarians. Then, learn when to visit an animal hospital vs. a vet clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is liver failure the same as liver disease in dogs?
Liver failure is a stage of liver disease in which the organ can no longer perform essential tasks. “Liver disease” can refer to a range of conditions that damage or impair the function of the liver. Your dog may be diagnosed with liver disease after experiencing damage from toxins, infection, or injury to the organ. Often, once you begin noticing symptoms, your dog may already be in the early stages of liver failure.
What is the prognosis for canine liver failure?
Early-stage acute canine liver failure may be treatable. Your veterinarian will seek to delay or prevent further damage to the liver to allow it time to regrow. Some dogs go on to live for many years after a diagnosis of acute liver failure.
Chronic liver failure is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing treatment. Your dog’s condition may progress slowly until the end of their life.
If your dog’s liver has deteriorated past the point of treatment, your vet will aim to keep them comfortable. Humane euthanasia may be recommended in some cases. Your vet will discuss the outlook for your dog’s condition, explain all treatment options, and work with you to create a care plan.
How quickly does acute liver failure develop in dogs?
Acute liver failure typically develops a few days after injury, exposure to toxins, or the ingestion of certain medications. If you believe your dog has eaten something that may be toxic, contact your vet immediately to discuss the next steps, even if you do not yet see any obvious signs of canine liver failure, to prevent more serious complications.