High Liver Enzyme Level in Dogs

A dog can appear healthy even when his liver is starting to fail.

One of his hardest-working organs, your dog's liver has enormous reserves and won't show signs of damage until it's at about 30 percent capacity. Then his blood liver enzyme levels will rise as liver failure begins to affect his entire system.

Significance

Your dog's liver enzyme level elevation indicates his degree of liver failure. His alanine aminotransferase (A-LT) reading, for instance, rises as the enzyme leaks from damaged liver cells.

Causes

Diseases including viral or bacterial hepatitis, fungal infections, parasites or tuberculosis can elevate liver enzymes. Poisoning from toxins and drugs including steroids, antibiotics, chemotherapy and parasite medications all raise liver enzyme levels.

Symptoms

Dogs with high liver enzyme levels may have several symptoms including intermittent digestive upset and vomiting; increasing lethargy; jaundice; orange urine and pale gray stool; and/or abdominal pain and fluid retention.

Treatment

Multipronged treatment includes addressing the infection, toxin or disease causing the elevated enzymes. Your dog will need plenty of rest and a diet containing high quality easily digestible protein like cottage cheese while his liver recuperates, says Dr. Bryce Fleming, DVM, of Saskatchewan's Sherwood Animal Clinic.

Considerations

A standardized preparation of the herb milk thistle with between 70 and 80 percent sylmarin has proven effective in combating liver disease. The standard dose is 200 mg two to three times daily.

References

• Canine Epilepsy
• Liver Disease in Dogs

Resources

• The Canine Liver Disease Foundation