How to Identify Liver Problems in a Dog

Cute dog

Unfortunately, dog owners often overlook symptoms of liver problems until the disease reaches a critical stage. Some dogs may show a slight yellowing in the whites of their eyes or yellowing of the gums but for many dogs, a liver condition goes undiagnosed until routine blood tests reveal a problem. Then it's time to identify the cause.

Instructions

1. Visit your vet regularly. Your dog's doctor will palpate his abdomen, looking for soreness or inflammation of the liver. Alternately, he will feel for an unusually small liver, indicating your dog's liver function is decreasing.

2. Pay attention to changes in your dog's eating patterns. When liver problems occur, your dog may lose his appetite or subsequently vomit the food he eats. In addition, he may exhibit diarrhea and fatigue.

3. Feed your dog no later than 12 hours before your vet performs a liver bile test. The vet will draw blood immediately, your dog will eat and then have blood drawn again 2 hours later to test for a rise in bile acids.

4. Take your dog for blood tests to determine the level of enzymes created by his liver. Enzymes are crucial to liver function but when your dog has a higher number than usual it could be a sign of liver problems. Caught early, medication and diet may control symptoms.

5. Schedule your dog for blood-clotting tests if there is a chance he ingested poison. Arsenic in rat poison and anti-freeze, both common causes of canine poisoning prevent the blood from clotting at its normal rate.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep all poisons stored where your dog cannot reach them. Dogs will drink antifreeze quickly. If poisoned severely, your dog's liver may suffer irreparable damaged.

Resources

• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health: The complete pet health resource for your dog, cat, horse or other pets - in everyday language. (Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)
• Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative