Liver Disease in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Much like in humans, a dog’s liver filters out toxins from their body, making it an essential part of their daily body function. When liver disease creeps up, it can disrupt their daily life and potentially be fatal. The good news is liver disease is highly treatable, especially when identified early. Knowing the signs and causes of liver disease in your dog is the best way to protect your pup from long-term complications.

Read on to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of liver disease in dogs.

What Is Canine Liver Disease?

Liver disease is a general term for several illnesses that target the liver and negatively impact the liver’s ability to remove toxins, store vitamins and iron, and perform other vital functions. While the illnesses may affect different parts of your dog’s body, they all stem from a complication between the liver and the respective organs. If not treated, liver disease can result in serious health complications for your dog.¹

Some of the diseases that can arise may include:¹

• Bacterial infections
• Chronic hepatitis
• Cirrhosis (permanent scarring to the liver)
• Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease)
• Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
• Portosystemic shunt (a malformation that causes blood to bypass the liver)²

There are two types of liver disease that can occur in dogs: Chronic and acute.

Chronic liver disease is caused by ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes or liver cancer¹ — two common dog diseases.

Acute liver disease happens more suddenly and requires immediate veterinary attention to provide supportive care to the liver.¹

What Causes a Dog To Get Liver Disease?

Liver disease is caused by a variety of factors, including:¹

• Age
• Genetics
• Toxic substances (certain plants, pesticides, or xylitol)
• Infections
• Drug reactions
• Diabetes
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Obesity

If not treated, chronic liver disease can lead to more permanent damage. This is known as chronic liver failure.¹

Stages of Liver Disease in Dogs

There are four stages of liver disease that a dog may experience. As the disease progresses, the symptoms can lead to more permanent damage. The four stages of liver disease include:³

• Stage one: In the early stages, liver function is only impaired a small amount.
• Stage two: In this moderate stage, processing toxins becomes harder for the liver and symptoms may be easier to notice in your dog.
• Stage three: In the later stages, liver function severely declines. Physical and neurological symptoms become more apparent and liver failure may begin.
• Stage four: In this end or terminal stage, your dog is likely experiencing liver failure and their health is rapidly declining.

Stages one and two of liver disease can typically be well managed with treatment. Stages three and four can be more difficult to treat as quality of life may be very low, and vets might advise humane euthanasia.³

What Are the Symptoms of Dog Liver Disease?

The symptoms of early-stage liver disease can sometimes present as normal signs of aging. This can make it tricky to notice liver disease in your pup. One of the more noticeable symptoms as liver disease progresses is jaundice, a condition that presents as a yellowish tinge to the eyes, gums, and ears. This happens when the liver has a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, which causes the yellow tint.^1,3

Some moderate- to later-stage signs of liver disease in dogs include:^1,3

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizures and disorientation
• Increased urination and thirst
• Elevated liver enzyme levels
• Ascites
• Lethargy
• Bleeding disorders

Dogs with end-stage liver disease usually have symptoms that are more severe, or pronounced, than earlier stages — causing a rapid decline in their health.³ If possible, it’s best to be proactive and have your dog checked by your vet routinely.

How Vets Diagnose Liver Disease

Liver disease can be determined through blood tests to check the levels of enzymes, proteins, albumin, cholesterol, urea, and glucose in the liver, along with evaluating red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A blood test to determine bile acid concentrations can help evaluate how your pet’s liver is functioning.⁴

In addition to the blood tests, the veterinarian may do a urinalysis to check the health of your dog’s liver and kidneys.⁴

The vet may also conduct an abdominal ultrasound on the liver and gallbladder and additionally perform a liver and/or gallbladder biopsy to provide a more specific diagnosis.⁴

Treatments for a Dog with Liver Disease

While hearing that your pup has liver disease can be scary, there are several treatment options available to help get your furry friend feeling better. These treatments can vary based on the diagnosis and how severe the liver problems are. Some treatments your vet may prescribe include:¹

• Dietary changes, including a prescription diet
• Antibiotics or steroids to eliminate infection or reduce inflammation
• Supplements
• Fluid therapy to treat or prevent dehydration
• Surgery to correct a physical defect or remove a tumor or blockage

In the case of liver cancer, treatment may include chemotherapy or surgery to remove tumors or affected lobes of the liver.⁵

How To Prevent Liver Disease in Your Pup

While you may not be able to completely prevent potential liver disease, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk for your pup.¹

• Keep toxic substances — such as plants, medications, and chemicals — out of your pup’s reach.
• Make sure your pup is well hydrated to promote healthy kidney function and overall liver health.
• Ensure your pup’s vaccinations are up to date.
• Make sure your dog is exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, along with a balanced diet.
• Take your pup for their yearly vet exams.

Pet Insurance Can Help With Liver Disease Treatment Costs

Whether your pup is dealing with a chronic illness or something more sudden, having a pet insurance policy with MetLife Pet can make the costs associated with liver disease more financially accessible. If you’re wondering whether pet insurance is the best call for you, here’s how we helped a family with treatment for liver disease.

Valery, a happy little Maltese in New Jersey, suddenly started to lose weight and stop eating. Her owners noticed these changes and took her to the vet right away. Valery was diagnosed with liver disease and needed surgery to help treat it. In total, the surgery cost over $1,450. Thankfully, Valery’s parents already had a MetLife Pet dog insurance policy for her and got reimbursed over $1,300. Now Valery is back to her spunky self.⁶

Get customizable, award-winning⁷ pet insurance from MetLife Pet, so you can focus on your dog’s care instead of the vet bills. Start by getting your free, personalized quote today.