Liver disease has a complex effect on metabolism. Symptoms are nonspecific and only appear when 70% of the liver is no longer functioning. This means that liver disease is only detected once it is at an advanced stage.
The liver is an organ with many functions and plays a central role in metabolism. It converts proteins, carbohydrates, and fats absorbed from food into usable forms. It also serves as a storage organ for excess nutrients. The liver produces vital proteins, including those needed for blood clotting and the transport of substances in the blood. The liver filters out waste products from metabolism and toxins that are absorbed. These are then excreted in the feces and urine. The liver also produces bile, a vital fluid for digestion and the absorption of fats from food. The gallbladder stores bile and releases it into the small intestine during the digestive process.
The most common diseases originating in the liver (= primary liver diseases) in dogs are chronic liver inflammation (= hepatitis) and leptospirosis (see corresponding article). In cats, fatty liver (hepatic lipidosis) and inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis) or the bile ducts and liver (cholangiohepatitis) are more common. Hepatic lipidosis particularly affects overweight cats that do not eat or eat very little over a long period of time. However, it also occurs in dogs.
The causes of primary liver disease include:
The liver is also affected in the following diseases (= secondary liver diseases):
The symptoms are nonspecific in the early stages. They also occur in many other diseases. The first noticeable symptoms are usually loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and discoloration of the stool. The stool is typically light yellow or dark to black. Other symptoms include:
If your vet suspects liver disease, they will first carry out a thorough clinical examination. They will check your pet's liver values in their blood. An X-ray will help them assess the size of the liver. An ultrasound examination allows them to evaluate the structure and blood flow. Your vet may take tissue samples to examine the liver cells more closely. Once all the tests have been carried out, they will be able to determine what type of liver disease your pet has.
In the case of acute, severe liver disease, your pet will need to eat several times a day. If your pet refuses to eat, your vet will insert a feeding tube. They will use this to administer food at regular intervals. Your pet will also receive an infusion. This will provide fluids and balance the electrolyte and sugar levels. Depending on the cause, various medications may be used. You must stop giving your pet any medication that is harmful to the liver. However, if there are underlying conditions such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or Cushing's disease, these must be treated. Your vet will draw up a suitable treatment plan for you. They can send the medication for your pet digitally to petsXL. You will then find this in your timeline and can set reminders for yourself.
To relieve and protect the liver, you must switch to a liver diet. Your vet will advise you on this. Feed only the liver diet without any additional treats or chews.
If you eliminate the trigger for liver disease, the liver can recover to a certain extent. However, chronic liver inflammation is no longer curable. The average life expectancy depends on the progression of the disease and can be up to several years. In the case of autoimmune hepatitis, the prognosis is usually not good.
Since liver disease often goes undetected until the damage is already severe, liver screening is a top priority. This consists of a clinical examination and a blood test. Ideally, it should be performed every six months for dogs aged seven years and older and cats aged eleven years and older.
Also make sure that your pet always has the recommended vaccinations. Infectious diseases such as leptospirosis in dogs (see relevant article) or feline leukemia in cats (see relevant article) can damage the liver.
To prevent fat metabolism in the liver from going off track, overweight animals in particular should eat at least once a day. It is best to divide the amount of food into several small portions. Weight loss should never happen abruptly. Your vet can provide professional support (see relevant articles on weight). The petsXL health passport shows you all your pet's weight data with a weight history.
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