By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
The liver is remarkably resilient. It can keep working while a large part of it is damaged, which is good news for recovery but bad news for early detection. By the time a dog with liver disease looks yellow or stops eating, the problem may be well advanced. Many cases are first picked up on routine blood tests. This page covers the signs, common causes, and how vets investigate and manage liver disease. If your dog's gums or eyes look yellow, also see jaundice in dogs.
Key takeaways
- Early liver disease often has vague signs, such as reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting, or drinking more.
- Yellow gums, skin, or eyes (jaundice), a swollen belly, confusion, or bleeding are signs of more serious disease.
- Causes include chronic hepatitis, toxins, infections such as leptospirosis, medications, hormonal disease, congenital shunts, and cancer.
- Abnormal liver blood tests need interpretation. They do not always mean primary liver disease.
- Many liver conditions can be managed well when found early, with treatment tailored by a vet.
What the liver does
The liver processes nutrients, makes proteins including clotting factors, stores energy, produces bile to digest fat, and clears toxins and drugs from the blood. When it is not working well, these jobs start to fail, which explains the wide range of signs.
Signs of liver disease in dogs
- Reduced appetite, weight loss, or poor coat
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Drinking and urinating more
- Lethargy
- Yellow gums, skin, or whites of the eyes
- Dark orange urine or pale, grey stools
- A swollen belly from fluid build-up
- Confusion, head pressing, wobbliness, or seizures (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Common causes
- Chronic hepatitis. Ongoing inflammation of the liver, more common in some breeds including Dobermanns, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, and West Highland White Terriers. Copper accumulation plays a part in some breeds.
- Toxins. Xylitol, some mushrooms, blue-green algae, sago palm, paracetamol, and certain medications can injure the liver.
- Infections. Leptospirosis and some other infections.
- Hormonal disease. Cushing's disease, diabetes, and hypothyroidism can change liver tests and structure.
- Congenital problems. Liver shunts, usually seen in young dogs.
- Gallbladder disease. Including gallbladder mucoceles and bile duct obstruction.
- Cancer. Primary liver tumours or cancer that spreads to the liver.
When it is an emergency
Go to an emergency veterinary hospital straight away if your dog:
- Has yellow gums or eyes and is unwell
- Is confused, staggering, head pressing, or having seizures
- Is vomiting repeatedly, has stopped eating, or is very weak
- Has unexplained bleeding, bruising, or black stools
- Has a rapidly swelling belly
- May have eaten a toxin such as xylitol, mushrooms, sago palm, or human medication
How vets diagnose liver disease
A general blood panel measures liver enzymes, bilirubin, albumin, glucose, and cholesterol. Raised enzymes show that something is affecting the liver, but they can also rise with problems elsewhere in the body or with some medications. A bile acid test or ammonia level helps assess liver function. Ultrasound shows the size and texture of the liver and the gallbladder. Clotting tests are usually done before a liver biopsy, which is often needed to confirm the type of disease, especially chronic hepatitis. The ACVIM consensus statement on chronic hepatitis in dogs recommends biopsy, including copper measurement, for a definitive diagnosis where it is safe.
Treatment and long-term management, in overview
Treatment depends on the cause. Options can include hospital care with fluids and nutrition for acute illness, specific treatment for toxins or infections, diet changes, medications that support liver function or reduce copper, treatment for underlying hormonal disease, surgery for shunts or gallbladder problems, and management of complications such as fluid build-up or confusion. Your vet will set up a monitoring plan with repeat blood tests. Do not start human liver supplements or herbal products without asking your vet, as some can interfere with treatment.
Prevention
- Keep xylitol products, human medications, and mushrooms away from dogs.
- Avoid stagnant water with algal blooms.
- Vaccinate against leptospirosis where your vet recommends it.
- Ask about regular blood tests for older dogs and dogs on long-term medication.
FAQ
Can a dog's liver heal?
The liver can regenerate after some types of injury, especially if the cause is found and removed early. Chronic diseases are usually managed rather than cured.
My dog's liver enzymes are high but they seem fine. What now?
Mild increases are common and have many causes. Your vet may recheck the test, review medications, or suggest further tests such as bile acids or ultrasound.
Is there a special diet for liver disease?
Some dogs benefit from a veterinary liver diet. The best diet depends on the specific disease, so follow your vet's advice.
Talk with a vet
If your dog has abnormal liver results or vague signs you are worried about, our vets can talk through the findings with you by video and help you plan next steps. Book a consult at dialavet.com. If your dog is yellow, confused, bleeding, or very unwell, go to an emergency vet hospital now.
References
- Webster CRL, et al. ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2019.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Hepatic Disease in Small Animals.
- WSAVA Liver Standardization Group. Standards for clinical and histological diagnosis of canine and feline liver diseases.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If your pet is jaundiced, confused, or seriously unwell, contact a veterinary hospital immediately.