Animal Care Center & Pet Resort

800 Pulaski Highway

Joppa, MD  21085

Phone 410-676-2525         Fax 410-676-5151

 Liver Disease

Liver disease is often difficult to detect until the illness becomes severe because there is an overabundance of liver tissue, and the liver can partially regenerate itself.  The signs of liver disease vary with the degree and location of the damage.  Various Blood tests are necessary to discover the extent and nature of the liver damage.  X-rays and/or an ultrasound may also aid in diagnosing the severity of your pets liver disease.

The liver is essential for life and performs over 100 important functions, suck as removing waste products (toxic substances or drugs) from the blood, metabolizing fats, storing carbohydrates, assisting in blood clotting and manufacturing bile, plasma proteins, and other substances.  

Some types of liver disease can only be treated in the hospital, while others are treated on an outpatient basis.  Some liver disease can be cured, while in others the goal of treatment is control of the disease.

ALWAYS give all medications as directed.  Call us if you cannot administer the medications or if your pet has any type of reaction to them.

A proper diet is essential in treating liver disease.  The Homemade Cat & Dog Diet is an excellent book that includes disease specific diets that your pet can benefit from.

                 This book can be found on www.amazon.com .   

We may put you on a strict diet for several days, weeks, months or even the lifetime of your pet.  It is important to ONLY feed what is recommended for your pet with liver disease.  The homemade diet includes small amounts of high quality protein, such as milk, eggs, or liver.  Feed 1/2 to 2/3oz. per 10 pounds of body weight daily.

Fats should not exceed 4% of the diet.  Carbohydrates (starches) are used to meet the caloric needs of your pet.  Rice and other cereals are the best carbohydrates to use.                                       

Please notify us immediately if the following occur:

• Your pet has bleeding from the gums, skin, or eyes
• Your pet has dark of bloody stools and/or blood in the urine
• Your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea
• Your pet acts confused or has seizures
• Your pet seems week or faints

Recheck Visits and Follow up blood work. 

In order to monitor your pet's liver values, we will need to do follow up blood work as frequently as every month to every 6 months.  It depends on the progression of the disease and how your pet is doing at home.

Recheck visits with the doctor will also depend on severity of the problem and how your pet is doing.

*Images are from www.hills.com