Canine Liver Disease

Canine Liver Disease

An Introduction to Canine Leptospirosis

Canine leptospirosis is a very serious bacterial disease. It can affect a wide range of organs and tissue. The disease damage your dog's liver, kidney, or blood vessels. The eyes can also experience inflammation which can result in blindness.

Transmission

The bacteria that causes this disease invades the body through mucous membranes. This includes the mouth, eyes, and lesions in the skin. Most dogs become infected when they come into contact with infected urine or water that contains infected urine. The bacteria can also invade through bite wounds, during breeding, or if your dog consumes an infected animal.

Symptoms

Symptoms of canine leptospirosis start to appear within two weeks of infection. Your dog may experience loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and depression. It is also common for him to develop conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye.

As the disease progresses, your dog will experience increased thirst and urination. This may lead to dehydration. In its advanced stages, the disease causes bloody feces and vomit, deep depression, and muscle tremors. The bacteria also eventually ends up in the kidneys which leads to kidney failure.

Treatment

Since canine leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria, it can be treated with antibiotics. Penicillin will stop the bacteria from reproducing. As mentioned earlier, the kidneys are commonly damaged. Therefore, your dog may have to receive intravenous fluids. You will also need to decontaminate your home to make sure there is no infected urine still present.

Prevention

This disease is easily preventable. Dogs usually receive the vaccination at the same time they receive the vaccine for distemper. You should be aware that this shot can cause hives or facial swelling. In some cases, your dog may suffer a potentially life-threatening reaction to the shot.

About the Author

Besides leptospirosis, there are many other serious diseases and conditions that may affect your dog in the future. Click over to dog-illnesses.com to learn about some of these conditions such as canine anemia and canine Cushing's disease.

How serious is canine liver disease?

I am a 23 year old struggling student and I have a 4 year old Shih Tzu. I took him to the vet yesterday because he was very sick. The vet told me he needed to keep my dog over night to preform tests on him. I called the vet this morning and found out my dog has liver disease and mentioned something about hepatitis (obviously a canine form of it). My vet was not very imformative and just told me I had to start my dog on medication and take him in for a biopsy. He told me that it could be terminal. I have been trying to search Google on this subject, but all I get are symptoms and how to diagnos it. I just want to know how serious this is. Have you had a pet with the same problem? What was the out come. Was it costly to treat?

Treatment of Liver Disease

In many cases of liver disease, specific treatment is unavailable. Treatment is mainly supportive and symptomatic, such as administering subcutaneous (SQ) or intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration, providing adequate nutrition, and giving medications to control vomiting.

Medications

The type of medications given depend on the cause and extent of the liver damage. The liver is one of the main organs that breaks down medications. If the liver is not functioning correctly, medications often need to be given at lower doses since they remain in the body for a longer period of time. This includes those medications the pet may have been taking prior to the liver disease.

Corticosteroids are used in certain cases of liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis, to decrease inflammation and scarring. They also stimulate the appetite and promote an overall feeling of well-being. High doses of corticosteroids can actually cause liver disease; do not give corticosteroids to a pet with liver disease except under the direct supervision of your Veterinarian.

Antibiotics are used in cases of infection or if the patient is at risk of a secondary infection.

Penicillamine and zinc acetate are used in the treatment of copper storage disease to reduce the amount of copper in the liver.

Medications may be indicated to help decrease nausea or vomiting caused by the liver disease, or to prevent ulcers in the stomach or small intestine. Examples of these medications include sucralfate and cimetidine.

Ascites is treated with a diuretic such as furosemide (Lasix). Left untreated, ascites will cause difficulty breathing as it puts pressure on the diaphragm.

Dehydration and changes in electrolytes need to be prevented with the use of IV or SQ fluids and electrolyte supplements such as potassium.

Diet and supplements

For many liver diseases, diets may need to be altered to maintain proper nutrition and caloric intake. Specific diets may be recommended depending on the diagnosis. Some animals may have reduced appetites or refuse to eat. In these cases, the pet may need to be force-fed with a syringe or a feeding tube will need to be placed.

Dogs with copper storage disease need to be placed on a special diet low in copper.

A daily vitamin and mineral supplement is often advised for pets with liver disease to help prevent deficiencies. If copper storage disease is diagnosed, this supplement should not contain any copper.

Supplemental vitamin K may be necessary to help control bleeding disorders, since a diseased liver produces and stores less of this vitamin which is necessary for the liver to produce clotting factors.

Vitamin E is given as an anti-oxidant to remove free radicals and prevent further oxidative injury to the liver. A water-soluble form of vitamin E is preferable, since the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins may be decreased in some forms of liver disease.

A newer therapy for the treatment of liver disease is S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). Normally produced by the liver, SAMe is necessary for many functions of liver cells. It is available as a dietary supplement.

Summary

Some types of liver disease are not curable, but with supportive care, the patient may still be able to live a comfortable, though shortened, life.

Hope i could help!!!

CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE 1

 

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