liver disease in dogs
Liver disease in dogs is one of the leading causes of death for them. It is a
type of disease that can be present for a long time before you are fully aware
of it. In fact, by the time various symptoms of it show up your dog could be
very ill. These days many veterinarians are taking aggressive action against it.
They are checking for liver disease in dogs that are more than 5 years old since
this is a problem that commonly affects older dogs.
In order for this diagnosis to be made, your vet will need to conduct a physical
exam. They will be looking at the size of the abdomen as well as the lymph
nodes. Swelling in these areas can be a sign of liver disease in dogs. Since
these symptoms can also signal some other types of medical problems though your
vet will be looking for other signs as well.
The skin will be carefully examined for areas of bruising. Areas where your dog
may have an injury that isn’t healing up properly can be a sign as well. The
coloring of the skin, eyes, and gums need to be evaluated as well. When liver
disease in dogs is present, they can have a yellowish coloring to them.
Blood samples will be taken so that they can be evaluated in a lab. A low red
blood cell count is very common when liver disease in dogs is present. A
chemistry test will be conducted as well to evaluate the levels of protein in
the body. A urine sample will likely be taken as well. This can tell your vet
about protein levels as well as glucose levels.
The size of the liver can tell a great deal too. With liver disease in dogs it
often ends up larger due to the swelling and inflammation. An ultrasound can
show your vet the overall size of the liver. In the more advanced cases a biopsy
may need to be scheduled. This will allow the vet to determine how advanced the
liver disease is.
Liver disease in dogs is a very serious health crisis for them. Regular checkups
with your vet can help to ensure they aren’t going to suffer from it undetected.
Early intervention is the best way for it to be treated. Once a complete
diagnosis is made, the vet can tell you what the options are for care. It can be
extremely expensive to cover the needs for liver disease in dogs.
Sometimes a dog can make a full recovery though. For example if the liver has
been damaged due to some form of injury surgery might help it to heal. If the
dog also has cancer though the prognosis isn’t very good for a full recovery. At
that point the goal is to make the dog as comfortable as possible. Many owners
choose to have their dog euphonized though. They aren’t content with prolonging
their life when it isn’t going to be a quality life.