The liver is the second-largest organ in your pet’s body (skin is first), and it is essential for digestion and metabolism and it plays a role in clotting blood. The liver also functions like a sponge to filter and store blood, detoxify the system and excretes toxic by-products. It produces important blood proteins and it also helps store fats and nutrients, such as Vitamin A, D, K, and B₁₂.

Liver disease is a common illness in dogs and cats, and there are many causes and kinds, ranging from mild to severe. A poor-quality diet with additives, preservatives and cheap fillers can lead to liver ailments in older pets. Some medications, such as painkillers, anti-seizure drugs or corticosteroids, can damage the liver, as can infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In extreme cases, pets can be diagnosed with liver malignancies.

The liver functions differently in dogs and cats. Cats are more sensitive to long-term appetite loss. If a cat stops eating for more than 48 hours, its body starts to metabolize fat stores for energy. Processing this fat through the liver has toxic effects. Cats also are less tolerant of drugs and certain toxins. For example, a single regular-strength acetaminophen can cause a cat’s liver to fail. The feline liver also contains a low level of glucuronyl transferase, an essential enzyme for breaking down certain drugs. The failure to clear such toxins quickly can cause damage.

Since liver disease ranges in severity, recognizing it can be a challenge for owners. It’s a phenomenon similar to human cirrhosis of the liver, which can exist for many years before symptoms appear. Mild liver ailments are typically found as the result of routine wellness testing. The liver’s many functions produce a variety of enzymes. In cases of mild illness, outwardly healthy and normal pets will register elevated enzyme levels. On the other hand, acute liver disease will likely be accompanied by symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia and jaundice.

Many cases of liver disease can be treated effectively with fluid therapy and antibiotics. Given the liver’s amazing capacity for regeneration, some pets with liver disease make remarkable recoveries.

If your pet’s hepatic inflammation is mild or non-specific, your veterinarian may suggest switching to highly digestible, low-protein diet to reduce the liver’s workload. Milk thistle is a natural detoxifier used to protect the liver and improve how it functions. Milk thistle’s active component silybin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that helps protect against the accumulation of toxins in the liver, it binds iron and it encourages the elimination of bile through the urine. Omega-3 essential fatty acids and the amino acid L-carnitine are often used, the latter because it stops fats and ammonia from building up in the liver.

A healthy liver is important to overall health. Your pet can’t describe its aches and pains. So it’s important you watch for the warning signs of illness, both subtle and severe. If your dog or cat shows a decrease in appetite, change in thirst, signs of weight loss or digestive irregularities, contact your veterinarian to schedule appropriate blood and urine tests. The sooner you start treatment, the better the chances of managing the condition.

A Watch List for Liver Disease
Routine blood work is reliable in identifying the slightest liver inflammation. Liver supplements, such as milk thistle and low-protein diets, can significantly help patients with liver disease and inflammation. Watch for these signs:

• poor appetite

• vomiting

• diarrhea

• change in colour of stools or urine

• weight loss

• jaundice (yellowing) around whites of eyes (sclera), skin and gums