Liver failure in dogs is reached when the liver loses more than seventy-five percent of its function. The next short step is death. Liver failure is seen more often in dogs than in cats, but there are no predilections as to sex, breed or age of the dog affected.
The general causes of liver failure in dogs are drugs, toxins, infectious agents, heat stroke, cancer treatments, blood clots, and circulatory failure.
You will want to watch for these symptoms: fluid in the abdomen and the resulting abdominal enlargement, bleeding, coma, stupor, seizures, depression, diarrhea (may be bloody), jaundice and vomiting. If you witness more than a couple of these symptoms, or one of the more serious ones, take your dog to his veterinarian immediately.
Your veterinarian will perform diagnostic tests to determine if there has been liver failure. In dogs, these tests may include a CBC, ultrasound, x-rays, a clotting profile, ammonia level tests, serum bile acid tests and a urinalysis. If he is still unsure, or the situation is dire, he may perform laparoscopy, which will allow him to see inside the structures with a scope, or actual abdominal surgery to determine the best course of action.
Your dog will need treatment not only for liver failure, but also for any other disorders that may exacerbate the situation. He will probably be hospitalized and put on IV fluids, to rehydrate him. Some other treatments that your veterinarian may recommend include diuretics to help eliminate excess fluids, antiemetics to control vomiting, and nutritional support. Additionally, he may give your dog antibiotics, colloids, enemas and anti-ulcer treatments.
When your dog finally gets to come home, your job begins. You need to administer all of the medications that the veterinarian has prescribed, and you need to follow the diet he recommends. Your dog will need follow-up exams and evaluations to make sure he's progressing properly in his recovery.
Liver failure in dogs is a very serious condition, and the prognosis will depend on the actual amount of liver that was destroyed. For your dog to live a healthy life, you will need to be able to control the disease and any factors that complicate it.
Can liver failure be prevented? This could be difficult, but not impossible. Be sure to vaccinate your dog against leptospirosis and canine hepatitis, and avoid toxins and drugs that may increase the risk for liver failure. In dogs, this includes excessive antibiotics.
If you caught the disease early enough, you and your veterinarian should be able to work together to provide a healthy lifestyle for your dog, by medications and proper diet. Be sure to take your dog back to the vet if any symptoms reappear, or if he goes off his feed or reacts to any of his medications.
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