How to Treat Liver Disease in Older Dogs

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References

The liver plays many important roles in a dog’s body, including breaking down toxins and drugs, storing nutrients, and maintaining normal blood glucose levels.^{[1]
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Research source} Although the liver is a very powerful organ, it can weaken as a dog ages. When the liver no longer works very well, liver disease can develop. If your vet has diagnosed a liver disease in your older dog, work with your vet to develop a treatment plan that includes veterinary care, medication, and dietary changes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Receiving Veterinary Care

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Discuss treatment options with your vet. Older dogs are prone to certain liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), liver cancer, and cirrhosis (end-stage liver disease).^{[2]
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Research source} These diseases are not curable, but can be managed. When you talk with your vet about treatments for your older dog’s liver disease, consider asking these questions:
- Will my dog need a lot of medications?
- Will my dog need to stay on the medications for the rest of its life?
- When will my dog start getting better?
- Will I need to change my dog’s diet?
- Will surgery help my dog?
2
Hospitalize your dog. Because liver disease can be difficult to diagnose in dogs, your older dog’s liver disease may be advanced by the time your vet makes the diagnosis. Advanced liver disease can make dogs very sick. If your dog is really sick, your vet will want to hospitalize your dog to begin treatment. Examples of in-hospital treatment are:^{[3]
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- Intravenous fluids to rehydrate your dog
- Vitamin supplementation in the fluids to correct nutrient deficiencies
- Assisted feeding, in case your dog is not strong enough to eat on its own
- Lactulose to prevent ammonia production and absorption
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3
Allow your vet to perform surgery. Surgery is a possible treatment option for a few liver diseases. If your older dog has cancer in one liver lobe (the liver has multiple lobes), your vet could surgically remove the affected lobe. If your dog has a liver shunt, which prevents blood from circulating through the liver, your vet could surgically close the shunt.^{[4]
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- Realize that, if your dog is extremely sick from its liver disease, surgery may not be a good choice.
- Not all forms of liver cancer in older dogs can be treated with surgery.
- Chemotherapy is a treatment option for liver cancer if your dog cannot undergo surgery.
- Closing off liver shunts can be a complicated surgery. Your vet may refer you to a veterinary surgeon if you want your dog to undergo the procedure.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating with Medication

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Decide which medications your dog will need. Several medications, such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, are available to treat liver disease in older dogs. After diagnosing which type of liver disease your dog has, your vet will talk with you about which medications will work best in your dog.
2
Give your dog antibiotics. Certain liver cells are responsible for breaking down and eliminating substances like bacteria and toxins. With liver disease, these cells stop working properly, causing bacteria to eventually buildup in the blood stream. This can lead to a serious bacterial infection called septicemia.^{[5]
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Research source} Your vet will prescribe an antibiotic to treat this infection.
3
Administer a diuretic. Liver disease can cause a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, a condition called ascites. If your dog has ascites, your vet will prescribe a diuretic. The diuretic will cause your dog to urinate more frequently, removing the excess fluid.^{[6]
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- Severe ascites can enlarge a dog’s abdomen so much that breathing becomes difficult.^{[7]
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  Research source} If your dog has ascites, do not leave it untreated.
- To prevent accidents in the house, be ready to take your dog outside more frequently so it can urinate.
4
Use an anti-inflammatory medication. If your older dog has chronic hepatitis, your vet will prescribe a medication, such as a steroid, that will decrease inflammation and help protect the liver.^{[8]
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Research source} Steroids can have several negative side effects, such as GI ulcers, intestinal bleeding, and fluid retention.^{[9]
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- Your vet will need to carefully monitor your dog if it is on steroids.
5
Treat your dog’s digestive upset. Liver disease can upset a dog’s digestive system. Sometimes, the disease can cause stomach ulcers. If your older dog has a stomach ulcer, your vet will prescribe an anti-ulcer medication. This medication will help your dog feel better and want to eat.^{[10]
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- Because steroids can also cause GI ulcers, your vet will recommend an anti-ulcer medication if your dog is on steroids.^{[11]
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- Liver disease can cause nausea or vomiting.^{[12]
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  Research source} If your dog has either of these symptoms, your vet will prescribe anti-nausea or anti-vomiting medications.^{[13]
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Give your dog zinc. Liver disease can cause copper to build up in the liver’s cells. This extra copper causes liver inflammation and scarring. If your older dog has chronic hepatitis, your vet will prescribe zinc for your dog. Zinc will help prevent copper from building up in your dog’s liver.^{[14]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Changing Your Dog’s Diet

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Feed your dog a new diet. Dietary changes are also needed to treat liver disease in older dogs. Different liver diseases will require different diets. Your vet will recommend the diet that will best meet your dog’s nutritional needs. These diets are available through your vet. Examples of these diets are:
- Low-copper diet to prevent copper buildup in the liver^{[15]
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- Low-protein diet if your dog has a shunt in its liver^{[16]
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- Low-sodium diet if your dog has ascites^{[17]
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- High-fiber diet to prevent nitrogen buildup^{[18]
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2
Add vitamin K to your dog’s diet. Vitamin K and certain liver proteins play important roles in blood clotting. Your dog gets Vitamin K through its diet. Because liver disease can prevent these blood-clotting proteins from working properly, your dog will need vitamin K to prevent bleeding problems.^{[19]
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- Check the vitamin K levels in your dog's new diet. If the vitamin K levels are too low, your vet may recommend a vitamin K supplement.
3
Give your dog an antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are chemicals produced in the body that can damage organs. To prevent your older dog’s liver from getting damaged by free radicals, give your dog an antioxidant like vitamin E or SAMe.^{[20]
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- Your dog may receive enough vitamin E in the food it eats. Ask your vet if your dog will need a vitamin E supplement.
- SAMe is given as a supplement.
4
Consider giving your dog a daily multivitamin. In addition to vitamins E and K deficiency, liver disease can also cause a vitamin A deficiency in older dogs. Your dog may need a multivitamin to prevent other nutrient deficiencies.^{[21]
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Research source} Ask your vet for recommendations on which daily multivitamin would be best for your dog.