Hepatitis in dogs

Hepatitis in dogs is a very serious and dangerous disease. The sooner your pet is diagnosed, the greater the chance of successful treatment. Today, we'll discuss the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment options for hepatitis in dogs.

Types and causes of hepatitis in dogs

It can be acute or chronic. In the former case, all the symptoms of hepatitis in dogs are clear and noticeable. In the latter case, the clinical signs are blurred and practically unnoticeable. Periodically, the chronic course of the disease worsens, and it is during this period that the signs of hepatitis in dogs become most noticeable.

Primary and secondary hepatitis also exist. Primary hepatitis is also called toxic hepatitis. Secondary hepatitis develops as a result of a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in your pet.

Infection

Infection. The most common type of hepatitis in dogs is viral. More specifically, adenovirus causes pathological changes in the liver. However, if owners take timely care of their pets (vaccinating them according to age), the risk of viral hepatitis (and consequently, death) is reduced to virtually zero. However, in addition to adenovirus, there are a huge number of infectious diseases (distemper, piroplasmosis, leptospirosis, and others).

Poisoning

A dog doesn't have to eat something bad (spoiled food, moldy food, or even poisonous food) to become poisoned. Medications also damage and inflame the liver. Heavy metals, insect or snake venom, hazardous plants, household chemicals, and other substances can disrupt the functioning of this organ.

Routes of hepatitis infection

An infected dog's saliva contains most of the infectious agent. Therefore, hepatitis transmission between dogs most often occurs through direct contact. Animals can also become infected by sniffing urine and feces, where the virus remains active for up to a year. However, the virus also survives in the environment for a certain period of time. Therefore, the risk of infection through dishes, toys, and the like is also quite high.

Scenario of the disease course

The incubation period for infectious hepatitis is no more than a week. Clinical manifestations can appear as early as three days after infection. The disease lasts for about three weeks, and if successfully treated, the dog gains lifelong immunity.

The disease scenarios are as follows:

1. If the disease affects a weak dog, the pet can die within a few hours. The chances of a favorable outcome in this case are slim.
2. Acute hepatitis. An acute infection can kill a dog in as little as a day, especially in puppies. However, most pets survive if treated promptly and appropriately.
3. Chronic hepatitis in dogs. This form of the disease has less severe symptoms and progresses more slowly. Fatalities are rare.

Symptoms

Next, we will look at the most obvious symptoms of hepatitis in dogs and prescribe treatment.

Enlarged liver

In a healthy pet, this organ does not protrude beyond the last rib (on the right side). An inflamed liver, however, extends beyond the costal arches. While slightly enlarged, it is not always palpable, an ultrasound will reveal any changes in size. Often, the liver is so large that the animal exhibits signs of pain during palpation and percussion of the right hypochondrium (whining, arching, and withdrawing from the doctor).

Impaired liver function

All liver functions are impaired. The inflamed organ is unable to function fully. Therefore, knowing about these symptoms can help you suspect serious health problems in your pet.

Yellowness

Yellowing of the sclera, visible mucous membranes, and skin in dogs is a sure sign of hepatitis. In chronic hepatitis (or at the very beginning of the disease), the yellowing is mild. Moreover, it does not always indicate hepatitis. It can also be cirrhosis in dogs, and blockage of the bile ducts by stones, and other liver diseases.

Vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea. They are light-colored, with bile. Then blood appears in them, causing them to turn brown.

Other symptoms

Other symptoms of hepatitis in dogs:

• Due to the bile pigments, which are already in excess in the blood, the urine becomes dark and brown. The stool, on the other hand, is practically colorless.
• Body temperature may rise.
• The heartbeat is arrhythmic.
• At the onset of the disease, poor appetite and lethargy are noted. A blood biochemistry test can indicate liver problems.

Signs of viral hepatitis in dogs include a fever of up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), vomiting, and diarrhea. The tonsils are severely inflamed, so much so that the dog can't swallow anything properly. This also makes it difficult for the dog to turn its head. The neck may even swell. Looking at the eyes, you'll notice clouding of the cornea (keratitis). Sometimes this affects only one eye, but more often it affects both eyes.

Diagnostics

Even an experienced veterinarian cannot immediately provide a definitive diagnosis of hepatitis. A complete medical history, including anamnestic data, an examination of the animal, and laboratory blood test results, is required. A biopsy is sometimes also performed.

The veterinarian must determine whether the animal is suffering from any infectious diseases that could produce a similar clinical picture. X-rays are also used to determine the extent of liver enlargement.

Treatment of a dog with hepatitis

How do you treat hepatitis in dogs? This disease, as you can imagine, is complex, and treatment requires a comprehensive approach:

• Treatment for a dog with hepatitis begins with diagnosis. If the disease is viral, specific (hyperimmune serums) and symptomatic treatment should be initiated as soon as possible.
• Hepatoprotectors are prescribed to help restore the liver's health, at least to some degree. Antibiotics will also be needed (but the type, dosage, and duration of treatment will be determined by a veterinarian).

Intravenous glucose and ascorbic acid solutions or saline solutions with riboxin are also beneficial. However, this is not the primary therapy, but rather a supportive one, to reduce the concentration of toxins and bile pigments in the blood and help liver cells regenerate faster.

Possible complications

An adult dog that has had hepatitis may experience the following complications:

• infertility, premature birth, fetal death before birth;
• increased predisposition to pyelonephritis;
• some disturbance of digestive functions;
• acute failure of liver and kidney function;
• hepatic encephalopathy;
• development of glaucoma;
• cirrhosis.

Diet for a dog with hepatitis

A dog with hepatitis requires a special diet. Minimize protein and avoid fatty foods entirely (they can further damage the liver). Feed plenty of carbohydrates and clean water (add a little glucose powder to it; a little sugar is acceptable). If your dog eats dry food, look for a specialized one (for dogs with liver or digestive problems, low in protein, and soy-free).

Prevention of hepatitis in dogs

Hepatitis prevention in dogs includes vaccinations (starting in puppyhood, then annually with "refreshers") and avoiding exposure to toxins and bad food. Do not self-medicate. Do not increase medication dosages or duration of treatment on your own (this can damage the liver, especially if antibiotics or "prohibited medications" are involved). Many medications are completely prohibited for dogs. Visit your veterinarian. Have your blood tested (at least every six months).

Also required for the prevention of hepatitis in dogs:

1. Carefully monitor your pet's contact with other animals and control their daily food intake. The same applies to drinking water.
2. Timely disinfection of the dog's living area and care items.
3. Proper feeding and care of four-legged pets.

Every dog ​​owner should remember that hepatitis, if detected early, can be treated more quickly and reliably. Therefore, the first signs of illness in your pet are a reason to visit a qualified specialist. Self-medication is strictly prohibited under any circumstances. A poorly defined clinical picture will complicate subsequent diagnosis and contribute to the development of complications, which can be fatal.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

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