Dog Disease

Dog liver disease is one of the common established diagnoses in veterinary practice. Of all the cases circulation they make up more than 5%. And these are only diagnosed pathology. Often the owners are unaware that the cause Ailments are liver diseases in dogs. Though this is one of the few organs that can regenerate, physiology liver causes a high frequency of pathogenic effects on it structure and function.

Content

• 1. Types and classification of liver pathologies
• 2. Signs of liver disease
• 3. Methods for the diagnosis of liver disease
• 4. Methods of treatment of liver pathology

Types and classification of liver pathologies

The liver plays an important role in supporting life. She is the main “filter” of endogenous toxic substances and exogenous origin. Therefore, it falls under the “blow” at body intoxication of various etiologies, is a target for diseases of the digestive tract and blood supply system.

Liver diseases can be divided into:

1. Primary – caused by direct mechanical or toxic effects on the body.
2. Secondary – due to systemic diseases of others organs.

Primary hepatopathologies include infectious hepatitis, which cause various strains of adenoviruses belonging to the genus Mastadenovirus. Two dogs cause liver disease strain:

• type 1 (CAV-1);
• type 2 (CAV-2).

They have varying degrees of infection ability, but similar in their antigenic structure and immunogenic properties. The disease affects dogs of all breeds and ages, but most often diagnosed in 2-6 month old puppies.

The source of infection is domestic dogs and wild carnivores. canine virus carriers or sick animals. Infectious the pathogen is excreted with biological fluids – mucus, separated from the eyes, nose, urine, and bowel movements.

Infection occurs through contact – direct and indirect, or when eating contaminated meat and water. Also cause hepatitis are:

• pathogenic fungi;
• parasites;
• Leptospira bacteria;
• Mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Koch’s bacillus) and etc.

Some of them parasitize in the tissues and structures of the liver, others are localized in various organs, but in the process toxins that destroy the liver.

Secondary hepatopathy is caused by various factors:

• pathology of the digestive tract (pancreatitis, gastroenterocolitis);
• heart failure and blood vessel pathology;
• endocrine pathologies (Cushing’s disease);
• drug treatment (hormone therapy);
• abdominal injuries;
• exposure to toxic substances;
• oxygen starvation, etc.

Classification of hepatic pathologies takes into account localization hearth. Distinguish pathology:

• hepatobiliary system, including not only the liver, but also gall bladder, excretory ducts (cholangitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis);
• parenchyma (internal tissue) of the liver (acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, fibrosis, amyloidosis, lipidosis (obesity)).

The duration of the pathology is divided into:

• sharp
• subacute;
• chronic.

In addition, liver diseases in dogs are classified into the following:

• inflammatory;
• non-inflammatory;
• neoplasia (malignant and benign tumors, gum, cysts, abscess);
• vascular abnormalities (pylephlebitis, portal vein thrombosis, cardiac cirrhosis, congestive liver).

Some liver pathologies are genetically determined and characteristic of a particular breed of dog. For example, anomalies vessels of the liver are most often found in representatives of such breeds, like dwarf spitz, jack russell terriers, yorkshire terriers – dwarf rocks.

Signs of liver disease

Symptoms of impaired liver structure are diverse, as the functions performed by this body are also diverse. Each pathology there are characteristic symptoms and common to all types liver damage. If more than 70% of the tissues of the organ are affected, then the following symptoms of disturbances begin to appear:

• vomiting
• diarrhea;
• loss of appetite and body weight (anorexia);
• lethargy and lethargy;
• intense thirst;
• discoloration of feces (light, plasticine) and urine (saturated orange or brick);
• increased urine output (polyuria);
• yellowness of the proteins of the eyes, tongue and skin;
• violation of coagulation (coagulation) of blood;
• swelling and ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity);
• hypoglycemia;
• hepatoencephalopathy;
• violation of coordination of movements and behavior;
• eye diseases and blindness;
• cramps
• dyspnea;
• pallor of visible mucous membranes, anemia.

A frequent sign of liver disease is pain, because of which the dog whines, takes a forced position, negatively reacts to palpation of the liver area.

Inflammatory pathologies are accompanied by fever body and febrile manifestations. With pathogenic liver damage fungus symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the form of dermatoses – in dogs hair begins to fall out, bald spots form, visible changes in the structure of the skin. Some types of disorders are accompanied by the formation of bruises on the skin of the dog, an increase in lymphatic nodes.

In the initial stage, liver disease is asymptomatic or manifestations of pathology are attributed to other reasons. Therefore very it is important to consult a doctor in time to prevent the development of such serious complications like cirrhosis and ascites that are not treated and lead, sooner or later, to the death of the pet.

Methods for the diagnosis of liver disease

The causes of some liver diseases in dogs before still unclear, and symptoms appear in the later stages, with significant organ damage or disguised as other diseases. Therefore, it is very important to choose such methods diagnostics that can help identify the disease at an early stage and start treatment on time.

In veterinary practice to clarify the diagnosis of diseases tried and tested methods and modern methods apply to the liver hardware and instrumental research:

• visual inspection;
• palpation and tapping of the liver area;
• ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
• radiography;
• endoscopic examination;
• diagnostic laparotomy;
• angiography (blood vessel examination);
• liver tissue biopsy;
• biochemical and clinical analysis of blood and urine;
• serological tests;
• coprogram (feces research);
• cytological analysis of fluid in ascites.

These diagnostic methods allow you to visually see the changes, determine the cause of the pathology, establish an accurate diagnosis and exclude other diseases with similar symptoms. In addition, many methods allow you to track how effective is applied treatment and correct it in time. Based on the received Results The veterinarian is developing a treatment regimen.

Methods of treating liver pathology

The main goal of the treatment of liver pathologies in dogs is an:

1. Elimination of a pathogenic agent (viruses, bacteria, helminths, fungi).
2. Reducing exposure and stopping toxic substances.
3. Relieving the symptoms of the disease (symptomatic therapy).
4. Treatment of concomitant pathologies.

Treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating causes and support the dog’s body for the period necessary for restoration of liver tissue. According to studies, if eliminate the causes of the disease, the liver recovers within 10-15 days. To restore liver function, apply:

• drug therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• diet therapy;
• surgical treatment, for example, with congenital malformations vessels of the liver or neoplasia.

An exemplary drug treatment regimen is presented in table:

Vitamin therapy is used to quickly restore the animal. using the following veterinary preparations:

• Canvit Multi for dogs;
• Aminoxol;
• Canvit Fish Oil;
• Petvital Derm Caps et al.

Scientists have obtained good results in the treatment of liver pathologies in dogs, using a complex – preparations of cluster silver with bile cattle and reflexology (dynamic electrical neurostimulation).

Often the treatment of liver diseases in dogs is a long and expensive process, therefore, to avoid illness, regularly show the animal to a veterinarian, especially when breed genetic predisposition to hepatosis, do everything necessary vaccinations, monitor the nutrition of the animal. Health dogs in many respects depends on the responsible attitude of the owner animal.