Hepatitis in dogs is diagnosed as continuous, chronic liver inflammation, often due to infection caused by inflammatory cell buildup. This usually happens around spots of scarring or excess fibrous tissue.
At first, this doesn’t seem serious, but it can eventually cause permanent dysfunction of the liver, leading to severe damage or even failure. Dogs with hepatitis typically have a survival time of 561 ± 268 days, but those with final stage live damage only have 23 ± 23 days.
What causes canine hepatitis? It can be from:
- Disease, such as Cushing’s disease, endocrine disorders, or diabetes
- Systemic disease, such as Neospora, Sarcocystis, or Mycobacterium
- Drugs, such as arprofen, aflatoxin, or oxidbendazole
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Breed, such as Dalmations, Doberman Pinschers, and Labrador Retrievers
- Dog food with dangerous levels of copper
The three types of hepatitis are:
- Metabolic hepatitis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Infectious hepatitis
Symptoms of hepatitis include:
- Lack of Appetite
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Diarrhea
- Weight Loss
- Excess urination
- Lethargy
- Abdominal swelling
- Nervous system issues
- Jaundice
If you have reason to believe your dog may have hepatitis, take them to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will likely take a urinalysis and a blood test, and even an ultrasound or biopsy in certain cases, in order to diagnose the problem. Specific treatment methods will differ depending on the type and cause of the hepatitis.
Feature Image Source: Pixabay