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by Nancy ~ February 9th, 2010. Filed under: General Dog Health.I have a beautiful Dandie Dinmont Terrier named Shelby. She is 9 yrs old, and was very healthy until recently. She has developed cataracts in both her eyes, and her left eye has now gone blind. At the same time (though possibly unrelated) she is urinating in large quantity (!) and it is a dark yellow in shade. Her eating patterns and pooping is normal. She has had a number of blood tests, and it all is pointing to her liver being the issue. All other blood tests are normal. We don’t know if we should go to the next step of having her liver biopsied or having an ultrasound done – or whether we should try liver supplements?? Any suggestions would be welcome!! Both of my Dandies eat the same food, Natural Balance, sweet potato/fish mix – dry dog food.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Eye problems in dogs with liver issues are quite normal. There are several things I would suggest as I have had dealt with this problem with my old girl.
Firstly, find a good Holistic vet. If you are from Canada we have that link for you here. http://www.acreaturecomfort.com/holisticveterinarians.htm
Your vet will need to figure out the reason ‘s’ for the liver ailment including any problems with the pancreas or bowel diseases.
An ultrasound is a good idea as cirrhosis of the liver can be detected as well as any other abnormalities. In any case, diet is very important in controlling liver issues. Best is a home cooked approach as that is the highest quality protein available versus commercial dog food. The liver is a filter that removes waste proteins from the body. So one want’s to limit that amount of waste thus taking the load off the liver.
Sweet potato and fish can actually be very hard on dogs with liver disease as they are very high in vitamin A. Vitamin A is removed by a healthy liver but can build to toxic levels in liver compromised animals.
Supplements that can benefit dogs with liver issues are Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Burdock, and Red clover. Also Essiac tea has been used as a cleanse. Ideally, supplements in tincture form should be alcohol free. High quality capsule form for these items work well too such as Organika, Geniune Health or Natures Way.
If you would like any additional information on liver friendly diets please leave a reply/ comment.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
We had recently changed their (I have 2 Dandies, only one is ill) diet to the sweet potato/fish mix as we thought both Dandies were having a reaction (chewing their paws) so we thought it was a food allergy. I would love to have more info on liver friendly diets. How much of a supplement should a dog get – is it based on their weight? Thanks so much for all the info.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
My dog was on a liver friendly diet for about 2 years. She did best getting many small meals daily as opposed to 2 or 3 large ones. The smaller meals reduce the stress on the liver. This is what worked for her.
For moderate liver levels a diet could include, well cooked Converted white rice. Turkey breast, chicken breast, canned Tongal tuna ‘rinsed’, Pollock ‘absolutely no additives or preservatives’, cooked vegetables especially dark green ones ‘avoid sweet potato and veggies high in vitamin A’. Also if you can find game meat such as Elk, Reindeer, Musk ox, deer, ect, these meats tend to be easier on a dogs liver. Make sure the dog is getting some source of Omega 3’s, Evening Primrose is excellent.
For high liver levels a diet could include, drastically reduced animal fat and protein. Hemp protein is a good replacement for animal protein, Goatein from St. Francis Herb Farms is an excellent over all dietary supplement and has near zero load on the liver. You can mix it with water or goats milk. Dark green cooked veggies, well cooked converted white rice. And my girls favourite…. Maple beans.
These are just some of the things she did well on. I use to put all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and make a couple days worth at a time.
Supplements depend on strength of product, all differ. I use to figure out the human dose and divide that into the percentage of my dogs size. Figuring an average human weighs 150 lbs.
March 1st, 2010 at 11:19 am
An update….we had the ultrasound done on Shelby – and her liver looks clear (good news!). However, she has gall stones in her gall bladder. Any recommendations on food and/or supplements for gall bladder problems?
Do you have to have gall stones removed, or will a dog’s stones go away with treatment?
Thanks so much!
March 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
That is wonderful news Nancy! The liver actually does a really good job of regenerating if treated correctly.
Do you know how big the gall stones are? The biggest worry is if they start to pass and get stuck just before the bowel. If this then they block the tube that is shared between the gall bladder and pancreas. This is extremely dangerous if it occurs. If the stones are small, they will pass though it is very painful.
Again, many small meals throughout the day will reduce the amount of bile made by the liver and eventually stored in the gall bladder. A diet low in animal fat is highly recommended. There are some RX diets that disolve stones, but I would be cautious and discuss it at length with your vet before deciding if it’s a good idea. There are many side effects, you and your vet have to weigh the benefits.
There are a few natural ways to thin bile in the gall bladder and flush out stones. Avocado is one of the best natural bile thinners. One half of an avocado spaced out throughout the day works well.
There are several options for Natural supplements to compliment veterinary care. AOR makes TRIPHLAX-750 and CHANCA PIEDRA ‘break stone’. Artichoke leaf has been used to thin bile. Also, a digestive enzyme with ox-bile can greatly help. Again, remember these will only work if the stone isn’t too big to pass.
The only other option is surgery. Stones are not removed from the gall bladder, the entire gall bladder is removed. This is a fairly high risk ‘though common’ precedure as the gall bladder is tucked up under the liver and there is a risk of nicking the liver. The good news is, if the liver is working properly now, than no more stones should form in the gall bladder.
Best of luck with your Furkid and please keep us updated on progress. We are cheering for you…
January 28th, 2011 at 11:11 am
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