LIVER DISEASE: loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc

Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 : Items

These symptoms can be signs of various illnesses in your dog - but one disease that lists these symptoms as signs is Liver Disease. If you see your dog experiencing any or all of these symptoms, please see a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. This page is provided as an educational tool and is not an alternative to professional help. I hope the site is helpful and informative.

Christy

Q. What are the signs of liver disease?
A. COMMON SYMPTOMS:
Some or all of the following symptoms may be present:
1. Intermittent, recurrent abdominal or gastrointestinal upsets. Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation.
2. Progressive depression or lethargy.
3. Swollen belly with a fluid-filled look. This is known as "ascites" and is actually fluid accumulation in the belly due to circulation alterations in the abdomen.
4. Pale gray f*c*s. Bile pigments are what give f*c*s its characteristic brown color.
5. Orange urine. The improper processing of bile results in the excretion of bilirubin in the urine which gives it an orange color.
6. Jaundice, also known as "icterus." When biliary pigments accumulate in the blood, any pale or white skin or tissue takes on a yellow cast. Usually visible on the stomach and eyes.
7. Hepatic encephalopathy, or severe neurological signs, such as behavioral changes, seizures, aimless pacing or circling and head pressing.
8. Pain associated with the abdomen.
9. Chronic weight loss.
10. Increased water consumption and urination.
BETWEEN 1 - 5 YEARS OF AGE

Primary: Idiopathic Epilepsy ("idiopathic" = cause unknown or undetermined)

Inflammatory:
Infectious - Viral: canine distemper; parasitic; bacterial; fungal
Immune mediated

Metabolic:
Hepatic - Thyroid dysfunction; portosystemic shunt; Hypoglycemia; Electrolyte disorders

Anomaly: hydrocephalus

Trauma: Acute; Delayed

Toxic: Single or combination vaccines; Lead; Drug related; Other exposures

Neoplasia: Primary; Metastatic

Stages of seizures:
There are four basic stages to a seizure:
~ The Prodome: may precede the seizure by hours or days. It is characterized by changes in mood or behavior.
~ The Aura: signals the start of a seizure. Nervousness, whining, trembling, salivation, affection, wandering, restlessness, hiding and apprehension are all signals.
~ The Ictus: the actual seizure. A period of intense physical activity usually lasting 45 seconds to 3 minutes. The dog may lose consciousness and fall to the ground. There may be teeth gnashing, frantic thrashing of limbs, excessive drooling, vocalizing, paddling of feet, uncontrollable urination and defecation.
~ The Post Ictus: after the seizure the dog may pace endlessly, appear blind and deaf and eat or drink excessively.

Causes:
The cause can be anything that disrupts normal brain circuitry:
~ Idiopathic Epilepsy, meaning "no known cause" and possibly inherited. This is also referred to as Primary Epilepsy. Check history or pedigree and make sure your veterinarian has looked for possible underlying factors. Seizures caused by underlying factors are referred to as Secondary Epilepsy.

~ Congenital hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
~ Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
~ Infections causing brain damage (such as canine distemper, cryptococcosis)
~ Ingestion of toxins (such as lead paint chips, insecticides)
~ Brain tumors
~ Portosystemic shunts (improperly routed intestinal blood vessels bypass the liver - one of the body's important waste-product detoxifiers)
~ Vaccinations

Diet:
Diet plays an important role in the management of Canine Epilepsy. It is very important to feed a kibble that is preservative-free. Preservatives such as ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA should be avoided as they can cause seizures. Many "supermarket" foods are loaded with chemical dyes and preservatives. Buy a high quality kibble made from "human grade" ingredients or better yet, cook for your dog. Many recipes can be found in Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. PLEASE NOTE: If your dog is taking potassium bromide, be very careful when you switch dog foods. Try to make sure the sodium content is the same as the previous food. Change over very slowly, whether it is the same sodium content or different, so that the absorption rate of the potassium bromide remains constant.

SUSAN WYNN, DVM, on the canine diet: "Dogs evolved from Canis lupis - the wolf. Wolves eat caribou or the like, but if they are forced, they will eat smaller game (rarely). They have been observed to graze on grass, eat berries, etc, but only when they need to. This is our lesson in canine nutrition - they are omnivores who do well with fresh meat, the vegetation they get in a caribou stomach (which is mostly green, unless the beast is eating from baited fields), and a smattering of other stuff if they are hungry.

"Food companies have, in the main, revolutionized pet nutrition by eliminating major nutritional deficiencies and providing optimal nutrition for the average pet. Our concern, however, is not for the average pet. It is for the sick pet. If epileptic animals have a disease with even a small nutritional component, wouldn't we want to deal with it? Is your epileptic animal showing other signs of allergies? If s/he is chewing feet, scratching ears, having anal gland problems, vomiting bile seasonally, etc., one may want to consider dietary changes, including hypoallergenic diets, if appropriate.

"I think that the main benefit of feeding real food - meat (raw or cooked) raw or steamed veggies, cooked grains - is to provide stuff that is killed in the kibble extrusion process. If you or I were to eat a diet of Wheaties, yogurt, VegAll, and Spam day after day for 20 years, would this be enough? I don't know, but it makes me uncomfortable. I think our pets need a more varied diet and a fresher one than we can give them with commercial kibble. So I do recommend supplementing pet food with lean meat and vegetables."

SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE CONVULSIONS (SEIZURES)

From "Problems in Small Animal Neurology", by Cheryl L. Chrisman, DVM (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida)

Published in 1991 by Lea & Febiger

The following in on p. 190 of the book, and notes that it is courtesy of Dr. Roger Yeary, The Ohio State University Dept of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology:

Chemicals that cause convulsions:

absinthe, acetanilide, acetone cyanohydrin, acetonitrile, acetylsalicylic acid, aconite, acridium Cl, acrylonitrile, aldrin, amanita pantherona, 2-aminopyrine, amphetamine, apomorphine, arecoline, arsenic trioxide, arsine, aspidium, astropine, barium, bromates, butacaine, caffeine, camphor, carbon dioxide, castor beans, cedar oil, chenopodium oil, chloramine T, chlordane, chlorinated camphene, chloronaphthalene, chlorpromazine, choke cherry, cocaine, coniine, corticotrophin, cortisone, cresol, creosote, cyanide, cyclotrimethylene, DDT, DFP, digitalis, dimenhydrinate, dimercaprol, dinitrobenzene, dinitrocresol, dinitrophenol, diphenhydramine, disulfiram, dulcamara, endrin, ephedrine, ergot, ethylene glycol, eucalyptus oil, fluorides, galerina venerata, gasoline, gloriosa superba, gymnothorax flavimarginatus, helvella, heroin, hexachlorophene, hydrogen sulfide, insulin, isoniazid, kerosene, ketamine, lead, lobeline, meperidine, mercaptan, metaldehyde, methapyrilene HCl, methyl bromide, methyl chloride, methyl formate, methyl salicylate, monochloroacetic acid, morphine, naphthol, narcissus bulb, neostigmine, nicotine, nitrogen oxide, oenauthe crocata, oxygen (100%, 3 atm), pantopon, parathion, phencyclidene, phenol, phosphorus, physostigmine, picrotoxin, pilocarpine, procaine, pyridamine maleate, pyrimidine, quinine, resorcinol, rhodotypos (berries), rosemary oil, saffron, sage (oil of), salicylates, santonin, senecio canicida, sodium fluoroacetate, squill, streptomycin, strychnine, tanacetum vulgare, taxus baccata, tetracaine, tetrachloroethane, tetraethyl pyrophosphate, tetraodontia, thallium, thiocyanates, thuja, trinitrotoluene, tripelennamine HCl, veratrum, Vitamin D, water hemlock, zinc cyanide.
Tables 1 and 2 summarize results of complete thyroid diagnostic profiling on 634 canine cases of aberrant behavior, compiled by the authors in collaboration with Drs. Nicholas Dodman, and Jean DeNapoli of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA.
*Ninety percent (568 dogs) were purebreds and 10% were mixed breeds.
*There was no sex predilection found in this case cohort, whether or not the animals were intact or neutered.
*63% had thyroid dysfunction as judged by finding 3 or more abnormal results on the comprehensive thyroid profile
*The major categories of aberrant behavior were: aggression (40% of cases), seizures (30%), fearfulness (9%), and hyperactivity (7%); some dogs exhibited more than 1 of these behaviors.
*Thyroid dysfunction was found in 62% of the aggressive dogs, 77% of seizuring dogs, 47% of fearful dogs, and 31% of hyperactive dogs.
*Outcomes of treatment intervention with standard twice daily doses of thyroid replacement were evaluated in 95 cases. Of these, 58 dogs had greater than 50% improvement in their behavior as judged by a predefined 6-point subjective scale (34 were improved >75%), and another 23 dogs had >25 but <50% improvement. Only 10 dogs experienced no appreciable change, and 2 dogs had a worsening of their behavior. When compared to 20 cases of dominance aggression treated with conventional behavioral or other habit modification over the same time period, only 11 dogs improved >25% and of the remaining 9 cases, 3 failed to improve and 3 were euthanized or placed in another home. These initial results are so promising that complete thyroid diagnostic profiling and treatment with thyroid supplement, where indicated, is warranted for all cases presenting with aberrant behavior.
A typical history starts out with a quiet, well-mannered and sweet natured puppy. The dog is outgoing, has attended puppy training classes to prepare for obedience, working or show events, and comes from a reputable breeder whose kennel has no history of behavioral problems.
However, at the onset of puberty, which varies from seven months to a year in age, sudden major changes in personality are observed. Typical signs may include incessant whining, nervousness, schizoid behavior, fear in the presence of strangers, hyperventilation, undue sweating, occasional disorientation and failure to be attentive. These can progress to sudden unprovoked aggressiveness in unfamiliar situations with other animals and with people, especially children.
The owners may attribute the problems to the sex hormonal changes accompanying puberty or just the uncertainties of adolescent development. Often these animals are neutered, which appears to alleviate the behavioral problems, specifically the aggression, for varying lengths of time. For a significant proportion of these animals, however, neutering does not alter the symptoms and they intensify progressively to the point that the adult can be described as flaky, unable to handle any kind of stress, frantically circling, hyperventilating and not able to settle down. Animals used for field work and tracking often fail to follow the scent, whereas those in obedience training may lose the scent articles. Their powers of concentration are often very short and so dogs that were training very successfully at obedience appear to lag behind in a disinterested fashion. With all of these changes in behavior, the problem of most concern is unwarranted aggression. When large breeds are affected it poses a significant hazard to family members, friends and strangers.
In some cases affected animals do not show aggression but become very shy and fearful to the point that they are social outcasts and do not make acceptable house pets. These animals clearly are not suitable for show, obedience or working purposes. Some of these dogs will show extremely submissive behavior, roll over and urinate upon being approached.
The third group of dogs showing aberrant behavior consists of those that experience seizure or seizure-like disorders beginning in puberty and continuing to mid-life. These are dogs that appear perfectly healthy outwardly and have normal hair coats and energy, but suddenly experience seizures for no apparent reason. The seizures are often spaced several weeks to months apart, and occasionally they appear in a brief cluster. In some cases the animals become aggressive and attack those around them shortly before or after having one of these seizure episodes.
The number of dogs showing various types of abnormal behavior in these three classical modes (aggression, extreme shyness or seizure-like activity) has been increasing over the last decade. Veterinary colleagues have remarked that in recent years some young dogs have become completely unacceptable because of bizarre, sudden behavioral changes. Consequently, we began to examine these animals by using the stepwise diagnostic approach outlined previously. The importance of performing complete laboratory profiles in the blood and urine, with specific emphasis on thyroid hormonal function was stressed.
We were surprised to find that in many of the cases studied, significant abnormalities were found in the thyroid profile. Some cases also had changes in the liver enzyme patterns, specifically with abnormal increases in pre and post meal bile acids and elevated gamma glutamyl transerase levels. About 10 percent of these young dogs had abnormalities of the liver profile and a few also had changes in renal function. For the majority, however, the primary abnormality was attributable to abnormal thyroid function. This thyroid dysfunction would classically express high levels of T3 and T4 autoantibodies with an artifactual, apparent elevation of total T3 level. It would not be uncommon to find circulating total T3 levels that read as much as 3,000 to 5,000 nanograms per deciliter. While not all of the affected animals had documented evidence of T3 and T4 autoantibodies, some of these had positive antithyroglobulin antibody tests. In either event, the diagnosis was confirmed as autoimmune thyroiditis.
The autoimmune thyroid disease present in these patients apparently is inducing some type of physiological change at the cellular lever, which leads to the aberrant behavior. This supposition can be made with some assurance because treatment of thyroiditis of these dogs with appropriate doses of thyroid replacement hormone given twice daily along with a one-month tapering course of low-dose corticosteroids, has successfully reversed the behavioral problems within four to eight weeks. Dramatic changes in behavior have been recognized in a few cases as early as after 10 days of therapy.
By contrast, it usually takes five to seven months of thyroid replacement therapy to effect complete disappearance of the circulating antithyroid antibodies. These dogs should be maintained for life on the appropriate dose of thyroid hormone, which may need to be adjusted periodically.
Another subset of affected dogs consists of those that do not have demonstrable antithyroid antibodies but have baseline thyroid profiles that are clearly abnormal. In these cases, levels of total T4, total T3, free T4 and free T3 are usually well below the lowest limits of the adult normal ranges or are in the low normal or borderline ranges. The latter situation is of particular significance in young dogs of nine to 15 months of age. When these dogs are treated with standard doses of thyroid replacement therapy (0.1 milliliter per 10 pound of body weight, given twice daily) the clinical signs associated with abnormal behavior rapidly resolve.
To date (October 1992) more than 25 animals have been diagnosed as having thyroid imbalance as the major, if not exclusive, cause of their behavioral abnormalities. Some of these animals have been followed for as long as three years and are still exhibiting anormal behavior. Animals on therapy have returned successfully to obedience activities, completed show championships and undertaken active field and tracking work.
Here are two case studies as examples:
In the first, a four-year-old male Akita, weighing 110 pounds, suddenly attacked his owner and bit her in the face. The dog had been owned by the same family since early puppyhood and had been a remarkably even tempered, well-behaved and non-aggressive pet with people and other animals. After seeking the advice of two different veterinary clinicians and a major teaching hospital, the owner was about to give up in despair because no physical abnormalities could be found.
She was referred to us by an Akita rescue group, as this pattern of behavioral change has been associated with thyroid dysfunction in the breed. A complete thyroid panel which had not been performed earlier, was suggested and the dog was found to be hypothyroid. Thyroid therapy was initiated on a twice-daily basis. The dog's exemplary temperament returned and he has not shown any unusual behavior for more than a year. An interesting additional complication of the case was a moderately severe thrombocytopenia which also resolved with low doses of alternate-day steroid therapy and thyroid medication.
In the second, a nine month old male Shetland Sheepdog from excellent show-quality bloodlines suddenly became frantic and fearful. Acting intermittently, as if his vision were impaired, he attacked a toddler in the owner's home. A complete physical examination was given and laboratory testing done; a routine check for T4 was borderline normal. The dog's abnormal behavior appeared to resolve, but soon reappeared.
After a second attack the dog had a complete thyroid profile done at Michigan State University's Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. The total T4 was 44 nmol/1; total T3 was 0 nmol/1; free T4 was 2 pmol/1; free T3 was >20 pmol/1; T4 autoantibody was 18 and T3 autoantibody was 85. The referring veterinarian did not realize that the results were consistent with autoimmune thyroiditis and the dog was not treated. Two months later the dog attacked another person and a second thyroid profile was sent to the Michigan State Laboratory. The second profile showed a total T4 of 29 nmol/1; total T3 of 0 nmol/1; free T4 of 25 pmol/1; free T3 of >20 pmol/1; T4 autoantibody of 48 and T3 autoantibody of 91. Consultation with our group was made at this point.
The dog had a previous history of facial demodectic mange; because corticosteroids are not recommended with demodecosis, the treatment consisted for a full therapeutic dose of T4 thyroid supplement at 0.1 milligram per 10 pounds and a one-third dose of T3 thyroid supplement at 1 microgram per pound, both given twice daily. The rationale for treating with both T4 and T3 supplements in this case was to attempt to normalize the thyroid axis as quickly as possible to avoid danger to family members. At the time of this writing the dog's behavioral aggression has subsided.
For those animals that show occasional seizure disorders, thyroid medication alone usually will suffice. Anticonvulsant medication is needed along with the thyroid therapy to control cases with more severe seizure clusters. The anticonvulsants of choice would be phenobarbital or, alternatively, sodium bromide, particularly if the patient has abnormalities of liver function.
Because many of these animals have autoimmune thyroid disease, concomitant medical management includes avoiding environmental factors that can further challenge the immune system. This means placing the animal on a hypoallergenic "natural" diet preserved with vitamins E and C (e.g., lamb and rice based lower-protein kibble without added chemical preservatives); avoiding drugs such as the potentiated sulfonamide antibiotics and monthly heartworm preventatives that may adversely affect the immune system in these susceptible dogs; and withholding vaccination boosters until the thyroid function is balanced properly and the behavioral abnormalities are resolved. If animals are due for annual vaccine boosters during this period, vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus can be determined.
If your otherwise healthy young or adult dog experiences sudden behavioral changes, you should consult your vet and check for an underlying thyroid imbalance as shown by:
1) The presence of thyroid autoantibodies
2) Low or borderline levels of total T4, total T2 and Free T4 or
3) Failure to triple baseline total T4 levels in response to challenge with thyroid-stimulating hormone.
In our experience, the most predictive thyroid test parameters to identify these cases are 1 and 2, because the thyroid stimulating hormone response test just measures thyroid reserve, which remains adequate in the early stages of thyroid disease.
Hypoglycemia is defined as abnormally low blood glucose (sugar) levels. The brain requires sugar for normal function, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose. The brain is the organ that is predominantly affected when blood glucose gets too low.
As a primary source of energy for the body, blood glucose levels are regulated by a complex interaction of hormones and bodily processes. Hypoglycemia can be caused by abnormal function of the hormones that regulate blood sugar or by the inability of the body to store adequate amounts of glucose. Some of the specific causes of hypoglycemia include:
Insulinoma - Insulin is produced in the pancreas and causes blood sugar levels to decrease. Insulinomas are tumors of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas that causes an increase in the production of insulin, thus lowering the blood sugar levels. If an insulinoma is suspected, the insulin concentration in the blood can be measured. Surgery is usually recommended.
Insulin overdose - An excess of insulin can also occur in diabetic animals on insulin injections if the dose is inappropriate.
Reduced glucose intake - Puppies, especially toy breed puppies, are predisposed to developing hypoglycemia because they have less ability to store and mobilize glucose, compared to older animals. Puppies need frequent meals to prevent a hypoglycemic crisis.
Hypoandrenocorticism (Addison's Disease) - Hypoandrenocorticism results from a deficiency in the secretion of hormones from the adrenal glands. The cause of Hypoandrenocorticism is unknown, although immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal gland is suspected in most cases.
The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar regardless of the cause. These include lethargy, weakness, incoordination, seizures, nervousness, tremors and hunger. In severe cases the dog may become unconscious.
A diagnosis of hypoglycemia as a cause of neurological problems is based on the presentation of clinical signs of hypoglycemia, blood glucose concentration test shows levels below normal, and the fact that clinical signs go away when glucose is administered to the patient.
If the neurological signs are proven to be due to hypoglycemia, the cause of the hypoglycemia must be found. In addition to a medical history and examination, laboratory tests are usually performed. Emergency treatment of hypoglycemia involves administration of glucose usually by intravenous injection. Giving a quickly absorbed source of sugar (syrup, honey, or jam) by mouth may also be effective.
Recently in a prestigious veterinary journal, an article appears that describes using an ice pack to stop seizures or avoid them altogether. The idea of using ice to stop or avoid a seizure makes a lot of sense. Most of our dogs get so hot during a seizure that putting an ice pack on the small of the back (NOT the neck) could stop or slow down a seizure.
All of us know that helpless feeling when our dog goes into a seizure. Besides protecting our dog from harm during the seizure, and getting post-seizure medications ready, there seems little else we can do but wait for the seizure to end.
This article on using an ice pack to stop seizures is about an exciting new technique that has recently been published in a leading veterinarian journal. This technique may be able to help you shorten or even stop your dog's seizure before it begins, and may even help reduce the amount of post-ictal recovery time, and to return your dog to full functioning more quickly.
The technique was tested--both in an ER and a regular veterinary hospital as well as by people in their own homes--on 51 epileptic dogs. In all 51 cases, the technique either stopped the seizure or shortened the usual duration of the seizure, and in many cases, the post-ictal (after-seizure) recovery time was also shortened. These results were published in an article by H. C. Gurney, DVM, and Janice Gurney, B.S., M.A. The article is entitled, "A Simple, Effective Technique for Arresting Canine Epileptic Seizures." It appeared in The Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, in the January-March 2004 issue, pages 17-18.
Probably the most exciting part of this discovery is that the technique is not in any way harmful to your dog, and it does not involve giving extra medications. It is as simple as applying a bag of ice to the lower-midsection of your dog's back (the small of the back), and holding the bag firmly in position until the seizure ends. The exact area on the back is between the 10th thoracic (chest) and 4th lumbar (lower back) vertebrae (bones in the spine); what this means is that the top of the ice bag should rest just above the middle of your dog's back, following along the spine, and drape down to the lower-midsection of the back. To see a very good diagram of where the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae meet on a dog's spine, go to:
http://www.infovisual.info/02/070_en.html
The ice bag should rest between the middle of the thoracic vertebrae and the middle of the lumbar vertebrae.
With a properly sized ice bag, you should not have to worry about being too exact: aim for the middle of the back, and the correct area will be covered. Application of ice to other areas of the body (head, neck, legs and other areas of the spine) was not found to be effective. Ice bags on the middle of the back was the only area found to work.
The article reports that the sooner the ice is applied, the better the results. So you should have an ice pack ready and prepared: if you have a small dog, fill a small-sized (quart) ziplock freezer bag with cubed or crushed ice and keep it in a particular spot in your freezer. When you hear or see a seizure begin, run for the ice or, if you live with another person, have one person run for the ice while the other runs to help the dog. Place the ice bag in the lower midsection of your dog's back and hold it there firmly until the seizure stops. If this technique works as reported, you should not have to wait as long as your dog's usual seizure, and you may also see an improvement in the post-ictal period's duration.
The article reports that people who tried using a bag of frozen vegetables instead of ice had less success than those who used ice, so keep a bag of ice ready or a commercial ice pack used to keep soft drinks cold in a cooler. The article also indicated that dogs with cluster seizures are a special case and may need their usual protocols after the seizure, so if your dog is a clusterer, follow your veterinarian's instructions for using valium or write to our website for the rectal and oral valium protocol.
We are very excited about this discovery, and would be so pleased if it turns out to be as effective as reported. If you decide to use this technique on your dog, please let us know how it turned out: was it successful, or not. Send them to me at: JCarson6@AOL.COM We would like to be able to add more testimonials from those who have used it, and whether or not they found it effective. If it is effective, it will be a godsend to many of us who now feel we can do nothing for our dogs but comfort them until a seizure ends.
Lorianne and Angel Harley - Collie/Australian Shepherd mix
As soon as the seizure subsided, we would administer the rectal valium. Without the valium, Harley would have severe clusters. Harley was usually temporarily blind after a seizure, so as soon as he was able to safely swallow, we would hold a small bowl with a tablespoon of softened all-natural vanilla ice cream (and a drop of Rescue Remedy) in. He would smell it and begin to lap it up. We would then feed him a full meal of kibble, which he would usually eat most of. After he'd eat, we would take him outside so that he could pace without walls & furniture to run into. Eventually, he'd be stable enough to bring inside and we would
go upstairs to our bedroom, turn out the lights and encourage him to rest.

Member Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 6 : Items

This is just amazing read so I just had to say thank you. Wink

______________________
mini australian shepherds