The Best Dog Food For Liver Disease

The liver is the largest organ in the body, second only to the skin, and is responsible for an incredible 1500 biochemical functions. Generally though, its two main roles are:

• Removing waste from the body. 
• Keeping the body’s internal environment constant (homeostasis) by maintaining blood glucose levels and regulating temperature  

However, canine liver disease is usually quite advanced before there are any signs and symptoms and a blood test which looks at liver function (elevated liver enzymes) and/or scans can confirm the diagnosis of chronic liver disease.

On a positive note, the right dog food may not only help to manage the symptoms, it may also help to delay the progression of the disease.

The diet aims to: 

• To supply adequate energy and nutrients to fulfil basic requirements and prevent weight loss.
• Maintain normal metabolic processes
• Avoid build-up of toxins
• Correct any imbalance in sodium and potassium
• Provide substances needed to repair and regenerate the liver.
• Limit further liver damage by preventing accumulation of copper and free radicals.
• Prevent or minimize metabolic complications such as hepatic encephalopathy.

In addition, the liver also plays an essential role in the digestion of food and nutrients.  Given that the liver has so many functions, it follows that liver disease in dogs has many clinical signs including chronic weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite, frequent urination (polyuria) and excessive thirst (polydipsia), dehydration, and others.

What to look for in Dog Foods for Optimum Liver Care

Your Vet may recommend a prescription/veterinary diet (usually dry dog foods) or you may prefer your dog to have a homemade diet.

Whichever you choose, lets take a look at how to ensure your dog’s diet contains the right nutrients.

Energy (calories) and Fat

Poor food intake in dogs with chronic liver problems will result in progressive loss of body fat and muscle wastage and this is very common in dogs with liver disease.

In most cases it should not be necessary to restrict to a low fat diet because fat is an important source of calories.  Dogs with liver disease often have poor appetites, so the addition of a small amount of melted butter/margarine, cream, cheese or cream cheese to meals can provide extra energy in a small portion.

Protein

One of the functions of the liver is to remove the waste products of protein as it is digested.  It used to be thought that feeding a low protein diet would be helpful but in fact, the liver needs protein in the diet to help it regenerate. The key is to offer good quality proteins from animal sources (high biological value proteins) because this means less work for the liver because there is less waste to get rid of.

In addition, a low protein diet would cause the body to break down its own muscle as a source of protein leading to weight loss and general weakness. 

Carbohydrate

Having carbohydrate in the diet means that the breakdown of muscle is minimized.  This is also known as a protein sparing effect because the protein can be used for growth and repair rather than an extra source of energy.

Diets which contain about 50% of energy from digestible carbohydrates are beneficial for dogs with liver disease.  Dog food manufacturers are not required by law to state how much carbohydrate is in their dog food.  But there is an easy way to work out how much carbohydrate is in your dogs’ food.  Simply add up all the nutrient percentages and take the total from 100.  What’s left is the carbohydrate. 

Fibre

Both types of fibre can be very beneficial for dogs with liver disease.

Soluble fibre, like sweet potato, can be fermented in the large intestine by the bacteria that are present (large intestinal microflora).  In turn they metabolise protein waste, acting as an ammonia trap and reducing blood levels of the toxic waste product, ammonia.

Insoluble fibre such as wheat bran cannot be fermented and helps to avoid constipation which otherwise would interfere with the ability of microflora of the large intestine to mop up nitrogenous waste.  The excess toxins cannot be absorbed into the blood stream and cause neurological symptoms.

Vitamins

• Vitamin B is water soluble and so is lost when there is excessive urination and so the diet should always be supplemented with vitamin B
• Vitamin C is also water soluble but should not be supplemented as it can worsen tissue damage caused by copper and iron
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant and is known to mop up free radicals so is cytoprotective especially in copper storage disease
• Vitamin K is useful if clotting times are prolonged and there is a need for a liver biopsy

Supplementation with vitamin A should be avoided because it can cause damage to the liver tissues.

Supplementation with vitamin D should also be avoided because it can cause calcification within the tissues.

Minerals

Copper & Zinc

Many homemade diets are low in zinc so a multivitamin supplement which includes copper and zinc can be added to the diet unless the dog has been diagnosed with copper storage disease. This condition occurs when an abnormal amount of copper accumulates in the liver, leading to damage and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).  Some dog breeds are more susceptible to this, including Dalmatians, Bedlington Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, West Highland White Terriers, Skye Terriers and Labrador Retrievers.

Homemade Diets – what you will need

• A complex carbohydrate – such as rice or potatoes
• Vegetables – frozen are just as nutritious as fresh so bag of frozen, mixed, cubed vegetable can be very convenient
• A protein source – chicken, white fish, pork or turkey

The easiest way to prepare a home cooked diet is to use minced chicken, turkey etc and cook in a non-stick pan and combine with the cooked rice/potatoes and vegetables. 

A ratio of half protein to half carbohydrate works well and then vegetables can be added according to taste as they don’t add a significant amount of carbohydrate.

How to Feed

Providing small frequent meals (3-6 per day) at room temperature plus a bedtime snack can help with a reduced appetite and this approach has the added benefit of optimizing blood flow through the liver. 

Supplements which can be beneficial in liver disease

SAMe

An antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects which may be beneficial in treating chronic liver disease.  It is known to have therapeutic benefits in paracetamol toxicity ( a cause of liver damage) which suggests that it may beneficial in treating chronic liver disease although more research is needed in this area.

Milk thistle (Silymarin)

It is a combination of several active compounds which have  antioxidant effects and may also help the body to make protein and stimulate the growth of liver cells so it  may be beneficial in chronic liver disease but more research is needed. The downside is it has a bitter taste so adding it in capsule form rather than to food may be better.

Other Antioxidants

Omega-3 and Omega-6 supplements may be beneficial due to their ability to mop up free radicals and reduce inflammation in general.

Overall, an adapted diet and the addition of supplements can help to maintain body weight and muscle mass, support liver regeneration improve appetite and encourage the dog to eat.