In general, meat products, yeast, liver or any type of organ meats, or shellfish are not recommended, as these will cause the accumulation of ammonia in your dog’s system and ammonia is a toxin that depresses the central nervous system.
Basically, there is a certain level of protein that needs to be ingested to avoid muscle wasting (due to negative nitrogen balance), but too much protein will lead to toxin build-up. For dogs with very bad problems, or those that have not stabilized, there is a daily tightrope walk between ingesting enough protein to avoid symptoms and ingesting too much protein to avoid symptoms. There are general guidelines for grams of protein based on a dog’s weight; However, the actual amount of protein varies with the dog’s age, activity level, severity of liver disease, medications, supplements, number of meals per day, and the presence of other secondary diseases (kidney or pancreas). , IBD).
The best food for dogs with severe liver disease is prescription food formulated to ease the liver’s workload, such as canned Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14 or Hills LD. These foods are low in protein from a vegetarian source, since soy and dairy cause less ammonia buildup than any type of meat. PediaSure Vanilla with fiber can be administered initially as it is low in soy / dairy protein and high in carbohydrates.
To avoid the symptoms of HD, as well as to increase a dog’s protein tolerance, the following will help:
1) Medications from your vet (including low dose antibiotics and lactulose). Other medications that may be necessary are Pepcid, Carafate, or Actigall.
2) Food: Low Protein / High Carb Vegetarian Food: RC Hepatic LS 14 or PediaSure Vanilla or Hills LD canned.
Number of meals – 6 per day – for example, 6 am, 9, 1, 4, 7,11 pm
Grams of Protein – The amount of food and grams of protein varies depending on the severity of a dog’s symptoms and the amount of liver support provided by supplements and medications.
Adding protein from other foods is not recommended until the dog stabilizes. All carbohydrates also have some protein. The amounts of sodium, manganese, copper, iron can be too high if various vegetables are added and it is difficult to control HD with a homemade diet.
Dehydration is a risk factor for HD; it is necessary to add distilled water to food and / or inject water with syringes for dogs that do not eat / drink alone.
3) Supplements – Dogs with liver shunts or other conditions that cause unusual blood flow to the liver need ongoing liver support to prevent fibrosis / cirrhosis. Recommended supplements include specific blends containing milk thistle, Vetri DMG liquid (instead of Denosyl), and probiotics. Zinc is a powerful antifibrotic, lowers HD and helps normalize the urea cycle. Vitamin E is recommended as a basic supplement, and some dogs also require omega 3 from a fish source. Fiber in the form of psyllium husk or apple pectin is important. A new supplement to try for severe HD and lowering ammonia is L-Ornithine, L-Aspartate (LOLA).
Avoid further liver damage with medications or other products that are toxic to the liver whenever possible, for example. heartworm preventatives, flea / tick products, vaccines, certain antibiotics. For those with the most severe liver problems, those who have had ascites or cirrhosis, the risks and benefits of these products must be carefully evaluated.
I am a dog lover and have been raising dogs with severe liver problems for about five years. I am not a veterinarian or a nutritionist, but I have had great success in managing severe symptoms of liver disease in many dogs.