What are the signs of liver disease in dogs?
Symptoms may vary depending on what has caused liver disease, but common symptoms include: • A common sign of liver disease is icterus (also known as jaundice). Signs of icterus are yellowing of the eyes, skin & mucous membranes. • Loss of appetite. • Abdominal effusion. • Weight loss. • Polyuria (increased urination). • Polydipsia (increased water consumption). • Enlargement of the liver. • Lethargy. • Diarrhoea. • Vomiting. • Seizures. • Bad breath. How is liver disease diagnosed? Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat & will want to run several tests, including a biochemical profile to look at; • ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is an enzyme produced in the liver cells. The ALT test determines the level of this enzyme in the blood, which increases when damage to the liver cells has occurred. • AST (aspartate aminotransferase) is an enzyme also found in skeletal & cardiac muscle cells, the brain & red blood cells. Elevated AST in the blood is also an indicato
