15 months ago I took my dog to the vet to have her teeth cleaned, she was 11. The vet did some blood tests prior to the anesthetic and diagnosed her with liver disease. He Said it was a big risk putting her under as although her heart was good her body may be able to cope with after effects of anesthetic.  He told us the live disease was quite advanced and really there was nothing tat old be one or her, but he couldn't put a time on how long she might live.

Here we are 15 months later and she is still with us, she cant see well and has lost 5 kilos in weight as is normal with this disease, she has become a very fussy eater, but with patience and an ever changing diet we nearly always manage to get some food down her each day.  She goes out every day for a walk all be it a very short one, and does not appear to be in any pain.

We have a dilemma though, she has two very large external skin tumours on her face, I clean them every day but one is in a position were she keeps knocking it and making it bleed a lot.  Ideally they need to be removed, but that doesn't appear to be an option for us. 

Has anyone else had any experience of liver disease with their dog? I feel very lucky that she is still with us and wonder if the vet got it right when he said her disease was advanced.

I was under the impression that an accurate diagnosis of liver disease could only be from a biopsy of the liver. Blood tests can show an indication but are not definitive.

Has your vet suggested a special diet at all or done any other tests, not just blood tests?

I lost my old boy to liver disease/failure last month and his decline was rapid. He'd had various blood tests, urine tests, bile acid concentration tests etc about 6 months previously and all came back within the normal range. He showed few symptoms and was basically a happy, but obviously older dog (he was nearly 13). He had had regular tests anyway because he was on long-term pain relief for his arthritis and nothing extraordinary showed up. Within the space of 5 days he went downhill and was pts (he had a biopsy and the result came back that the liver was full of scar tissue).

I'd also be questioning the diagnosis, although the symptoms you describe could point towards liver disease. With regard to the skin tumours I think you need to discuss with your vet really.

Good luck! :)

She had bile tests, blood tests and a scan or her liver which was very small with scar tissue.  The vet did suggest a special diet and antibiotics to fight any underlying infection which might have caused the liver disease. However after a few months she became so fussy with her food, which I believe is all part of this, it was hard to stick to the diet and get any antibiotics down her.

The test results also pointed to liver disease.

Up until now she has seemed quite happy but I feel she is getting worse and eating so little.  It is hard to know if she is suffering in anyway.

It does sound like your vet has diagnosed correctly in that case. The trouble is that dogs are often so stoic, and will put up with so much before they show any severe symptoms. If only they could talk......

Speak to your vet and see what he advises.

Any dog with liver impairment should be on as low a protien diet as possible, doesn't need to be vet prescription, my Mum's dachsie who had a Liver Shunt repaired 8.5yrs ago when she was 8 months old has been on tinned food and mixer since the vets diet finished 9 months after the op, we were told to stay as low protien as possible and we couldn't do it with kibbles, any treats/chews have to be checked too, no more cheese which she loved.