hi i have just got back from the emergency vet who has told me that my 3 yr old dobe has suspected liver failure
this has happened very suddenly was fine yesterday came into the kitchen this morning and there was a lot of blood on the floor bella wouldnt get up and wont eat
vet has given her steriods and rehydrating sachets and we have to go back on tuesday

has anyone else suffered with this and what is the prognosis as my vet wont give me a definate reply

please any info as im absolutely distraught

louise

Hi Louise
So sorry to hear your news. My older dog has just been diagnosed with kidney failure, and given 2 weeks (that was 7 weeks ago).

I asked for a referral to a specialist vet in internal medicine. I got loads of information and whilst there's no cure advice on diet and restricted phosphorous has done wonders, and at the moment she is now lively and happy, no-one can say how long it might be, but I'm hoping it will be some time yet, now I have her toxins stablised.

I know its not the same thing, but what I'm trying to say is get a referral to a specialist in the field, they will tell you all you need to know. What area are you in?
Kat

I had a 7yr old boxer who was diagnosed with liver failure last year,she was put on steroids and a diet of white meat and fish no fat,picked up really well,vet thought it safe to now take her off steroids and continue things as normal,so with his advise we did this she was great for quite a few wks then one morning she had gone rapidly down hill we took her back and was told things had taken there toll there was nothing they could do for her unfortunatly we had no option but for her to be pts,as they told us all her stomach lining had wasted away  devastating news for us
my advice is keep on the steroids and do not stray off the diet at all.Hope everything works out ok for you both (((((fingers crossed)))))

Hi dobeinkent,

I can't claim to be an expert in liver problems but the breed I own (Bedlington Terrier) is known to have a problem with Copper Toxicosis which is being bred out by only using tested animals.  Bedlingtons are not the only breed to suffer from liver problems and Westies and Dobermanns are also known to be affected along with 50 or so other breeds.  Having done a fair bit of research of dog foods I have found many to be very high in copper (measured in mg/Kg) and always feed one of the 'lower copper' foods - even though my dog tested 'clear' of the CT gene. EG. Copper values in complete dry dog foods can range from 7mg/Kg - 30mg/Kg quite a difference!

For more information on liver problems in Dobermanns these two links seem to be very informative, there are more pages on the web and you may wish to visit some Dobermann sites too

http://66.101.7.11/CAH.htm
http://www.auntjeni.com/copper.htm

I am NOT SAYING that this is what your dog has, but the info may give you some questions to ask your vet or even some information for them.

I hope your girl is feeling better soon and makes a good recovery.

Regards
Dill

Last time Louise (DobeinKent) contacted me it was to say that her girl was going to have to be pts. :(

Thats dreadful, my heart goes out to her.  :( :(

Why is it that breeders in the breeds known to be affected don't test their stock and give relevant information as  responsible Bedlington breeders do?  It seems to me many just stick their heads in the sand and hope for the best :(

Hi Louise,

Sorry to hear about your Dobie. I can truly understand what you are going thorugh.
My Two and a Half year old Dobie has just been diagnoised with Liver Failure at the begining of March 2004.
At present she is not doing too well - On Steriods, Antibiotics and several other drugs. She has just this morning delveloped a shake in her head which makes the head bob up and down sometime. Awaiting Vet getting back to me today. However if we take her out she is so full of life and still looks terrific. To look at her you would not know anything was wrong with her.
What we cant understand is the Blood tests and Ultra Scan she had yesterday (Monday 26/04/04) has improved, however she hasn't we cant understand.
I have been trying to get my hands on Silymarin 80 (Milk Thisltle with 80% Silymarin in it)from America but have been a unsuccessful. Hopefully I shall find some today on the internet.At present our Dobe has not been bleeding (How horrendous that must have been for you). At present she is on Hypatic Dog Food which she sometimes eats and sometimes not unless we put a small amount of chicken in it. Do you live in the UK if so I would appreciate if we could maybe talk over the phone to see if we could put our heads together and help our Dobes.
The receptionist at my Vet has just heard of someone that seemingly does not live to far away from me, her Dobe is 5 years old and was at deaths door but she has managed to stabilise her. Hopefully at the weekend when my Vet's Receptionist sees her she will give her permission to contact her. Her Dobe is being treated by another Vet.
It is my own Vet along with The Royal Dick Vet in Edinburgh that is treating my Girl and I may add I could not ask for any better treatment for her they have been absolutly brilliant.
Feel free to contact me. I do hope this message is not too late and wish you all the luck in the world for your Dobe.

Hi Alice

The shake in your Dobe's head is probably nothing to do with her liver condition.  Head bobbing/nodding/shaking is a well known "thing" amoungst Dobes but the exact cause is unknown.  Some people have found that if they clean out the ears it stops, others give large doses of Vitamin C.  There have been many neurological tests reported but no cause found.  It does not seem to harm the dogs and mostly occurs when they are  tired or stressed.  Some dogs never do it, others do it a couple of times and yet others regularly

The last I heard from Louise her Dobe was going to have to be pts :-(

The bleeding can be affected by vWD status.  I hope your vet can help your Dobe.