If your dog is diagnosed with liver disease, changing your dog’s diet may have
crossed your mind. The fact is dietary changes are not always necessary. It has
only been shown to be beneficial when liver diseases are in an advanced stage.
Most affected dogs can still enjoy a healthy and balanced diet without severe
liver disease.
When a special diet is necessary, your veterinarian will advise the interventions
depending on the type of liver disease. In severe liver diseases, a low-protein
diet is often appropriate.
Normally, the liver can break down protein into amino acids. Nitrogen is
separated during this process and produces ammonia, which will be excreted in
urine as urea. Affected by advanced liver diseases, the liver loses the ability to
metabolize protein function, and ammonia remains in the bloodstream with other
toxins, which may trigger other health issues.
Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Cailin Heinze suggested that reducing the protein in
the diet can help reduce those toxin levels. Although protein is essential to
maintain normal body function, we are fueling the fire if we give dogs diagnosed
with severe liver diseases a lot more protein than they need. In addition, the
type of protein added to the diet matters too. Organ meats and fish can be
harmful as they contain higher purines and some amino acids. Plant-, egg-, or
dairy-based protein may be a better choice.
The amount of protein given is individual to patients, and diet intervention is
often used along with other treatments. There are also different dietary changes
that your veterinarian may consider if your dog has terrible liver disease.
Therefore, consult and follow your veterinarian’s guidance before changing your
dog’s diet.
