Diet For Dogs With Liver Problem

[skwo2]

Chelsea has suffered cholangiohepatitis, and she is on Hills l/d canned food for 4 - 6 weeks, recommended by the vet.

What sort of diet will be good for dogs with liver problem? High protein? Low ammonia?

I also notice that the Hills l/d diet use chicken fat instead of chicken meat as part of the ingredients, is it because meat can produce a lot of ammonia, so use fat instead of meat?

For the owner with dogs suffered from liver problem, what do you feed?

Chelsea is not too keen on the l/d food, but I will just let her have it for the next 4- 6 weeks, any idea on how to make the l/d food more attractive to her?

[Staff'n'Toller]

You can probably replicate it once her liver enzymes come down- providing it is a one off thing and there are not other reasons such as tumour etc.

Your Vet is the best person to provide you with the information you need though.

[WoofnHoof]

Stay away from high protein while she is recovering as protein creates more work for the liver, my dog was fed k/d when he was sick as I was told that it was similar to l/d so maybe rotate and ask the vet if there are other prescription diets available that you can offer, I wouldn't try anything other than vet recommended food until she has recovered sufficiently. The diets are bland but that is the best thing for her liver at the moment.

[puglvr]

My girl Elyse went through this.. and Ithought I was the only one!!!! Anyway after about 8 weeks recovery and when her liver test were back to normal for a dog of her age she returned to her normal diet. We have not had a relapse.

[persephone]

I wouldn't try anything other than vet recommended food until she has recovered sufficiently. The diets are bland but that is the best thing for her liver at the moment.

Agreed.

[tomas]

Chelsea has suffered cholangiohepatitis, and she is on Hills l/d canned food for 4 - 6 weeks, recommended by the vet.

What sort of diet will be good for dogs with liver problem? High protein? Low ammonia?

I also notice that the Hills l/d diet use chicken fat instead of chicken meat as part of the ingredients, is it because meat can produce a lot of ammonia, so use fat instead of meat?

For the owner with dogs suffered from liver problem, what do you feed?

Chelsea is not too keen on the l/d food, but I will just let her have it for the next 4- 6 weeks, any idea on how to make the l/d food more attractive to her?

You need a low purine diet not necessarily low protein. Eggs and white fish are good protein sources and also some grains,the right ones will help to remove ammonia from Chelsea's system.

This link will answer many questions you have as well as give you many other useful links.

http://www.dogaware.com/specific.html#liver

Also there is this link to a Cairn who was diagnosed with terminal liver disease and seemed to recover fully with this home perpared diet. This will give you some hope.

http://www.minschnauzer.com/diet/sunny.html

I wish you both all the best

Tomas.

[skwo2]

Thanks all for the info.

What I am doing now is to steam a piece of chicken, and pour the water from the steamed chicken onto the l/d food, to add a bit of favour and make the l/d food warmer, and more appeal to Chelsea. However, Chelsea is still eating a lot less than the prescribed amount, she eats about 1/4 of the can a day, instead of the prescribed amount 1/2 - 3/4 of the can per day. Without the chicken water, she won't go near to the food. It is not because she doesn't have the appetite, but she just doesn't like the l/d. I guess probably because there is no meat.

Do you think I can mix some cottage cheese into the l/d food? All of the information I gathered, says that cottege chesse is high in protein and low in ammonia.

[persephone]

if she was to have added chicken and/or cottage cheese- the vet would have suggested it

please check with the vet before adding extras to the Hills diet. They may agree- however- IF your dog gets ill because the new foods upset the balance.... you will not forgive yourself.

Please- if you don't have 'hands-on' experience with dog diets, especially for very ill dogs- check with the vet!!

[skwo2]

if she was to have added chicken and/or cottage cheese- the vet would have suggested it

please check with the vet before adding extras to the Hills diet. They may agree- however- IF your dog gets ill because the new foods upset the balance.... you will not forgive yourself.

Please- if you don't have 'hands-on' experience with dog diets, especially for very ill dogs- check with the vet!!

Sure, I will check with the vet first.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Have you tried the dry formula L/d?

[tomas]

if she was to have added chicken and/or cottage cheese- the vet would have suggested it

please check with the vet before adding extras to the Hills diet. They may agree- however- IF your dog gets ill because the new foods upset the balance.... you will not forgive yourself.

Please- if you don't have 'hands-on' experience with dog diets, especially for very ill dogs- check with the vet!!

The links I posted above have more than enough advice for someone to be able to feed their own dog. Vets have little to no idea about nutrition. It's easier to open a can or a bag though I do admit but frankly I would be making my dogs food myself whether that be raw or cooked if they were ill.

I really don't think prepared diets are the way to go with this.

Here is the diet plan that has worked for many peoples terminal liver disease dogs.

9 cups of WATER in a BIG STEW POT

2-1/2 POUNDs GROUND TURKEY (NOT white meat turkey)

2 cups BROWN RICE

2 CUPs WHOLE OATMEAL

1 LARGE PACKAGE (sack) MIXED VEGETABLES

1 LARGE PACKAGE (sack) of FROZEN PEAS

or 1 Large Package of Chopped Broccoli

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

MORE whole oatmeal to mix in after preceding mixture is finished - Mix in enough oatmeal to absorb all liquid and leave the mixture a tad dry.

This can be found in the 2nd link I posted,read both in their entirety and you have your answers. Thre are slo supplements to be added to this ,also in the link.

[skwo2]

if she was to have added chicken and/or cottage cheese- the vet would have suggested it

please check with the vet before adding extras to the Hills diet. They may agree- however- IF your dog gets ill because the new foods upset the balance.... you will not forgive yourself.

Please- if you don't have 'hands-on' experience with dog diets, especially for very ill dogs- check with the vet!!

The links I posted above have more than enough advice for someone to be able to feed their own dog. Vets have little to no idea about nutrition. It's easier to open a can or a bag though I do admit but frankly I would be making my dogs food myself whether that be raw or cooked if they were ill.

I really don't think prepared diets are the way to go with this.

Here is the diet plan that has worked for many peoples terminal liver disease dogs.

9 cups of WATER in a BIG STEW POT

2-1/2 POUNDs GROUND TURKEY (NOT white meat turkey)

2 cups BROWN RICE

2 CUPs WHOLE OATMEAL

1 LARGE PACKAGE (sack) MIXED VEGETABLES

1 LARGE PACKAGE (sack) of FROZEN PEAS

or 1 Large Package of Chopped Broccoli

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

MORE whole oatmeal to mix in after preceding mixture is finished - Mix in enough oatmeal to absorb all liquid and leave the mixture a tad dry.

This can be found in the 2nd link I posted,read both in their entirety and you have your answers. Thre are slo supplements to be added to this ,also in the link.

Thanks Tomas, yes, I did have a read on the links you provided.

My vet said to keep Chelsea on the l/d diet as much as possible, but Chelsea is not interested in it. She only has a mouthful or two. I end up throwing away more than she eats every meal.

I dare not to give her anything else to make her condition more worse. She will have the blood test next Sat, will see how she goes and talk to the vet again.

She is still active and doing well at the moment.

What is ground turkey? which part is it?

What is the minimium size of a pack of l/d kibbles?

[Staff'n'Toller]

Unfortunately the minimum pack is 9kg but it has a palatability guarantee. It will keep very well in a plastic airtight container.

ETA: You could always phone Royal Canin Helpline and speak to a Veterinary consultant about what they're comparable food is (if any) Royal Canin is generally more popular as far as flavour goes.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Staff'n'Toller

[goldens]

I really do not know much about the problem your dog is having, but I wonder of Milk Thistle could be of help? I belong to a site where every either has a dog battling autoimmune hemolytic anemia, has a dog in remission, or lost a dog to it (I lst my golden retriever to it back in '03). The durgs to get it under control ar massive and so hard on liver and sometimes kdneys and all are giving their dogs milk thistle.

Some o the meds I have to take for my many ailments are hard on liverr, and I take milk thistle. Perhaps you ca ask your vet about it.

[Stitch]

If the dog is not doing well on I/D then I would be trying the diet that skwo2 has been kind enough to post as long as it is something that won't hurt the dog, and by all accounts, it is very good.

Why don't you contact the person who owns 'Sunny' and get her advice?

Also, does anyone know what is 'ground turkey'????? as it says NOT white turkey meat!!

[skwo2]

I really do not know much about the problem your dog is having, but I wonder of Milk Thistle could be of help? I belong to a site where every either has a dog battling autoimmune hemolytic anemia, has a dog in remission, or lost a dog to it (I lst my golden retriever to it back in '03). The durgs to get it under control ar massive and so hard on liver and sometimes kdneys and all are giving their dogs milk thistle.

Some o the meds I have to take for my many ailments are hard on liverr, and I take milk thistle. Perhaps you ca ask your vet about it.

I have asked the vet about milk thistle, the vet suggested there is something very similar to Milk Thistle, and works almost the same way (i.e. protect liver), it is called S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe). It is something that was suggested by the specialist examining Chelsea's biopsy result. However, the specialist said SAMe is not always effective, it may improve and it may not. Given its price and the uncertainty of its effectiveness, I haven't bought SAMe for Chelsea. Also, as with all medication/supplement, there can be side effect, I am more worry about this.

She is currently on Ursodeoxycholic acid and Clavolux. The vet said many dogs are on Ursodeoxycholic acid, and they seem to be doing alright.

I am worrying about Chelsea not eating the l/d food, she just eats so little of it, and getting more skinny

[jans]

Hi Skwo2 and good luck with your Chelsea.

My girl has been on L/D for a couple of years now and I am lucky that she seems to enjoy it. I'd recommend giving the dry L/D a chance but as Staff'n'Toller posted, the minimum bag is 9 kilos.

However, my other 2 dogs (who don't have a liver problem) BEG for the L/D dry food they love it so much, so a 9 kilo bag may not be too much of a waste if others also enjoy it. Given what you are probably paying in vet fees, the investment in a 9kg bag may be worth it from that angle too.

Jans

[skwo2]

If the dog is not doing well on I/D then I would be trying the diet that skwo2 has been kind enough to post as long as it is something that won't hurt the dog, and by all accounts, it is very good.

Why don't you contact the person who owns 'Sunny' and get her advice?

Also, does anyone know what is 'ground turkey'????? as it says NOT white turkey meat!!

If it is not white turkey meat, does it mean the bones?

Sorry, what is the contact name for the person who owns "Sunny'?

P.S. It is Tomas who posted up the useful homemade diet link.

[tomas]

If the dog is not doing well on I/D then I would be trying the diet that skwo2 has been kind enough to post as long as it is something that won't hurt the dog, and by all accounts, it is very good.

Why don't you contact the person who owns 'Sunny' and get her advice?

Also, does anyone know what is 'ground turkey'????? as it says NOT white turkey meat!!

If it is not white turkey meat, does it mean the bones?

Sorry, what is the contact name for the person who owns "Sunny'?

P.S. It is Tomas who posted up the useful homemade diet link.

Sorry had a mad weekend,you know what it's like with multiple dogs,rain and work!

Ground turkey is US speak for Turkey mince,so the ground dark meat. They do this in the US cos it's cheaper.

I am not sure what to suggest if the I/D is not working. I guess I would try this diet if it was my dog,but in no way am I saying you have to. I guess though the thing you need to look at is any nutrtion important if Chelsea is not eating...?

The email for Sunny's owner is here,I would ask them what liver problems Sunny had exactly,explain Chelseas and hope she replies with soem sage words of advice.

Kennalea Pratt

Starbound Miniature Schnauzers

[email protected]

Tomas.

[Staranais]

Surely they mean whole ground turkey, bones and all? Otherwise the diet as written here looks terribly deficient in calcium.

I'd check the turkey details with Sunny's owner, and also suggest you give the recipe to your vet to check over as well (both in case they have a problem with it, and to keep them in the loop with what your dog is being feed to help co-ordinate her treatment with her diet).

Good luck - I hope your wee girl is feeling better soon.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Staranais