Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

What is Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease?

Just like our bodies, our dog’s body produces ammonia when it metabolizes (breaks down) the food we eat. Your dog’s liver is supposed to detoxify the ammonia and other waste in the body and send it to the kidneys to be excreted from the body. Other essential functions the liver is responsible for are producing albumin (a protein in the blood) and creating bile to digest fats. If your dog has liver disease or liver failure, the ammonia cannot be filtered and excreted so it builds up in the body. When the ammonia reaches the brain it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and causes degeneration of the brain and mental functions (hepatic encephalopathy). If you notice that your dog is acting strangely or confused, walking in circles, acting as if he cannot see, and acting intoxicated, you need to call your veterinarian immediately. These symptoms are usually more prevalent right after eating or during times of stress.

Brain disorder due to liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy) is a metabolic disorder caused by liver disease that affects the brain. This disorder has three types: Type A, Type B, and Type C, but they are all related to a buildup of ammonia from other waste materials in the dog’s body and they all have the same symptoms. There are four stages of hepatic encephalopathy as well, graded on the severity of the brain damage. The liver is supposed to break down the ammonia to make it less toxic, but in hepatic encephalopathy, the liver is compromised and cannot perform this task. This causes the ammonia and other toxins to build up in the brain, which causes confusion and mental deterioration.

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Average Cost

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Symptoms of Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

The symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy are the same for all types, but they are different depending on the stage of the disorder:

Stage I

  • Confusion and walking aimlessly after eating
  • Appetite loss
  • Barking excessively
  • Dull behavior
  • Unable to train
  • Whining
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Frequent urination
  • Dark urine (could be dark orange or brown)
  • Males may be unable to urinate
  • Walking like intoxicated

 Stage II

  • Stunted growth rate
  • Behavioral changes
  • Excessive sleepiness or dizziness
  • Disoriented
  • Exhaustion
  • Shaking
  • Lethargic
  • Pressing their head against the wall or other objects
  • Inability to see

 Stage III

  • Pacing back and forth
  • Increased thirst
  • Confusion
  • Acting out of it
  • Drooling
  • Incoordination
  • Laziness
  • Occasionally aggressive
  • “Daydreaming” or staring at nothing
  • Hiding under tables or beds

 Stage IV

  • Unable to rouse
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Collapse

 Types

Type A occurs with acute liver failure that is abrupt and unexpected from a rapidly moving liver disease, infection, or injury.

Type B is a gradual disorder related to a portal bypass of the liver with no underlying disease or infection.

Type C occurs gradually with chronic liver failure (cirrhosis) and is rare in dogs. It causes the toxic waste to bypass the liver into your dog’s bloodstream.

Causes of Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

Finding out the cause of the hepatic encephalopathy is essential to determine the best treatment for the health of your dog. There are some precipitating factors for hepatic encephalopathy, which are too much protein in the diet, overmedicating, infections, kidney failure, and dehydration. However, each type of HE has its own causes. Some of these causes are:

Type A

  • Toxicity from ingested poisons
  • Encephalitis
  • Brain abscess
  • Infections
  • Interruption of blood flow
  • Some metabolic diseases
  • Uremia (kidney failure)
  • Hypoxia (low blood oxygen)
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • Ketoacidosis (high blood sugar)
  • Thyroid dysfunctions

Type B

  • Portosystemic shunts (vascular abnormality that causes blood to bypass the liver)
  • Portal vein hypoplasia w/o hypertension
  • Urea cycle disorder (genetic enzyme deficiency)

Type C

  • Cirrhosis
  • Fistula
  • Chronic hepatitis
  • Portal vein hypoplasia with hypertension

Diagnosis of Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

While the veterinarian is doing a complete physical examination of your dog he will need to know your dog’s complete medical history (e.g. recent illnesses), what symptoms you have noticed, when the symptoms started, how fast the symptoms have progressed, changes in eating habits, personality, or activity. Some tests that will need to be done are:

  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Blood chemistry panel
  • Blood clot profile
  • Blood ammonia level
  • Urinalysis
  • Bile acid test
  • Digital radiographs (x-rays) of the abdomen
  • Ultrasound of the abdomen
  • Portal scintigraphy
  • Biopsy of the liver

Treatment of Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

Treatment depends on the cause and stage of the hepatic encephalopathy but the first thing your veterinarian will do is to stop the cause of the hepatic encephalopathy. The veterinarian will most likely hospitalize your dog and administer IV fluids, oxygen therapy, enema, electrolytes, and antibiotics. Food will be withheld until your dog’s condition is improving. Anti-epileptic medications will be given if your dog is having seizures.

Once your dog is stable, the veterinarian will concentrate on preventing it from getting any worse. Although most times it is a progressive disease and cannot be stopped, it can be slowed if the right measures are taken. A diet low in protein is essential to your dog’s health because protein induces ammonia in the body, which causes the hepatic encephalopathy. Lactulose is a medication that is actually just sugar that changes the pH in your dog’s intestines to decrease the absorption of ammonia. Vitamins will also be added to your dog’s diet.

If your dog has a portosystemic shunt, your veterinarian will probably suggest surgery to fix the condition. Surgery is the most favorable choice for a successful recovery and the success rate is more than 95%. Most dogs are completely cured following surgery.

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Recovery of Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease in Dogs

Since hepatic encephalopathy is not usually found until the damage to the liver is significant, the chances of a cure are not good. However, depending on the cause, if the veterinarian can treat the underlying illness or remove the cause before your dog reaches stage III of hepatic encephalopathy, the chances of recovery are good. It is important to give any prescriptions as directed, maintain a high quality and low protein diet for your dog, and keep all follow-up appointments with the veterinarian.

Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease Average Cost

From 367 quotes ranging from $250 - $8,000

Average Cost

$1,500

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Brain Disorder Due to Liver Disease Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

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Labrador Retriever

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Chill

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8 Years

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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Seizures
Pale Pink Gums
Labrador started having seizures, high blood ammonia (112 mg/l) was detected along with high bilirubin total (0.6 mg/l) and bilirubin direct (.3mg/l). CBC showed low haemoglobin, low neutrophils and high lymphocytes. was on Lornit and Mucyst through IV while admitted to a hospital. A week hence symptoms improved and brought back home. Is still on same medicine administered orally along with liver supplement (Venttura LivoPlus). But looking pale again and having mini seizures. Ultrasound

April 28, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

0 Recommendations

I'm sorry that Chill is having these problems. It sounds like your veterinarian is doing everything that they can to manage her disease. I hope that she is okay.

April 28, 2018

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Miniature Schnauzer

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Zackary

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12 Years

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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Frequent Urination
My 12 1/2 year old miniature schnauzer was diagnosed with liver disease. I first started noticing his dark orange-ish colored urine and took him in to see if he had urine or bladder infection. The vet did bloodwork and his liver enzymes were astronomical. In about two weeks, he is urinating very frequently and he ocasionally has an accident which is not typical. He seems to sleep more and shakes frequently as though he was cold. I make his homemade food and it is all that is required for a dog with liver disease. I have been doing this for about two years since we got another puppy schnauzer. Currently he is on witch hazel and did a course of antibiotics. I’m just wondering what I can expect next?

March 20, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

1 Recommendations

Thank you for your email. Without knowing what the cause of his liver disease might be, it is hard for me to comment on what to expect for him. Some types of liver disease resolve with IV fluids, antibiotics, and Denamarin. Some types of liver disease do not resolve. Your veterinarian may need to have an ultrasound performed to determine what Zackary's prognosis is. I hope that he is able to remain comfortable.

March 20, 2018

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Average Cost

$1,500

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