What is Steroid-Related Liver Disease?
Steroid therapy may be given to a dog for a variety of conditions, and can be very effective in treating many disorders. Glucocorticoid hepatopathy is a rare disorder which can occur when the liver has scarring and lesions due to a canine’s high sensitivity to steroids. Vacuolar changes in certain dogs’ hepatocytes occur, negatively affecting the liver.
Corticosteroids can adversely affect the liver if the dog is on this type of therapy for a prolonged period of time, if the dosing is not adequate, or if the medication is too strong. When any dog is on steroid therapy, it is very important that the veterinarian looks at every aspect of the dog’s condition and weight to determine proper administration of the medication. Once the dog is taken off the steroids, healing can occur, although it can take months for full recovery.
Steroid-related liver disease in dogs is the result of the dog being overly sensitive to steroid therapy. Steroids can cause lesions to occur on the liver as a result of negative changes in the liver cells, or hepatocytes.
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Symptoms of Steroid-Related Liver Disease in Dogs
If your dog is on steroid therapy for an illness or disease, it is important to keep a watchful eye for the following symptoms. If any of these clinical signs occur, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Symptoms include:
- Large amount of weight gain
- Changes in the skin and coat
- Increased appetite
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Jaundice
Types
Glucocorticoids may be given to canines for a variety of inflammations. Types of inflammations that veterinarians may prescribe steroid therapy for include:
- Skin allergies
- Eye inflammations
- Neurological illnesses
- Asthma or other respiratory ailments
- Kidney disorders
Causes of Steroid-Related Liver Disease in Dogs
The cause of steroid-related disease in dogs is oversensitivity to steroid therapy. This may be related to:
- Metabolic abnormalities
- Cushings Disease
- Congenital abnormality
Diagnosis of Steroid-Related Liver Disease in Dogs
Once the dog is taken to the veterinarian, he will receive a complete examination, including blood work, urinalysis, and biochemistry profile. The biochemistry profile will give the medical professional a great deal of information, such as how the liver and kidneys are functioning and a measurement of electrolytes and enzymes within the blood. Discussion of any medications, such as steroid therapy, may take place; however the veterinarian will most likely be aware of the medications the dog is on at this time.
After these primary tests, the veterinarian may perform a radiography of the abdomen to look for any underlying diseases and to take a specific look at the liver. He may also perform an ultrasound to check for specific nodules or lesions on the liver. Histopathology may be performed to look at the tissue of the liver under a microscope to study the disease and its stages. The veterinarian will also examine the size of the liver, lymph nodes, and any cancerous tumors. The medical professional will perform further laboratory testing such as an endocrine panel and a thyroid panel to check for other disorders or to rule out any other abnormalities.
Treatment of Steroid-Related Liver Disease in Dogs
Treatment of steroid-related liver disease in dogs depends on the underlying condition. The veterinarian will diagnose the underlying disorder, if any, and relay treatment options to you. If your dog has sensitivity to steroids with no underlying disorder, immediately tapering the dog off the steroids to the point where he is no longer using steroid therapy will usually solve the issue.
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Recovery of Steroid-Related Liver Disease in Dogs
Recovery of any treatment, either invasive or non-invasive, will need to be supported at home. It is important to follow the instructions on after-care provided to you by your veterinarian.
Recovery of steroid-related liver disease in dogs has an excellent prognosis once the dog is taken off of the steroids. Regular veterinarian visits will need to be scheduled to continue to check the status of the dog’s healing liver. Your veterinarian will communicate with you in terms of what you need to watch for in terms of symptoms.
Steroid-Related Liver Disease Average Cost
From 58 quotes ranging from $800 - $3,500
Average Cost
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Steroid-Related Liver Disease Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Pittbull mix
Caddy
10 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Panting
Pale Gums
High Liver Enzymes
Our dog was prescribed a 3 week course of prednisone starting at 30mg per day and tapering to 10mg per day, to treat a aural hematoma. Two weeks into treatment he developed a severe UTI and was prescribed 100mg of Zeniquin for two weeks. We finished both perscriptions and a weeks later our dog's liver enzymes are extremely high. Our doctor thinks it may be Cushings Disease and has scheduled a sonogram for next week. Not once has the vet mentioned that all of this has been caused by the steroid use. Everything I'm reading on the internet suggests this. Needless to say the aural hematoma is still present and just as large as it was a month ago. My question(s):
Was the steroid treatment correct for the hematoma?
Was the dosage too high for a 50pound 10 year old dog?
Could the antibiotics have played a role in the high liver enzymes?
Since we have completed the medications, will his enzymes balance out without permanent damage to the liver (assuming there is no underlying cause)?
Aug. 30, 2017
0 Recommendations
There is a debate regarding treatment of aural haematomas: some Veterinarians prefer surgery, some Veterinarians prefer steroids, some prefer aspiration and others take a wait and see approach; I prefer the surgery approach as it resolves the issue quicker, the dog shakes their head less and there is less chance of a crinkled ear afterwards. The dosage of prednisone wasn’t too high and was tapered over a three week period; liver damage caused by steroids usually occurs after months of treatment, not three weeks. Now that Caddy is off the steroids, it is best to wait and see if the liver values improve over time and in the meantime rule out other causes. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMwww.acvs.org/small-animal/aural-hematoma
Aug. 30, 2017
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Cairn terrier
Rory
11 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Huffing Down Deep.
Huff
Hello our dog has developed callisinosis after being on 10 mg of steroids. According to the xrays she 90 percent has lung cancer. The steroids helped her to the point of no huffing, no coughing and just so happy. Now that we have tapered off to 2.5 mg for two days her huffing has started back. The callisinosis broke through her skin but doesn't bother her at all. I am at a loss because the steroids help her but then have the side affects. Do you think the inhaled will help or what does would be better. Thank you
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Calcinosis is a rare condition in dogs and is a side effect of high corticosteroid levels in the body; there is a bit of a double edged sword here where the balance between the calcinosis and the lungs needs to be evaluated. It may be worth speaking with an Oncologist to discuss the possible lung cancer and to try and make a definitive diagnosis of which specific cancer may be present, afterwards a treatment protocol with a lower dose of steroids along with other medications will manage the condition. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMhttp://find.vetspecialists.com/
July 26, 2017
Hi my little dog has encephalitis and has been on steroids since December and now she has a high liver reading of 1400, they carried out a scan and took a sample of her liver and are trying to reduce the steroids yet she needs these for her encephalitis, she's very poorly and wondering what we can do?
Sept. 9, 2017
I am on the web site for the same reason; after an MRI our 5 yr old Maltese was diagnosed with encephalitis in May. In my attempt to find qualified care for her, I took her to top 5 university vet school that has a neurology dept of 5 docs. When she was weaned off the prednisone her symptoms came back. The neurologist wanted to her to go back on a higher dose than before for 3 days, then start the tapering off for the next month. While all this has been going on (6 mo); she has gone from 5.5 lbs to 9.3. Last week I took her to our local vet to have a blood profile done. Her CREA is 0.3 mg/dL, ALT 303 U/L, ALKP 524 U/L. The blood results were faxed to the neurologist, I sent him an email, but haven't heard back from him yet. Are these readings something to be worried about, can her liver and kidney heal and what is she has to always be on prednisone, how do we care for her liver and kidney? thank you!
Oct. 21, 2017
Lisa G.
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Labrador Retriever
Scout
5
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Stated Above
My 5 year old beautiful sweet Lab girl has been diagnosed with liver disease caused by chronic active hepatitis ... our Vet has given her 6 months. :(
She is on 20mg of prednisone, Denamarin, and many support vitamins, supplements and herbs. She is always starving ... drinks a lot of water and has a lot of pee. Her energy level is low ... can take short walks ... fetch the ball. But she is not sleeping all night. She seems needy and will growl or bark for our attention.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
It is always difficult when a diagnosis and a timeline are given. In cases of chronic hepatitis, the best course of action is to provide supportive care and dietary management (low but high quality protein) to Scout. As far as the sleeping and neediness, I am unable to offer any solution; although it maybe an indicator of pain or discomfort. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Steroid-Related Liver Disease Average Cost
From 58 quotes ranging from $800 - $3,500
Average Cost
$1,800
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