Low Protein Diet For Dogs With Liver Disease

Generally protein rich food is recommended for canine liver disease however if the dog is affected by hepatic encephalopathy a low protein diet is recommended.

Low protein diet for dogs with liver disease. The exception to this is if your dog has hepatic encephalopathy a condition in which the liver disease has advanced so far that the brain has become affected. Protein restriction is not recommended in many cases for animals with liver disease based on evidence from research in humans. Protein is essential for a canine liver disease diet. Hepatic encephalopathy is a condition wherein the liver disease affects the brain.

However protein is not harmful to the liver. One common misconception about cld is that dogs cannot be fed protein if their liver is unwell. There s a list of food items that fall off the menu since they promote toxin build up. According to tufts university dogs with chronic liver disease should only be changed to a low protein diet if the dog has gone into liver failure and can no longer break down proteins liver failure occurs if the liver function decreases to around 70 of its normal working capacity and your dog is suffering from hepatic encephalopathy the other reason veterinarians recommend changing a dog.

This may seem excessive but it is ideal for dogs with canine liver disease as it s easier on both their stomach and their liver. For this reason dogs suffering from liver disease require diets that are free from chemicals preservatives food colors and additives. I get many emails from people who have been instructed to feed a low protein diet to dogs with liver problems. The idea behind low protein diets for dogs with hepatic encephalopathy is to maximize the quality of protein while minimizing its quantity.

Diet for canine liver disease. It is the ammonia proteins produce that cause issues with dogs in chronic end stage liver disease or dogs with liver shunt issues. This misconception stems from the fact that some protein sources encourage the buildup of ammonia in the. Many dogs with liver disease can discontinue medications and eat regular life stage maintenance food once their liver issue is resolved.

Protein is essential for proper liver function. Homemade canine liver disease diet. Low blood concentrations of bcaa can occur in liver disease but it is very unclear whether supplementation is justifiable given their high cost and the lack of conclusive evidence that they are beneficial. Since some ingredients present in commercial food products increase liver damage it s important to read product labels and only feed the pet meals that promote good health.

Keep in mind that the ideal amount of protein a pup with liver disease should have depends on how advanced their canine liver disease is. That said it all depends on the specific diagnosis. Veterinary researchers think that ammonia is the main culprit when it comes to liver related brain issues.