Liver Disease

The liver plays a crucial role in many bodily functions, such as detoxification and metabolism. If left untreated, liver disease can cause serious health problems. We offer safe, painless methods to treat your furry friend. Our goal is to ensure pets receive the best possible care for their liver health so that they can live happy and healthy lives.

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How We Diagnose Liver Disease

Liver disease is diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound and laparoscopic liver biopsies. Liver disease signs include weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite, and most notably, yellowish eyes, tongue, or gums.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasound gives us a clear image of the organs in the abdominal cavity including the liver. Ultrasound uses high-frequency harmless sound waves to create a detailed image of the liver. Ultrasound may identify liver masses and nodules, an enlarged liver, birth defects, gallbladder disease, and cirrhosis.

Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy

Laparoscopic liver biopsy is a minimally-invasive procedure using a laparoscope (a small diameter tube attached to a camera) to view the liver. Several small biopsy samples are obtained from the liver for further laboratory testing. The exact type of liver disease can then be determined allowing specific medical treatment options.

How We Treat Liver Disease

Liver disease is usually treated medically based on laboratory findings.

Medical Management

We treat liver disease in a few different ways depending on what the liver biopsies tell us. Medical management may include antibiotics, steroid anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressive drugs, liver supportive antioxidants, choloretics (improve bile flow), hormone management, chelators (bind and remove metals such as copper) and prescription diets.

Your Pet is Our #1 Priority

We are committed to prioritizing the health, safety, and comfort of your pet when determining the right treatment option. We hope that our passion and expertise in what we do will bring you confidence in knowing that your pet has been placed in the very best hands possible. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet's diagnosis or treatment.