If you’ve just heard that your dog has raised liver enzymes, you may be wondering how worried you should be and what the next steps are.
This article explores the significance of high liver enzymes and liver disease in dogs. Read on to learn more about what liver enzymes are, the potential symptoms of high liver enzymes, and the therapy options available.
The role of the liver in the dog's body
A dog’s liver works hard!
The role of a dog’s liver is to detoxify the blood, produce bile, metabolise nutrients, and regulate the level of a range of chemicals. By chemicals, we’re referring to things such as hormones, glucose, cholesterol, and many more chemicals that are produced naturally in the body and are regulated by the mighty liver.
So, it should be no surprise that a working liver is essential for the health of our dogs.
What are liver enzymes in dogs?
Liver enzymes are proteins that liver cells produce, and they’re essential for a range of functions, including blood clotting and toxin breakdown.
Some of the more common enzymes we measure include ALT, ALKP, GGT, and AST. These are often checked during routine or pre-operative blood tests, even if your vet is not suspicious of any liver disease.
How are liver enzyme levels in dogs tested?
Liver enzymes are easily measured through a standard biochemistry blood test. This quantitative analysis provides specific numerical values for each enzyme, allowing veterinarians to accurately assess liver health.
One of the key advantages of having these numbers is that they make it easy to monitor trends over time — for example, determining whether liver function is improving, worsening, or staying stable after treatment or as a disease progresses.
Tracking these changes through serial blood tests is essential for managing many liver conditions effectively.
What are high liver enzymes in dogs?
When your vet informs you that your dog’s liver enzymes are higher than they should be, this is something that should be investigated. However, the significance of elevated liver enzymes in dogs depends on which enzymes are elevated, how high they are, and if the dog currently has any physical symptoms.
What are the symptoms of high liver enzymes in dogs?
Symptoms of high liver enzymes in dogs typically stem from those associated with liver disease. If your dog is showing any of the following symptoms, be sure to contact your vet, who will often suggest bloodwork to assess their liver enzyme levels.
Symptoms of liver disease in dogs
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- A reduced appetite
- A swollen abdomen (which can be due to the enlarged liver or fluid build-up)
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes)
- Lethargy
- Excessive thirst and urination (PU/PD)
That said, it is possible for some of the enzymes to be a little higher than normal in a healthy dog. This is especially true if only one of the enzymes is a little higher than it should be.
However, when several of the liver enzymes are significantly raised or the dog has high liver enzymes alongside clinical symptoms of liver disease, this would definitely be a cause for concern.
What can cause high liver enzymes in dogs?
We can see significantly higher enzyme levels when liver disease is present.
This can mean:
- An inflammation (Hepatitis)
- Liver cancer
- A liver shunt (diverted blood flow)
- Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver)
- Recent toxicity from consuming something they shouldn’t
It is also possible for the liver enzymes to be raised due to a condition that does not directly involve the liver. For example, both fast bone growth and a hormonal disease called Cushing's can make the ALKP enzyme very high indeed.
The ALT enzyme is usually more specific for liver disease.
Certain medications can also affect the liver enzyme levels. A common cause for elevated ALKP would be recent corticosteroid use, which can be used to treat conditions such as inflammation, allergies, and other immune-related diseases.
What happens if your dog has high levels of liver enzymes?
Elevated liver enzymes in dogs can call for further investigation. If they’re only slightly raised and your dog has no clinical signs or symptoms, your vet may discuss monitoring them and repeating the blood test in a few weeks.
When your vet thinks true liver disease is a consideration, they are likely to recommend further blood work (such as a Bile Acid Stimulation Test), which more accurately reflects how well the liver is functioning, as well as imaging, which can include an ultrasound scan of the liver.
Determining the cause of the elevated enzymes is key, so your vet can get your dog started on the right management or therapeutic plan.
What elevated liver enzymes mean for your dog
There is a wide range of liver problems in dogs, some more severe than others. The life expectancy of dogs with high liver enzymes really depends on why their enzymes are raised.
If the dog is a fast-growing young breed with high ALKP, this temporary elevation is normal and not a sign of them being unwell. Similarly, a dog who has been on corticosteroids to treat other conditions will have high ALKP, but this does not indicate hepatic disease.
Mild hepatitis that is caught early is usually something we can manage for quite a few years. However, severe liver changes (such as fibrosis) or a primary liver cancer carry a much poorer prognosis and relatively short life expectancy.
How are elevated liver enzymes in dogs treated?
Treatment is not always going to be imminent when elevated levels of liver enzymes are found. As mentioned, sometimes we often take a ‘wait and see’ approach, especially when no other symptoms are present, as the enzymes may come down by themselves with time.
When immediate treatment is needed, some of the more common conditions include:
- Antibiotics for any active bacterial infections, such as Leptospirosis
- Intravenous fluids and supportive care, particularly in the case of toxicities
- Liver supportive supplements such as milk thistle and Denamarin (SAMe and Silybin)
- Surgery may be needed in certain cases, such as those who have a portosystemic shunt
- For those with more advanced signs, they may require medication such as anti-nausea medicine, diuretics (to drain excess fluid), appetite stimulants and lactulose (to help with ammonia build-up)
How can diet help liver problems in dogs?
One of the cornerstones of managing liver disease in dogs is exclusively feeding a hepatic diet.
These diets contain moderate levels of protein that are highly digestible. Some good options for protein sources would include egg and pea, rather than meat.
Hepatic diets will also have low levels of copper and high zinc (as zinc can help to bind copper).
For dogs with copper storage disease, they require a copper-limited diet for life.
Pooch & Mutt take pride in offering something for every kind of dog. For those suffering from liver problems or liver disease, Pooch & Mutt's Hepatic Dry Dog Food is a great way to ensure their diet is doing everything possible to help them feel on the mend. With low copper, high zinc and low animal protein, it's the perfect mix to help your dog's liver function.
Please remember: This food should only be fed to dogs diagnosed with chronic liver disease, including pets with hepatitis, those whose livers have been damaged after toxin ingestion, and those who have a portosystemic shunt. Generally, this diet is offered alongside the appropriate prescribed medication.
What does life look like for a dog with elevated liver enzymes?
Depending on the cause of your dog’s elevated enzymes, they may need ongoing monitoring and care. This can mean regular check-ups, as well as blood tests to monitor their liver enzyme levels.
Many will be on a hepatic diet for life and can also benefit from supplements containing liver supportive ingredients (such as milk thistle), antioxidants and probiotics.
If you have any more questions on liver enzymes and liver disease in dogs, be sure to contact the Pooch & Mutt team, who will be happy to help.
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