Pet Corner
Keep Your Pet’s Liver Healthy
May/June 2005
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M.
I get more calls from Western-trained
veterinarians asking about alternative treatments for liver
conditions than for any other problem. But whether traditional or
alternative veterinary medicine is used, we have no magic bullet
for liver malfunction: As is the case for humans, the best approach
is prevention through a healthy lifestyle.
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key. And herbs can play a crucial role in prevention and treatment,
working to support your pet’s largest and, I would argue, most
important organ system.
Your animal companion’s liver performs hundreds of functions,
including filtering and detoxifying chemical and bacterial
impurities in the blood. It also processes most food, converting
nutrients and synthesizing proteins; manufactures bile, which helps
digest fat; and prepares toxic material and waste products for
elimination. Finally, the liver is a huge storage bin for several
nutrients such as glycogen (a sugar source for quick energy),
vitamins and iron.
When Something Goes Wrong
Liver problems can be caused by many conditions — environmental
toxins, stress, genetics, infections, ingestion or absorption of
poisons — but often it’s hard to identify the culprit.
Many symptoms characterize liver dysfunction. A well-known
indicator is jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the
eyes). Your veterinarian can analyze liver function by testing for
liver enzymes in the blood, but many liver problems have become
quite advanced by the time jaundice appears or liver enzymes in the
blood are abnormal.
Earlier indicators to watch for include persistent
gastrointestinal imbalances (diarrhea, constipation, vomiting,
bloating, bad breath, excess gas and abnormal stools); lethargy;
anxiety; itchy, watery, swollen or red eyes; itchy or draining
ears; and skin problems — especially psoriasis, but also rashes,
dry and peeling skin, and slow-healing wounds. Liver abnormalities
also can make arthritis pain worse.
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