Written By Empress Of Pearl Powder
Sarah Anderson March 1, 2025
Dogs with liver disease cannot eat a lot of foods that most dogs can consume. Their diet is very limited. If you have a pooch that has high liver enzymes, liver problems or liver disease the most important thing you can do is feed them a special diet formulated for liver health, possibly medications, and regular monitoring of their condition. This will give your doggie the greatest chance of having a comfortable life despite their liver issues.
If your pet has been given the diagnosis of liver disease and you want the very best for them, then read on.
Foods You Should Avoid For Dogs With Liver Disease
A diet for dogs with liver disease should be as gentle as possible for a dog's body to digest, low in fat, and have controlled carbohydrates. Food dogs with liver disease should avoid are: foods that are high in copper or salt, such as lamb, duck, pork and offal. Red meats such as beef and organ meats; organ meats include livers, hearts, brains, and intestines, to name a few.
In addition, hot dogs, deli meats, food containing meat meal, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors, sugar and almost all store bought dog foods should be avoided.
Dogs with liver disease should not eat dry dog food because it's too hard for them to digest, and may make liver disease worse. Quality and digestibility of food is one of the most important factors in managing liver disease. Also, dry food can contain anywhere from 30-70% carbohydrates from the many starch containing ingredients.
There are some canned dog food such as specially formulated foods for a "hepatic" diet, but beware. Look at the ingredients then research to see if there is anything in it that could harm your dogs liver. Not all dog food for liver disease is what they say it is, and I have not found one dog treat for liver disease that doesn't have something harmful in the ingredients that could hurt a dog with liver disease.
A nutritious and balanced diet is essential for promoting liver health in dogs, and it can have profound effects on their overall health and vitality. Consider homemade meals to tailor your dog's diet to their specific needs.
Foods Dogs Can Eat With Liver Disease
Below is a list of foods that are safe and can help prevent further damage for your dog with liver disease. Feed these foods in moderation as part of a balanced diet designed for dogs with liver disease. As with any food, it can be unsafe when fed in too high a portion or when it's not nutritionally balanced with other kinds of foods.
The primary goal for dogs with liver disease is to provide a diet that’s easy for the liver to digest to support liver cell regeneration. Therefore, all skin on vegetables should be should be removed then mashed for easy digestion. The digestibility of food plays a crucial role in managing liver disease.
Although the dietary guidelines for dogs with liver disease are fairly strict, you can also mix the ingredients up a bit and also add supplements like milk thistle, or SAMe, a naturally-occurring compound found in the body that largely plays a roll in liver function. Or you can add Denamarin, which is a combination of Milk thistle and SAMe.
You will find homemade dog food recipes here. and homemade dog treat recipes here.
Before changing your dog's diet, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Conclusion:
Dogs with liver disease need special care. No treatment currently exists for liver disease in dogs, so it's up to you to take care of your precious baby the best you can. Often, dogs suffering from liver disease do extremely well on a hepatic diet. Feeding them foods that do not exasperate their liver will help them live a healthier, happier, longer life.
