This page has a detailed description of this disease in
dogs and cats (canine and feline). We will discuss proper animal care
along with natural remedies including food and homeopathic treatments.
Our pets cannot talk to us, so it is important that you understand this
disease as much as possible.
The largest organ in the body is the
liver, an indication of its importance in health. It is involved with
almost all of the biochemical pathways that allow growth, fight
disease, supply nutrients, provide energy, and aid reproduction. Liver
cells, which are called hepatocytes, go through thousands of complex
biochemical reactions every second in order to perform these myriad
functions.
Since the liver is involved with almost
all biochemical processes it is no wonder that there are many different
diseases that will affect it. This page will cover some of the more
important ones we see in animals. The beginning of this page will
discuss liver anatomy and physiology, eventually leading to detailed
explanations of the more common liver diseases we encounter. This
complex organ does not lend itself to easy classification or
understanding. Many of the functions of the liver overlap with other
organs, and some of the liver's functions involve complicated
biochemical pathways. If this page is too complex for your needs you
can go right to our summary page on liver
disease.
Even though it makes for good reading,
you can skip the anatomy and physiology section and go right to the
section on specific diseases if that is all that interests you:
We have a very short Quicktime movie of
a liver ultrasound that shows a stone in the gall bladder. Make sure
you have Quicktime on your computer to view it. You can get it at
www.apple.com
Our online store can provide you with
many of the medications we use to treat liver disease. We are
competetive with any online organization, along with the added
convenience of pre-approval by our doctors and products that are safe
and effective, backed by the manufacturer's guarantee.
Terminology
It is helpful to be exposed to several
medical terms that will be used later in this page:
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hepatic- having to do with the liver
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icterus (jaundice) - yellow discoloration of skin
or mucous membranes
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hepatocyte- individual liver cell
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hypertrophy- increased size of an organ
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hypoalbuminemia - low albumin
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polyuria- excess urinating
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hypoproteinemia- low protein
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polydypsia- excess drinking
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polyphagia- excess appetite
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PU/PD- polyuria and polydypsia
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ascites- fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity
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gluconeogenesis- the manufacture of glucose
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hypertension- increased blood pressure
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iatrogenic- caused by something a person does as
opposed to happening naturally.
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euglycemia- normal blood glucose (sugar) level
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homeostasis- normal physiology
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hepatomegaly- enlarged liver
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septicemia- excess accumulation of bacteria and
toxins in the bloodstream
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hepatitis- a general term for inflammation of the
liver
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parenchyma- the internal anatomy of an organ
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encephalopathy- chemicals, like ammonia, that
depress the brain
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laparotomy- exploratory surgery of the abdomen
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anorexia- poor appetite
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H.E.- hepatic encephalopathy
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metastatic- a tumor that has spread from elsewhere
in the body
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microhepatica- abnormally small liver
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cholestasis - excess bile accumulation in the liver
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