Canine liver disease is a serious health concern! The Liver performs many fundamental bodily functions, including digestion and blood coagulation, in addition to excreting numerous pollutants from the body. If there are issues with your dog’s liver, you should feed him food for liver disease.
The liver may also be regarded as the body’s manager. It acts as a link between the gut and the rest of the body, with almost everything that is broken down having to go through it first before being changed in some manner.
The good news is that you may treat and manage the condition with a high-quality diet. There are several commercial nutrition foods you can consider.
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Food Bad for Dogs Liver
There are various distinct dog foods on the market that help to preserve liver health by lowering the burden on it and allowing it to relax, but we are cautious about processed food giants’ attempts to promote unique veterinary diets for managing liver disease. All it takes is a quick scan of the ingredients to find out what’s really going on. This list comes from one of the most well-known names in the business:
”Brewers Rice, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Dried Egg Product, Soybean Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Flaxseed, Pork Protein Isolate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Dried Beet Pulp, Calcium Carbonate, Glycerol Monostearate.
As you may imagine, pork fat is by far the worst ingredient that you can put in your dog with liver disease!
It is also critical to avoid foods containing liver or other organs. Lamb, duck, pork, and salmon are some of the other meats that contain high amounts of copper. However, there are low-copper protein sources including chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, whitefish and cheese.
As a veterinarian, I deal with hepatic cases on a day-to-day basis and spend a lot of time researching the best dog foods for liver disease to recommend to my clients.
It is critical to visit a veterinarian on a regular basis in order to manage this specific condition because patients require the correct medication in conjunction with their food, and assistance in selecting the best-targeted meal for their particular liver problem.
This article will explain or discuss:
- The best dog food’s for liver disease.
- What to look for when buying food for a dog with hepatic disease.
- The differences between different diets and what they aim to treat.
- How some ingredients can help your Dog’s condition.
- Food options for dogs needing some encouragement to eat their food.
Let’s get started.
Our Best Food Review for Dog's With Liver Disease
Whether you go dry or wet food, one of the easiest ways for you to determine good dog food is by reading the label and looking out for the AAFCO Statement.
All of the dog foods on this list are in accordance with the AAFCO nutrient profile recommendations for dogs.
Veterinary Recommended Dog Food for Liver Disease
Veterinary Diet Hepatic Support Low Fat Fresh Frozen Dog Food
Formulated to support your dog’s liver health and kidney health, this dog food is crafted with carefully controlled levels of protein, fat, copper and phosphorus.
But the goodness doesn’t stop there, because this recipe is also made with real, human-grade ingredients that you can see!
With wild-caught Alaskan Cod, long-grained white rice, sweet potatoes, chicken eggs, broccoli, and zucchini, your dog will get to experience the benefits of a whole food diet.
Every batch is hand-prepared in open kitchens and lightly cooked—this ensures that each ingredient is helping to deliver the outstanding nutrition that your dog deserves!
Key Benefits
- Crafted with fresh, human-grade ingredients, including wild-caught Alaskan Cod, long-grained white rice, sweet potatoes, chicken eggs, broccoli and zucchini.
- Hepatic support low fat diet is formulated to support healthy liver function with carefully controlled levels of protein, calories, phosphorus and copper. Ask your veterinarian how Hepatic Support Low Fat diet can help support your dog’s liver health.
- Nothing artificial, nothing but goodness, this supplement is made without fillers, preservatives, growth hormones, BHA, BHT or artificial coloring.
$55.65
18-oz pouch, case of 7
- Ready-to-serve nutrition formulated by vets, this full-meal recipe is supported by science and independent research conducted at leading universities, and all within AAFCO protocols.
- You can feel confident knowing that this supplement was formulated by a diverse team of veterinarians, including a board-certified nutritionist, toxicologist and dermatologist.
Best Dry Dog Food for Liver Disease
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet – Best Overall
This is a protein-rich diet that contains all the meat your dog loves and the necessary nutrients needed for managing and preventing liver diseases.
Key Ingredients:
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken meal
- Pea protein
- Peas
- Tapioca starch
This dog food for liver disease is designed to mimic the natural diet of the wild with deboned chicken as the first ingredient, which is a great source of lean meat.
The recipe features potatoes, peas, and sweet potatoes. Great sources of healthy complex carbs that provide energy more effectively.
Carrots, cranberries, and blueberries provide plenty of antioxidants that not only fight free radicals but also support a healthy immune system.
In addition to preventing and managing liver diseases, this diet is also great for promoting healthy joints, thanks to the chondroitin and glucosamine rich ingredients.
But the thing is, the low-calorie count in this food might not be convenient for some dog breeds to maintain their overall energy needs.
Pros
- Debone chicken is a great source of lean meat
- Healthy complex carb supply energy more effectively
- Plenty of anti-oxidants boost the immune system to fight liver diseases
- Does a great job of promoting healthy bones
- Great choice of pooches with allergies
Cons
- Its calorie count may be too low for some breeds
Conclusion
If you are looking for a recipe that is equipped with all the necessary nutrients your dog needs to fight and prevent liver disease, look no further than Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet.
Veterinary Recommended Dog Food for Liver Disease
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hepatic Formula Dry Dog Food
The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hepatic Formula is the best vet recommended dog food for liver disease. It is formulated to boost your dog’s liver function.
Key Ingredients:
- Brewer’s rice
- Brown rice
- Soy protein isolate
- Corn
- Chicken fat
This nutrition has a low level of copper and good amounts of zinc, which is great because they help to reduce hepatic copper concentration.
The food has quick energy sources, including brewer’s rice, brown rice, soy protein isolate, and corn, which ensure your pup has sufficient energy.
The primary source of fat in the diet is chicken fat, which is good because it is free of the usual allergen found in ordinary chicken protein.
The digestible vegetable proteins and antioxidant blend in this diet support healthy liver function and immune system.
But here is the thing, the chunks may be too big for medium and small pooches.
Pros
- Low copper levels reduce the hepatic copper concentration
- Digestible vegetable proteins boost liver health
- Antioxidants support a healthy immune system
- Palatable diet is great for picky eaters
Cons
- Chunks may be too big for small pups
Conclusion
If you are looking for a specially formulated prescription diet that is well-equipped for supporting healthy liver function, then this is your go-to food!
Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Liver Disease
The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Dog Food – Best Dehydrated Recipe
The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe features hearty protein sources and organic grains that are aimed to improve liver function and overall health.
Key Ingredients:
- Dehydrated turkey
- Dehydrated carrots
- Organic flaxseed
- Dehydrated potatoes
- Organic oats
The brand uses a unique dehydration technique that ensures all the ingredients retain more of the natural phytonutrients, minerals, and vitamins.
The first ingredient is dehydrated turkey (lean white meat) that is formulated to help the body of your pup build muscle. It is also a highly digestible protein.
Also, dehydrated turkey may provide an alternative option for your pup, if she has food allergies or food sensitivities.
Another good aspect of this diet is taurine, which does not only boost the immune system but also supports healthy eye and heart function.
But the texture, taste, and appearance of this dog food for liver disease may not be the same as the original food.
Pros
- Has all the natural phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals
- Contains highly digestible protein
- The ideal diet for allergic and sensitive pups
- Taurine in the diet boost immune, heart, and eye function
- No GMO ingredients, preservatives, or additives
Cons
- May not retain the same texture, taste, and appearance after rehydration
- Picky eaters may have issues with the food
Conclusion
This is a great recipe for all pups, including allergic and sensitive ones. Not to mention that it is very versatile and super easy to prepare.
Best Raw Diet Dog Food for Liver Disease
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food – Best Freeze-Dried Raw Diet
This diet fills your pup with pure, uncompromised nutrition of raw food with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient.
Key Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Chicken meal
- Peas
- Chicken fat
- Tapioca
The Instinct Original recipe is formulated with seventy percent real animal and wholesome ingredients, fruits, vegetables, and nutritious oils.
Chicken as the first ingredient provides your pup with a lean protein source for energy, while the chicken fat supports a healthy immune system for fighting liver diseases.
Ingredients rich in vitamin E provide your pooch with a fat-soluble vitamin that is usually stored in the liver and fatty tissue. It boosts red blood cell production to fight liver diseases.
The food has incredible levels of natural probiotics, antioxidants, and natural omegas to boost immune health to support liver and digestive function.
But the thing is, some ingredients in the food might be allergic to sensitive dogs.
Pros
- Real animal ingredients without preservatives or artificial colors
- Lean protein sources provide plenty of energy without the high-calorie count
- Fat-soluble vitamin E helps fight liver diseases
- Probiotics support healthy digestive function
- Antioxidants improve immune and liver function
Cons
- Some ingredients of this dog food for liver disease may trigger allergies in sensitive pups
Conclusion
This recipe has the power of raw ingredients that will provide your pup with all the nutrients she needs for fighting liver diseases.
Best Wet Dog Food for Liver Disease
Hill’s Prescription Diet I/d Liver Care Dog Food – Best Canned Diet
If you are looking for a recipe that supports liver health, the Hill’s Prescription I/d is the best-canned diet to buy.
Key Ingredients:
- Water
- Rice
- Chicken fat
- Soybean meal
- Soybean oil
Your pup’s liver is responsible for so much. It absorbs and stores nutrients as well as removes toxins from her blood.
The Prescription Diet I/d is formulated to help your pooch avoid nutrient deficiencies, which is great because it reduces the liver’s workload.
Water, being the first ingredient, does not only help your dog stay hydrated, but it also puts less strain on your liver, kidney, and urinary tract.
This recipe is incredible at maintaining optimal fat metabolism in your dog’s liver and contains exceptional levels of L-arginine and L-carnitine.
But the thing is, the quality control of the recipe may not be consistent from one can to another.
Pros
- Averts nutrient deficiencies to reduce liver workload
- Plenty of water keeps your dog hydrated
- Maintains the liver normal fat metabolism
- Low copper levels minimize hepatic copper concentration
- Clinically proven antioxidant blend boosts immune health
Cons
- Quality control might not be consistent from one can to another
Conclusion
The Hill’s Prescription Diet I/d is revolutionary nutrition for your pup’s full-body health. It boosts the immune system to support healthy liver, kidney, and urinary tract functions.
Best Grain Free Dog Food for Liver Disease
Nature’s Variety Instinct Grain-Free Dry
If you are looking for a product that is rich in vitamins and minerals, you can choose this dog food for liver disease.
This food promises to give your little furry friend a great tasting because it’s made of grain-free, high protein, and freeze-dried raw coated kibble.
Feed your pet this recipe. And, he can get a naturally nutrient-rich diet. You can feed the food for even smaller mouths because of the addition of the perfect kibble size.
This option is balanced levels of proteins, calories, and fats. That makes it great for the lifestyle of toy breed dogs.
It’s added with healthy omega-3 fatty acids. So, your pet can get a soft and shiny coat. In addition, you can find added vitamins and minerals in this recipe.
There is no existence of grain, gluten, wheat, corn, soy, fillers, flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives.
These ingredients can help to cleanse the liver. On the contrary, food is low in copper and sodium.
Things to Consider when Buying Dog Food for Liver Diseases
Unfortunately, no matter how delicious you make your homemade dog food, it will not be able to satisfy all of a dog’s nutritional needs. These diets are developed and tested in laboratories to ensure consistency.
Prescription dog food for liver disease
The finest commercial meals are frequently recommended by dog parents. As a result, you may readily agree to purchase a certain food brand based on the suggestion of another dog parent. However, we strongly advise against it. It should be clear that maintaining the health of your dog’s liver is not as simple as maintaining its skin and coat health.
And that’s why a prescription and recommendation from your pal’s veterinarian is very important.
Prescription dog foods are specially formulated to deal with liver diseases. You can buy them through your dog’s vet or directly online or from the manufacturer.
Protein Should Be Restricted
If you choose to buy your dog’s nutrition directly online or from the manufacturer, then make sure the diet has restricted protein levels.
Raw meat can contain bacteria, which might likely cause harm. Your pal’s liver is responsible for eliminating bacteria, So if she has liver disease, she is at high risk of infection. Not to mention that red meat has aromatic amino acids that are not ideal for a pup with liver problems.
What you should consider is a nutrition that is rich in proteins obtained from lean meat, such as chicken.
Research also suggests that pup with liver issues tend to live longer when protein is sourced from chicken or other lean meat sources.
Diet for Dogs with Liver Disease
A dog with liver problems should be fed a fresh, balanced diet that is high in easily absorbed nutrients and supports the health of its liver cells.
A healthy diet should be able to support detoxification while also promoting general good health. Because they are readily digestible and highly beneficial in dogs with liver diseases, vegetable proteins may be included in diets.
The formula itself should be palatable with a good texture and taste, especially for picky eaters.
Simple carbohydrates that are readily absorbed for energy are also required by your furry companion with liver disease. However, high-GI carbohydrates should be avoided. Brown rice and potatoes are excellent alternatives.
Low Copper Diets
If your dog has a primary metabolic disorder that causes her to have excessive copper in her liver, she will benefit greatly from a diet low in copper.
A low copper diet lowers the amount of hepatic copper in the liver. Diets containing a lot of copper, such as beans, legumes, grains, and nuts, should be avoided.
Highly palatable and energy dense
Dogs with liver problems frequently have trouble eating. These meals are highly dense in energy, ensuring that dogs with poor appetites get all of their required nutrients.
These diets are also highly palatable to entice your dog’s appetite.
Think about fats!
Fat content in liver support diets varies. Fat may be a wonderful method to improve the eating experience and energy density of a diet, but it can also contribute to the burden on the liver’s metabolism.
When the liver issue is coupled with the bile duct system, it becomes extremely critical. Only your veterinarian can advise you on the correct fat level for your dog.
Additives and supplements
Different diets have different additives. Antioxidants, vitamins, and other lipotropic substances are more common in liver support diets.
Food for Dogs With Liver Problems
When it comes to your food, you undoubtedly read the labels every day. So it shouldn’t be a problem for you to do the same for your pet.
The ingredients list is the first thing to look at. The most significant component in most recipes is the protein source, which is usually the first ingredient on the list.
Chicken or turkey are excellent choices when your dog is having problems with his or her liver, since they are low in fat and high in protein.
The next label to examine is the guaranteed analysis. You can learn the percentages of crude protein, crude fat, and moisture from this part, as well as calcium and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
What causes liver disease?
Toxins, infections, diet, genetic anomalies, and other factors can all cause liver disease. The visible symptoms generally appear many months or even years after the initial damage has been done.
This is why I frequently advise pet owners to schedule regular veterinarian visits and, if possible, have a blood test once a year to detect any problems before they become serious.
What are the symptoms of liver disease?
Common liver disease symptoms that you might notice at home are:
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting and regurgitation
- Pacing and restlessness
- Yellowing eyes and gums
- Lack of energy
- Abnormal behaviour (eg. staring at the wall, circling, incoordination of body movements)
Only one, or a combination of symptoms, may be present at any one time. Symptoms might disappear and reappear later on.
Can you prevent liver disease?
A good diet and frequent vaccinations can help to minimize the danger of liver disease in dogs.
While it’s not possible to prevent all liver diseases, having your dog examined annually (ideally with a blood test) can help you discover and treat liver problems before they get out of hand.
How to treat liver disease?
The veterinarian is the most qualified individual to assist you in dealing with this. As previously said, there’s a lot of variety in terms of how liver disease may be treated.
Discuss with your vet which one of the above diets is best suited for your dog’s condition.
Best Probiotic for Dogs
Did You Know? The majority of dogs and cats in the United States are not only enzyme deficient, but the typical pet is almost entirely fed a processed diet, which means our pups and cats are fed an all canned food or an all dry food diet that is fine, but dead, inorganic, and over-processed! find out why this – read our blog on: The Best Probiotics for Dogs.
The best dog food for liver disease - the bottom line!
I hope you found our list of what we believe are the most suitable dog foods for liver disease useful.
As previously said, the liver is deeply engaged in the body’s metabolism. This makes it one of the most essential organs in the body. It’s critical to support its recovery or prevent additional harm if your dog’s health is threatened so that he or she can stay happy and healthy.
Our list also includes renal support diets. The diseased liver and kidney have some similarities in their requirements when diseased. This does not mean that one can use these diets interchangeably.
Your veterinarian can decide to use renal support diets for your dog for a short time only when a liver support diet is not available. Switching back to a liver support diet should be the first thing on your agenda.
References:
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/dog-food-label-lessons-what-is-an-aafco-statement
- https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food
