My dog has an enlarged liver and mass. Will his meds keep working?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What needs to be done really depends on which specific type of liver disease Scoobie has as there are many and most are treated differently. Further diagnostics that should be considered if have not been performed yet include an abdominal ultrasound and possibly liver biopsies or at least fine needle aspiration. Therapy would depend largely on the disease process found. Good luck and have a great day!

This is a very valid question and it is important to consider his overall wellbeing and comfort above and beyond prolonging the length of his life. If he is mobile, greeting family members as he normally would and eating enough (a specialised liver diet and supplements can help to reduce some of the symptoms of poor liver function by reducing the amount of toxins the liver needs to excrete. As long as his appetite is sufficient to prevent significant weight loss then it is likely he is feeling ok in himself. The following link can be very helpful for all family members to sit down together and discuss and can help in the medium term decision making https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Elevated liver enzymes and abnormal liver appearance on ultrasound scan does not necessary mean liver tumour or liver failure. Older dogs often have abnormal liver appearance, which is not related to any serious underlying problem. Liver enzymes level is a measure of 'damage' to liver cells but it is not directly related to prognosis. Again, older dogs often have mild elevation of liver enzymes I would think that the specialist will perform full abdominal scan and possibly take liver samples through a needle - this is commonly performed procedure in dogs with signs of liver disease. Based on the findings of the aspirate, the doctor will recommend further testing or prescribe treatment for Mars.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Panda. Sometimes there are supplements that can help with liver support. Many times the liver is able to regenerate after an insult. The veterinarian should make recommendations as far as what needs to be done. It will be worth rechecking her liver values after she has been off the medication for a month or so. I hope this information helps!

I would continue the Denamarrin for at least 4-6 weeks because this is how long the effects of steroids on the liver can last. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Hopefully since his numbers are improving his mood and energy will follow. Good luck!

I am so sorry to hear about what is happening with your pet. If your dogs diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then the usual pills that the vet will place a dog on our furosemide and enalapril. And if the correct diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then these pills do a very good job of controlling the clinical symptoms associated with this disease. However, there are many different heart diseases that a schnauzer can get. Some of these are mitral valve disease, heartworm disease, etc. The only true way to diagnose the disease is to have a set of x-rays as well as an echocardiogram which is a heart ultrasound. The good news and what you have going in your favor is that the most common disease in a miniature Snells or is congestive heart failure. And if this is the case, the pills that I assume you are on will most likely be able to keep her around for quite a while. I cannot give a prognosis as to how long, but your odds are pretty good that we are going to survive for a period of months to years. Thank you for reaching out to us. I hope I have helped.

Hello. It is good that the blood work was normal as this indicates there is no damage or destruction going on with the liver cells. Mild inflammation could cause the liver to swell slightly, especially since the liver is the main organ for removing toxins from the bloodstream. This means the liver is doing its job. And, this might just be an artifact of positioning during the x-ray or Jackson may just have a slightly larger liver than normal. If he seems better, then the medication is doing its job. If he continues to act unwell, the next step would be to ultrasound his liver to get a better picture as to what might be going on, & perhaps additional blood work to narrow things down. But I would not be too concerned just yet, as the liver has a great capacity to repair & regenerate itself ( the only organ in our bodies that can do so ). I hope Jackson is feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.