My senior German Shepherd won't eat, 40% liver function. What to do?

Poor guy. It is tough when you are in these situations where you are deciding on continued care (which isn’t 100% guarantees to work) or Humane euthanasia. Unfortunately we don’t have enough information about your cats particular case to help you decide things here. Perhaps a consultation would be best to comb through all of the details such as lab work findings (even seeing the normals is quite helpful), medications tried so far, and his physical exam findings would also be helpful. But generally speaking if your pet is ill from liver disease, which can be any condition such as hepatitis, hepatic lipidosis (carries a poorer prognosis unless aggressive treatment is implemented including a feeding tube in most situations), liver cancer or even gallbladder disease can cause elevated liver enzymes, then it’s best fo an abdominal ultrasound to determine what specific liver condition is present. The prognosis of your pet should be determined by your vet and then carefully considered when determining if continued care should be done or if Humane euthanasia is the better option. I hope this helps and best wishes moving forward with a good decision regarding Elmo’s care.

Making the decision to euthanize your pet is never easy. I usually recommend owners make a list of all the things their pet loved/loves to do. For instance, did she used to love to eat, go on walks, play with a special toy, get tummy rubs, go on car rides, etc. Now you make a check mark on the day she does that. As well as noting her appetite and if she can go out to go potty and not have accidents. When she starts to have more bad days than good days it is a sign that her quality of life is poor. You know her best. While her blood work isn't showing any problems there could be medical problems that won't. Just know that this is an extremely difficult decision but know that you have Cheyennes best interest at heart. I hope this helps. Kisses to Cheyenne!

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

Poor amber,, that liver is massively enlarged and I would expect breathing difficulties, inability to eat and abdominal pain. Although scans and biopsies may provide information on the underlying cause, euthanasia may be the kindest option at this stage

It's possible that the seizures are due to a brain tumor, which is very likely due to his age. this means his condition will deteriorate regardless of the treatment, sometimes the deterioration takes several months and sometimes it's a matter of days.

If Bailey has not had a recent exam with a veterinarian, I recommend that be done soon. Both heart disease and liver disease can cause fluid to build up in the abdomen and make pets feel puny and puts pressure on internal organs. Several different diseases can cause enlargement of the liver, including hepatitis, cancer, and Cushing's Disease. Depending on the cause, some of these can be successfully treated. It can be very difficult to decide when it is time for a pet to leave this world. The "right" time will be different and completely OK with each individual pet and family. I recommend that you discuss Bailey's quality of life with your vet. You may also look for a vet that specializes in end-of-life care or pet hospice (sometimes called pawspice). Here is some information on quality of life: https://www.lapoflove.com/Quality-of-Life/Determining-Pet-Quality-of-Life http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so sorry that Gunner isn't doing well. If he is unable to eat and is vomiting everytime he eats, then you need to consider his quality of life. I would recommend a visit to a vet to discuss if a feeding tube can be placed and if that would be the best decision for Gunner or not. If he is vomiting, not eating, and sick, then you may need to consider and discuss euthanasia. I know this is very difficult, however it is important to talk to your vet about quality of life, and different options for Gunner. Best of luck and again I am so sorry that Gunner isn't feeling well.