What are the treatment methods for canine cirrhosis?

Canine cirrhosis is a disease in dogs in which the proliferation, degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration of liver parenchymal cells lead to deformation and hardening of the liver and loss of normal physiological function.

1. Etiology Primary cirrhosis is very rare; secondary cirrhosis can be seen in association with poisoning by copper, arsenic, phosphorus, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, pitch, gossypol, and aflatoxin; congestive heart failure, heartworm disease, valvular heart disease, portal vein thrombosis, bile duct disease, infectious hepatitis, and others are also causes that induce cirrhosis.

2. Symptoms The course of the disease is relatively long and develops chronically. In the early stage of the disease, chronic indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea occur alternately. Sometimes yellow fluid is vomited, the visible mucous membranes are mildly icteric, and the tongue is yellow-white. Palpation: the liver is enlarged and painful; the affected dog gradually becomes emaciated, is depressed, and has rough hair; when ascites is concurrent, the abdominal circumference becomes distended and a fluctuating sensation can be felt on manual palpation; in the later stage, the liver shrinks and hardens, and most affected dogs die of hepatic coma.

3. Diagnosis Early clinical signs are not obvious, and diagnosis is very difficult. If cirrhosis is suspected, liver function tests must be performed. In the early stage, plasma globulin increases, and in the late stage albumin decreases; abdominal paracentesis releases a large amount of clear yellow fluid containing epithelial cells, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

4. Treatment According to the pathogenesis in the affected dog, the treatment principles are to strengthen cardiac function and protect the liver, with symptomatic treatment.

(1) The diet should be formulated with low protein, high carbohydrates, and vegetable foods high in vitamins; fatty foods are prohibited.

(2) To promote liver cell regeneration, administer glucurolactone orally at 50 mg, 3 times daily.

(3) To regulate the dog's metabolic imbalance, slowly administer an intravenous drip of 5% glucose 50-100 mL plus a cardiac-strengthening and liver-protecting injection 20 mg, twice daily; inject 0.2 mg vitamin B12 intramuscularly, once every other day; inject vitamin C 50 mg intramuscularly, 3 times daily.

(4) Add the anti-lipid drug acetylcholine 1 g to the food every day.

This method has an obvious effect in treating early-stage canine cirrhosis.