Small Dog Breeds and Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is most often seen in cats, however, some research has discovered that small canine breeds can be prone to the disease as well. What is it? The disease often occurs as the result of another health condition in canines that cause the dog to stop eating. One of the first signs of illness is rapid weight loss. When your dog starts to lose weight, the body goes into starvation mode and starts to send excessive amounts of fat to the liver where it can be broken down into energy. Your dog may not be starving, but because he’s sick and losing weight his body doesn’t know the difference. Fatty liver disease develops when large loads of fat are sent to the liver, but the liver is unable to process it. The liver will most likely swell up and discontinue other functions such as processing red blood cells. Consult with your local pet clinic London ON to learn more.