Hepatic Encephalopathy

Dog hepatic encephalopathy is a degenerative disease of the brain caused by severe liver dysfunction and the over consumption of animal protein.  It is characterized by abnormal mental status and impaired brain function, and can ultimately lead to blindness, coma and death.  

If your dog has been diagnosed with this condition, it is vital that you start making dietary changes immediately.  Call me at 206.701.4929 or Click on the FREE CONSULTATION button above.

The following are all symptoms associated with poor liver health. The first 15 (over half) are all symptoms of Hepatic Encephalopathy. 

Is your dog doing any of these things?

Circling, running into walls and acting confused after meals
Stumbling and walking like "drunk"
"Star gazing" or staring off into space
Learning disabilities (difficult to train)
Sluggishness (lethargy) and/or drowsiness or sleepiness
Disorientation
Aimless wandering
Compulsive pacing
Head pressing
Desire to get into small, tight spaces
Blindness related to brain abnormality
Seizures
Coma
Sudden aggression
Vocalizing
Lack of appetite

Weight loss
Increased urination or lack of urination (inability to urinate often seen in male dogs)
Frequent voiding of small volumes
Orange-brown urine 
Increased thirst
Excessive salivation
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stunted growth
Prolonged recovery from sedation or anesthesia

Because these symptoms are all brain related, Hepatic Encephalopathy is often misdiagnosed as some type of brain disorder or even early dementia.

Much time, money and anxiety is often wasted before the correct diagnosis is found. Even then, traditional treatment may not bring true health.

Hepatic Encephalopathy develops as a secondary condition to liver disease. It is caused by an accumulation of ammonia in the system due to the liver's inability to rid the body of the substance. 

Excess ammonia can come from two sources. Your vet may tell you that it is coming from bad bacteria in your dog's body that is producing this ammonia as a byproduct.  That is why your Vet wants to put your dog on one, two or three antibiotics and keeps them on these antibiotics for long periods - sometimes for life. 

The second reason is the more likely reason:

Ammonia comes from having too much nitrogen in the system from eating excess animal protein. Animal protein contains nitrogen. The body eliminates nitrogen from moderate amounts of protein as urea. Urea is a neutral salt formed in the liver and eliminated in the urine. Too much animal protein overtaxes the urea-producing system.  If liver function is compromised also, then nitrogen will not be converted to urea efficiently in the liver. In both cases, the backup system for getting rid of excess nitrogen is ammonia.

If excess ammonia is present in the body, it travels to the brain and being a small molecule, it crosses the blood/brain barrier. Here it can cause swelling in certain brain tissues creating all types of neurological symptoms.

Traditional treatment involves a low protein prescription diet, substituting inexpensive grains for meat and including synthetic vitamins, plus using strong antibiotics with negative side effects.  

Natural treatment is a lower animal protein diet of higher quality, with an abundance of alkaline vegetables and fruits to provide the proper acid/alkaline balance. Grains are not native to dogs’ diet and are hard to digest.  

If you suspect that your beloved pet has this condition, contact me ASAP by phone 206.701.4929 or FREE CONSULTATION for immediate nutritional suggestions.

Consult your Veterinarian for Emergency Medical or Veterinary advice.