Too much or too less protein?
Balance is the keyword in Liver Food
Liver food is often used in veterinary practice.You might by one commercial diet or make your own. Nutritional principals in both are the same. Some basics about key factors regarding protein content in liver diet can be of great use for you.
I will help you to better understand how your vet will try to give the best help.Why he might recomend another diet for yor dog if liver enzymes are raised
Basic goals in Dog Liver Diet
- Supply energy and nutrients to prevent malnutrition
- Minimize further damage by copper and free radicals
- Support liver cell regeneration
- Avoid neurological symptoms
Energy
Energy is important.
Carbohydrates can be the main source of energy in dogs. If not enough carbohydrates in the food to meet the needs the body will make sugar from protein.
Protein made to energy is done by the liver.
If the liver also struggle with a disease as well, this process can make the liver work too hard. The liver has a great ability to regenerate itself, but can`t do too much at a time.
Therefore, the liver food should contain enough non protein energy (fat and carbohydrates) to meet the body`s needs.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition means not enough protein. In this case the body will take of its own body protein in order to maintain it self.
Your dog will loose weight and loose muscle mass
When this happens lot of by products have to be metabolized in the liver. Again extra work load on the liver.
Neurological symptoms
Ammonia is released in protein breakdown. This is taken care of by the liver. In liver disease this capacity is much lower compared to normal.
If ammonia reaches the brain this can make neurological symptoms such as cramps, increased water intake, disorientation or anorexia.
Sometimes this happens if your dog is fed too much protein. The symptoms can show up after feeding time
Balance and Feeding Intervals
Give to littel protein, your dog will be in risk of loosing muscle mass and increase workload on the liver. On the other hand, given too much this can increase risk of neurological problems.
So balance in regarding to protein content in your dogs diet is very important if liver is a health problem.
Often a recommendation around protein content of 15-20% is appropriate in most cases. The protein should be of good quality. Meaning a lot of it is used in the body making no "stress" to the liver.
You should feed small meals. But feed several times during the day.
This will greatly help the liver not getting overloaded.
Protein Relevant Pages
Function of protein
Kidney diet
Low protein dog food
Hepatic Encephalopathy
High protein dog food
Good sources of protein
Protein list and rated biological value
Liver Relevant Pages
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Symptoms of liver diseases
Abnormal liver enzymes
Billirubin
Adenosylmethionine
Benefits of milk thistle
Milk thistle side effects
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