Liver Disease in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Liver disease is a problem with the liver, an important organ with many different functions.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Liver disease means the liver is having problems, and many different things can cause liver problems in dogs.^[1] It can become serious if a dog is fitting or showing signs of serious illness.^[1]

Signs

Low energy
Weight loss
Eating less
Drinking less or more
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Pale or yellow gums, skin or eyes
Seizures or fits
Fever
Small red dots or bruises on the gums or skin
Bloody vomit or diarrhoea

Causes and risk factors

Toxins
Infectious diseases, including viruses and bacteria
Cancer

How a vet finds out

Blood tests
Urine tests
X-rays
Ultrasound
Biopsy

How vets treat it

Treatment depends on what is causing the liver problem.

What the experts say

“Overview. The liver is a very important organ with a range of different functions. Many different things can cause liver problems in dogs, (toxins, infectious diseases (viruses and bacteria), and cancer to name a few).”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What can cause liver problems in dogs?

Toxins, infectious diseases such as viruses and bacteria, and cancer can cause liver problems in dogs.^[1]

How might a vet investigate liver disease?

A vet may suggest blood tests, urine tests, an ultrasound scan and X-rays to find out what the problem is.^[1]

When is liver disease an emergency?

If your dog is fitting or showing signs of serious illness, contact your vet as soon as possible for an emergency appointment.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages