Dog with Chronic Hepatitis

Question

Hello,
Our 7 y.o. standard poodle (spayed female) was recently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis. Last week she was hospitalized for 3 days on IV antibiotics, vitamin B and some antioxidants. She's still on oral antibiotics. Our vet is traditional, but offered milk thistle (as you'll see below).

We're having a hard time getting her to eat. She flat-out refuses dog food and we've been cooking for her - and her interests have varied, from bread, cooked meats (even though we know low protein is important, our vet recommended just getting some nutrition in her at first, whatever she would eat). Each day she seems to want a different taste, but takes VERY little of anything. For example, yesterday she ate 2.5 ounces of ham baby food, a few little rounds of bread, some almonds, 3 slices of lunch meat ham (she turned down the beef and chicken we cooked for her, as well as the sliced turkey I bought from the local deli), and a few whole wheat dog cookies. At dinner time she turned down the leftover wild salmon we ate. We're offering bits of everything we can think of, even fruit, just in case something appeals.

She's obviously hungry, she comes into the kitchen and looks longingly at whatever we're eating/cooking, but turns away from almost everything. Today all she would eat was 16 almonds...the vet sent her home with a veterinary brand of chewable milk thistle tablet which she ate the first few days, but now refuses, so we bought a milk thistle supplement at our local dog food store - I don't think it's as potent as the chewable, but I squirted some into her with a syringe this morning, and will do so several times today. We're thinking of squirting some homemade chicken soup in, it's full of vitamins and even though she won't love it, it might help.

Any thoughts on how to get some nutrients in her? I don't know if this is a passing phase and if we can get her through it, and she'll regain some appetite? Or if this is a downhill slide from which there is no return..(maybe the antibiotics are nauseating her so food isn't appealing?) The odd thing is, though she's eating very little, she's frisky and energetic and bright-eyed and was out in the garden playing this morning and seeming very much like herself - which has been pretty much true the last few weeks, which is as long as we've know she's sick.

I know it's touch and go and that she might not make it through this, but we want to do everything possible to bring her through, any advice or suggestions, if you have any, would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Amy

Response

Hello Amy,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. At this point I would not be overly concerned about limiting protein if she is in an anorexic state. Offering a bland diet should be the best for her liver. Cottage cheese, cooked egg, yogurt, chicken/beef liver, green beans, carrots, potato, broccoli and celery are some foods that are supportive for the liver. Carbohydrate sources such as bread are too rich for the liver and almonds are very difficult to digest.

You may try preparing the meals as a stew or a meatloaf and serve it warmed, this may improve palatability. If you believe the antibiotics are causing nausea, discontinue them and add probiotics to the diet. Gastriplex by Thorne should help support her intestinal health and gastrointestinal inflammation. Mixing the milk thistle into the food should make it easier to dose her. Milk thistle is the only supplement that helps the liver regenerate and detoxify.

Presently, nutrition and detoxifing the liver is primary for her recovery. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA