Veterinarian Warns: Dog Treats Causing Liver Damage!

Preventing Liver Disease in Dogs: My Approach to Helping Tula

Recently, I received some troubling news—Tula was diagnosed with liver disease. After reviewing her bloodwork, I found that her liver enzymes were elevated, and I started wondering if some of the foods I’ve been feeding her might have contributed to this issue. As pet owners, it’s essential to understand how to keep our dogs’ livers healthy and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to liver disease.

In this post, I want to share what I’ve learned from Tula’s diagnosis and how you can prevent liver problems in your dog too.

The Key Nutrients for Liver Health

Treating Tula’s liver disease has involved a focused approach to her diet, with a big emphasis on nutrients that are known to help heal a damaged liver. Some of the most effective ingredients I’ve used include:

• Milk Thistle – Known for its detoxifying properties, Milk Thistle helps protect the liver from further damage while promoting its healing.

• SAMe – S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a powerful compound that supports liver function and aids in the repair of liver cells.

• Dandelion – Not just a weed! Dandelion has been shown to support liver health by promoting detoxification and reducing inflammation.

These ingredients have been integral in Tula’s treatment, and they’re all included in our NEW Liver Support Supplement.

Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Liver Support Formula

If you’re concerned about your dog’s liver health, I highly recommend our Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Liver Support Formula Soft Chews. These chews are packed with the nutrients your dog’s liver needs to heal and function properly. I’ve seen firsthand how effective these ingredients can be in treating liver disease, and I’m confident they can help your dog too.

Taking care of your dog’s liver is essential for their overall well-being. Preventing liver disease isn’t just about watching what you feed them but also ensuring they get the right support from high-quality supplements.

Let’s keep our pets healthy, together.

Check Out Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Liver Support Formula Soft Chews Here!

Tula’s Elevated Liver Enzymes: What I’m Doing to Help Her and How You Can Protect Your Dog

A Little Over a Month Ago: Tula’s Diagnosis

About a month ago, Tula went in for a routine dental cleaning. She did great with the anesthesia, and the procedure went off without a hitch. But then came the results from her bloodwork—her liver enzymes were elevated, specifically ALP, GGT, and ALT. This pointed to some liver issues, which could be caused by a variety of things like infection, inflammation, or even aging (she’s 13). It might even be something more serious, like hepatic lipidosis, a fatty liver condition, or liver scarring.

My first step was to take a hard look at her diet. After all, the food your dog eats directly impacts liver health. Thankfully, she hadn’t been on any medications or exposed to toxins that might damage the liver. So, what was going on?

Could Too Much Copper Be the Culprit?

One thing that crossed my mind was copper toxicity. The liver stores copper, and if your dog gets too much, it can lead to liver damage. Now, here’s the kicker: copper toxicity is surprisingly easy to cause if you feed liver-based treats too often, as liver contains high levels of copper.

For example, one of Tula’s favorite treats is Mighty Wolf, which contains fresh ground pork liver as its first ingredient. While liver is fine in moderation, too much of it can overwhelm the liver. In fact, just three tablespoons of liver would exceed the daily copper requirement for an average adult human by 1300%. And for a small dog like Tula, even a teaspoon of liver could put her copper levels over the edge.

Why Liver-Based Treats Can Be Dangerous

Liver is nutrient-dense, no doubt about it, but when overfed, it can be dangerous for your dog’s liver. Many commercial dog treats, especially the soft, chewy kinds, contain liver as the main ingredient. While these treats are tasty and healthy in moderation, giving your dog too much liver can elevate copper levels and put unnecessary stress on the liver.

Looking back, I realize that Tula’s daily intake of liver-based treats could have contributed to her liver problems. It’s a tough lesson, but one I’ve learned from, and I’m adjusting her diet accordingly.

Switching to a Safer Diet

Once we suspected that excess copper could be at the root of Tula’s liver problems, I knew I had to revamp her diet. To give her liver the best chance to heal, I’m focusing on proteins that are easier on the liver and low in copper.

I’ve started feeding her chicken, turkey, and fish—proteins that are gentle on the liver and don’t contain too much copper. I also switched to freeze-dried chicken as a clean, low-fat protein source that’s packed with bioavailable nutrients that her liver can absorb without much strain.

Supporting Liver Health with the Right Foods

Diet is key when managing liver disease, so I’ve started making homemade meals for Tula. I’ve kept it simple, using ingredients that are both nutritious and easy on her digestive system.

Here’s the simple recipe I’ve been using:

• Chicken breast: A clean, low-fat protein.

• Brown rice: An easy-to-digest carb packed with B vitamins.

• Kale: A green vegetable rich in flavonoids, known for its liver-healing properties.

• Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken and kale, providing healthy fats with anti-inflammatory benefits.

I cook the chicken, rice, and kale, and then I add a tablespoon of olive oil. This simple meal gives Tula all the nutrients she needs to support her liver without overwhelming her system.

Liver Support Supplements: What Tula Needs

Diet alone isn’t enough to tackle liver disease, so I’ve been using supplements to give Tula’s liver some extra support.

• Milk Thistle: This is the most important supplement for liver health. It’s been shown in numerous studies to help with various types of liver disease. Tula is now taking 100 mg of milk thistle for every 10 pounds of body weight, daily.

• SAMe: Another supplement I’m adding is SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine). It’s been researched for its benefits in liver disease, especially in reducing inflammation and helping with detoxification. Tula gets 50 mg of SAMe for every 10 pounds of body weight, daily.

Other Supplements to Consider

In addition to milk thistle and SAMe, I’m considering adding a multi-strain probiotic to Tula’s routine. Probiotics help maintain gut health, which reduces liver inflammation. I’m also looking into curcumin (95% curcumin) for its anti-inflammatory properties to further support her liver.

Tula has been on krill oil for most of her life, and I plan to continue that. Krill oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and support liver health.

A Final Recap: What You Can Do

If your dog has been diagnosed with liver disease or you’re worried about their liver health, here’s a quick recap of what I’m doing for Tula—and what you can do for your dog:

• Limit liver-based treats: Too much liver can overload the liver with copper, which leads to damage. Feed liver treats in moderation, and avoid treats where liver is the main ingredient.

• Adjust their diet: Opt for clean, low-copper proteins like chicken, turkey, and fish. Homemade food is a great option, but if you’re using kibble, make sure it’s low in copper and doesn’t contain liver.

• Incorporate liver-supporting supplements: Use a therapeutic level of milk thistle and SAMe. Adding probiotics and curcumin could help too.

• Use omega-3 fatty acids: Reduce inflammation with a high-quality omega-3 supplement like krill oil.

I plan to have Tula’s bloodwork retested in the new year to monitor her progress. Hopefully, these changes will help reverse her liver disease. If your dog is facing similar health issues, these steps might help too.

Heal Your Pet At Home!

P.S. Tula is doing great now—she has no signs of liver disease, her appetite is strong, and she has plenty of energy! She’s running 5-6 miles a few times a week, and she’s in excellent shape.

P.P.S. I believe the biggest thing that’s made the difference was eliminating the source of the problem (the excess liver treats) and giving her specific liver-healing nutrients like Milk Thistle, SAMe, Dandelion, Vitamin E, and Turmeric. I’ve also been giving her Dr. Jones’ ULTIMATE Liver Support Formula Soft Chews—she LOVES them! Two chews a day, and she’s doing wonderfully.

Those yummy liver-healing chews are available here:
[Dr. Jones’ ULTIMATE Liver Support Formula Soft Chews]