If you’ve noticed that your dog’s eye whites are looking more yellow, it could be the first clue. Your dog may have jaundice. Jaundice in dogs can also cause yellowed gums, ear flaps and skin, or even yellowed blood serum. Humans can also have jaundice. If you’ve heard of it before, it’s likely because human babies sometimes get short-term jaundice due to immature liver. When dogs have jaundice, it is similar, but shows up a bit differently. Jaundice (also called icterus) can be caused by liver disease. It can also be caused by destruction of red blood cells. Another cause is the obstruction of the bile duct. Here’s what to look for and what to do if you think your dog has jaundice.
Causes of Jaundice in Dogs
Jaundice can be a side effect of different conditions, including liver disease. Dogs with liver disease may also have loss of appetite. They might experience weight loss, lethargy, a swollen and painful abdomen, orangish urine, and pale stools. They can have excessive bleeding because the liver is essential for clotting blood. Neurological signs are also possible in liver disease because the liver removes toxins. If it isn’t able to function correctly, it won’t be able to remove those toxins. Liver disease can be caused by infections such as leptospirosis. Other causes include pancreatitis, toxins (including overdose of medications), cancer, and hepatitis. Possibly hereditary conditions, such as shunts or copper toxicosis, or severe trauma can also cause liver disease. Heartworm can also cause a dog to become jaundiced.
Dogs with destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis, can also have signs of anemia. These can include pale gums, weakness, appetite loss, shallow, rapid breathing, and orangish urine. Some causes could be immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), or toxicity from eating onions, garlic, zinc, or lead. It can also be caused by infections from Ehrlichia. Leptospirosis and other infections can cause it too. Hereditary blood deficiencies and several other less common causes also contribute. Dogs with bile duct obstruction often have extreme jaundice. They may have an increased appetite, weight loss, excessive bleeding, lethargy, orange urine, and pale stools. Causes include pancreatitis, trauma, cancer, gallstones, and overly thick bile.
Diagnosing Jaundice in Dogs
Some causes of jaundice in dogs show similar symptoms. Your vet will run some tests to determine the cause of jaundice. One of the first things your vet might do is take a blood sample. They will use it to run a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile. The CBC will measure the amount of red blood cells in the sample. If their red blood cell count is too low, it means the dog is anemic. A biochemistry profile contains several measures of liver function. If these come back normal, a radiograph (X-ray) is used to examine the gallbladder. Ultrasound is also used to examine the bile duct for obstructions. Sometimes a dog will need exploratory surgery to determine the cause.
If liver disease is indicated, the next step is to find out what kind of liver disease your dog has. This can be done by getting a sample of liver cells. A fine-needle aspiration is the easiest. In it, a needle is simply passed through the skin and into the liver. Cells are then pulled up in the syringe and removed to be studied under a microscope. Obviously, you can’t get a lot of cells that way, so it can sometimes miss abnormal cells. A needle biopsy is essentially the same technique. However, a much larger needle is used. This means your dog will need to be sedated or anesthetized. It gathers a core of liver tissue. This means the cells in the sample are still arranged the same way they were in the liver. A surgical wedge biopsy requires that the dog be anesthetized so a surgeon can remove a section of the liver. It gives the most accurate diagnosis, but is a more invasive option.
How Is Jaundice in Dogs Treated?
Jaundice itself can only be treated by treating the cause. Supportive care may include intravenous fluid with vitamin K1. It may also include dextrose to combat hypoglycemia or a combination of vitamin E and anti-inflammatories. But specific treatment depends on the cause.
If the jaundice is due to destruction of red blood cells, treatment will aim to eliminate any parasites. It will also eliminate any infections that could be responsible. In the case of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, treatment will stop the overactive immune system. Supportive care in the form of blood transfusions may be needed.
If your dog has liver disease, once again, treatment will depend on the cause. If it’s due to liver cancer or bile duct cancer, the cancer may need to be removed or treated. If the liver disease is because of an infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.
Depending on what other conditions are to blame, your vet may prescribe treatments to reduce inflammation. They may also reduce zinc levels, copper levels, fiber levels, and fluid build-up. It’s very important for the liver’s recovery that your dog eats. A nasogastric tube may need to be used temporarily to get food into a dog that won’t eat. If bile duct obstruction, the first step is to stabilize your dog, usually with intravenous fluids. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect your dog has a crucial role to play in treating jaundice.
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