Maintaining good liver health is vital for an animal’s general health and recovery.
The liver plays an important role in the body and has a wide variety of functions, including filtering the blood from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolises to support itself when processing medications.
Not all liver problems can be prevented, but certain precautions can help to reduce the risk of specific diseases. Some of the positive things you can do to reduce the risk and keep your pet’s liver health include:
Diet
Feed your pet a good nutritious diet. Avoid fatty dry foods that are difficult to digest. Your vet may recommend a low-fat, low- protein diet to help maintain your pet’s liver health. Feeding your pet, the correct diet for their age and life stage helps to ensure that they stay healthy for life and can thrive and feeding a diet that is not complete or is not the right fit, can lead to a whole range of both immediate problems, and those that take longer to manifest.
Water
Make sure your pet has plenty of clean, fresh water as they may experience increased thirst.
Exercise
Be sure to keep up your pet’s exercise routine to help maintain your pet’s overall health as well as support a healthy liver.
Key nutrients
Silybin is a bioavailable form of Milk Thistle Extract, which has proven bioactive properties. SAMe has been shown to help healthy liver function. Turmeric is a highly bioavailable antioxidant that helps to reduce free radicals.
Remove toxins
If your pets ingest any toxins or poisonous substances, the liver is often the first organ to be affected by this, as the liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood. Remove toxins from your pet’s environment. Look at a more holistic approach to their diet and health and ditch conventional care that can lead to the build-up of toxins.
Be wary on dog walks
Keep an eye on your dog whilst on walks to reduce them eating poisonous plants or insects.
Medications
Your pet may need medication to support their liver health or you may need to change other medications to reduce toxins in their liver. Certain types of long-term drugs for other health conditions can cause damage to the liver, as it is unable to process them properly and they can build up within the tissue of the liver itself.
Visit your vet
Take your pet to the vet for regular health checks and vaccinations to help maintain a healthy liver that control inflammation and supporting a better quality of life. Be sure to take on board and follow any advice from your vet. They are best placed to monitor your pet’s health and ensure they receive the best possible care.
Natural supplements
Consider giving your pet a natural alternative to help support optimal liver health. Some natural liver supplements on the market can also help to support the liver when it’s processing medication.
If you are worried about your pet’s health or anything above, consult your vet who is best placed to offer advice dependent on their age and breed.
