Doberman Hepatitis & Copper Associated Hepatopathy

Learning Objectives:

• What to advise owners for health assessment practices for this breed and when to advise liver biopsy for definitive diagnosis of potential Copper Associated Hepatopathy or Doberman Hepatitis
• Definitive diagnosis requires liver biopsy before prescribing chelation protocols as copper accumulation may not be causal depending on tropism of liver injury.
• Genetic testing cannot distinguish Copper Associated Hepatopathy from other causes of liver injury, but may suggest relative risk for such. Attendees will learn an effective treatment strategy for elimination of Copper Associated Hepatopathy and how to mitigate recrudescent heaptic copper accumulation.
• As copper and chronic “immune-mediated” liver injury increase risk for oxidant injury, sudden rise of liver enzyme activity after treatment with potentially hepatotoxic drugs should motivate drug withdrawal and recommendations for liver biopsy.
• A watch and wait diagnostic strategy increases risk for substantial liver injury and complicated prognosis.