Practice owner Southwest Animal Hospital Las Vegas, NV, United States
Chronic hepatitis is common but often overlooked until it is advanced. Some call chronic hepatitis the “silent killer” first identified by abnormal liver enzymes. This presentation will cover the two most common causes of hepatitis in the dog; copper and immune associated chronic hepatitis. Copper associated hepatopathies are best managed with diet and copper chelation and immune hepatitis with immunosuppression therapy. Resolution of disease can occur in many cases treated before disease advances to end stage disease
Learning Objectives:
The participant will learn that copper associated hepatitis are very common and should be suspected in patients having elevated ALT concentrations.
The participant will learn that high copper containing diets are responsible for many cases and that low copper diets and penicillamine are effective for resolution of disease.
The participant will learn and how to best manage a case of immune chronic hepatitis based on the histology.
The participant will learn the advantages of cyclosporine as an effective treatment for immune hepatitis.
The participant will learn the advantages of adjunct therapy such as ursodiol, angiotensinogen II enzyme blockers, SAMe, vitamin E and silybin.
