Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lipid problems linked to chronic liver disease in dogs
By Verena Habermaass et al.·Published in Veterinary Sciences·2025·Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56122 Pisa, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Lipid Dysmetabolism in Canine Chronic Liver Disease: Relationship Between Clinical, Histological and Immunohistochemical Features
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Labrador with chronic liver disease was evaluated for symptoms like weight loss and lethargy. The study found that dogs with liver disease often have issues with fat metabolism, which can lead to inflammation in the liver. Researchers used special tests to look at liver tissue and found that fat buildup in the liver was linked to inflammation. This suggests that managing fat levels could be important for treating liver disease in dogs. While more research is needed, these findings could help veterinarians better diagnose and treat liver problems in pets.
People also search for: dog liver disease symptoms · Labrador weight loss · chronic liver disease treatment for dogs
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in dogs are progressive conditions that often lead to liver failure. Metabolic dysfunctions such as cholestasis, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and endocrine disorders play a key role in human liver diseases like MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis), but their significance in canine CLDs is poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the association between hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation or fibrosis in canine CLDs and its potential association with metabolic dysfunctions. Sixteen client-owned dogs with CLDs were assessed for clinical data, histological features, and liver immunohistochemistry (IHC). Histological and IHC markers of inflammation (Iba-1, iNOS, NF-κB), fibrosis (CD206, α-SMA, Sirius Red), and lipid accumulation (adipophilin) were assessed to identify correlations with clinical conditions. The applied markers showed effectiveness in their use on canine liver tissue. Adipophilin-marked lipid accumulation correlated positively with inflammatory markers, indicating a link between steatosis and inflammation. Metabolic dysfunctions were linked to hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. These findings show a potential alignment of canine CLDs with human MASLD/MASH, where lipid-induced inflammation drives disease progression. IHC markers could effectively assess these processes, suggesting potential for guiding diagnostics and therapies, though further research is needed to clarify clinical associations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030220