The liver participates in many activities within the body. It helps the digestion of food through production of bile and helps change digested foods into substances used by the body for energy and growth. The liver also helps process some medications into material(s) that can be used by the body; the liver may assist in eliminating medications from the body once they have had their effect. The liver stores vitamins and minerals and works with sugar (carbohydrates, glucose), fats and proteins. It also helps maintain proper blood clotting and removes many body toxins from the blood. Without proper liver function, the pet's health is compromised.
Because it does so much, the liver may be subject to many things: injury, both direct and indirect, infection, and toxicity. Some of the signs and symptoms of compromised liver function in pets may include: weakness, vomiting, poor appetite, and/or seizures. But if there is mild or early stage liver compromise, the pet can appear normal. If you notice any of these symptoms or your pet is just acting differently, you should contact your veterinarian. Many veterinarians run screening tests for middle aged and older patients during the annual examination to ensure that organ function is normal.