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Treatment

Your dog will probably be hospitalized for monitoring, and for fluid therapy, since dehydration and fluid retention are causes for concern. Your dog's system will need to be detoxed to prevent critical damage to the brain and system.

Surgery may be necessary, but it is dependent on the underlying cause of the disease. If your dog has abdominal fluid build-up, your veterinarian will also prescribe diuretic drugs to treat this.

Living and Management

After your dog has been discharged from care, you will need to restrict its activity until the abdominal swelling has resolved. Dietary changes may be in order, but you will need to consult with your veterinarian before making any major changes to your dog's meals. For example, if your dog has abdominal distention, it may be treated with a low salt diet to moderate the fluid retention, but if your doctor wants to increase urination so that the system will clear, dietary indications will be different, with more fluid intake prescribed.

If your dog is diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy, your veterinarian will likely recommend a low protein diet, until the liver is at full functioning ability, but again, do not make these changes unless they are recommended by your doctor, since diet changes can have unexpected adverse effects. Your veterinarian will plan follow-up care based on the underlying disease.