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Treatment

If your dog has suppurative CCHS, antibiotics will be given. For nonsuppurative CCHS, immune-modulating drugs and antibiotics may be given. If your dog has lymphoma (cancer of the lymphocyte white blood cells), chemotherapy may also be considered. Antioxidants may be prescribed along with other drugs to protect the liver. Vitamin B and E supplements are recommended, as well as vitamin K, which may be used if blood clotting times are not normal.

In some cases, surgery may be indicated, such as when an obstruction in the bile ducts is preventing bile from flowing normally. For milder cases, your dog may be treated on an outpatient basis, but if dehydration or malnutrition is found to be affecting your dog, or if your dog is unable to eat or drink, it will need to be placed on a feeding tube and intravenous line until its condition stabilizes.

Treatment will take about three to four months, with liver enzymes checked every two weeks. If the treatment does not appear to be working after four weeks, your veterinarian will need to repeat a bile culture and take a biopsy of liver tissue and fluid for analysis.

Living and Management

You will need to return for regular check-ups with your veterinarian, especially if signs suddenly occur again or if signs worsen.

For nonsuppurative CCHS, lifelong immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective therapy is often recommended. You should restrict your dog's activity during the recovery period, and your veterinarian will help you to create an easily digestible, high protein meal plan for the dog. Your veterinarian may also suggest that you supplement your dog's diet with water-soluble vitamins.

Moreover, if your dog has inflammatory bowel disease or swelling of the pancreas as well, it may need to be fed a more specialized diet.