{"id":88,"date":"2024-06-26T16:32:32","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T16:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/02\/5-signs-your-dogs-liver-needs-a-detox\/"},"modified":"2021-05-02T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T16:00:00","slug":"5-signs-your-dogs-liver-needs-a-detox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/5-signs-your-dogs-liver-needs-a-detox\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Signs Your Dog\u2019s Liver Needs A Detox"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The liver is a vital organ. That means your dog can\u2019t live without it. Yet a staggering number of dogs suffer from liver disease, affecting not just their overall wellbeing, but their survival.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When your dog\u2019s liver is working well, you don\u2019t really think about it. But you should be thinking about the health of your dog\u2019s liver \u2026 otherwise it can affect his entire body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here\u2019s why liver health is important \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n <!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Your Dog\u2019s Liver Does&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>The liver has at least 500 different functions in the body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, so it\u2019s so critical to good health. The liver:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Converts food to energy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stores vitamins A, D, E, K and some B vitamins<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Activates vitamin D<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stores <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">minerals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> including iron, copper, manganese and zinc<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Helps control hormones (including <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">thyroid<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> hormones)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Removes bacteria and allergens that escape the intestines (leaky gut)&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Produces bile that helps digest foods, especially fat&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Produces glucose for your body to use when it needs energy&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The liver also helps remove harmful toxins from your dog\u2019s body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is leaky gut and how can you fix it?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Liver Is Critical For Detoxification<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your dog gets exposed to toxins from vaccinations, drugs, and flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. Poor quality foods, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides also contain toxins your dog can absorb. Even if you don\u2019t use these products, your neighbors probably do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So these toxins need to be continuously removed from the body. If not, they\u2019ll start to interfere with normal body functions and lead to disease. Toxins can even cause inflammation and allergy symptoms.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Your dog\u2019s liver metabolizes everything your dog swallows, inhales or absorbs through his skin. It then expels it from your dog\u2019s body. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to take care of your dog\u2019s liver.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But how do you know if there\u2019s a problem with your dog\u2019s liver?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 Signs Your Dog\u2019s Liver Is In Trouble<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are symptoms you\u2019ll want to watch for \u2026 they can mean your dog\u2019s liver is out of balance. Here are some of the more common signs:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Mood<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your dog may be irritable or even show aggressive behavior. He may show overly controlling behavior, acting like a hall monitor.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Digestion<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He may experience digestive disorders such as gas and bloating \u2026 even if he\u2019s on a healthy raw food diet. You may see alternating constipation and diarrhea.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Nails<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you trim his toenails, you may find they\u2019re dry and brittle; the nails may fray or even get infected.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Pain<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We don\u2019t think of dogs as getting headaches, but they can. You may notice your dog\u2019s eyes are dull and he doesn\u2019t feel good, perhaps lying with his head on his paws. If you can feel heat on his head, that can mean a headache, especially if you see other symptoms of liver imbalance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gently rub the area where the head meets the neck (called the occiput); if you feel the heat go away that can help relieve your dog\u2019s headache.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Eyes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eye issues like discharge or pink eye can also suggest liver imbalance. So can more serious eye problems like corneal or retinal disorders,&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other signs that the liver is out of balance can be sinus problems as well as ligament and tendon issues. <\/span><b>If you start to notice any of these symptoms in your dog, there are steps you can take to protect his liver.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduce The Toxic Load<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first step to keeping the liver functioning well is to reduce the amount of toxins your dog is exposed to. Here are the top ways to keep your dog safe:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduce the number of&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">unnecessary vaccines<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (or even forgo them altogether)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use new DNA testing in place of heartworm meds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feed fresh, whole foods instead of processed, toxin-laden foods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treat your dog for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">leaky gut<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> so pathogens don\u2019t get into his body<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give him filtered water, free of fluoride<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep him away from treated lawns<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clean your home without chemicals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>But even if you\u2019re already doing all of these things and you do your best to avoid toxins, your dog\u2019s liver still has to deal with our toxic world.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A liver cleanse just makes good sense if you want to avoid health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are several ways to help your dog cleanse. Let\u2019s look at the most effective remedies for cleansing the liver.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n <!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How To Support Your Dog\u2019s Liver&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is associated with spring \u2013 a time of renewal and growth. This means spring is an especially good time to give your dog some extra nutritional support with foods that are fresh and in season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Below are some herbs and foods that can help strengthen and protect your dog\u2019s liver.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Sulforaphane&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale and cauliflower <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sulforaphane<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This powerful anti-inflammatory helps prevent disease and helps with liver detox. It does this by breaking down toxins so that they\u2019re easier to move out of the body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To do this, the liver has a 2 phase process. Phase I makes fat-soluble toxins more water soluble. And then in Phase II the toxins are moved to the kidney and gallbladder where they exit your dog\u2019s body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sulforaphane helps make sure that the toxins move through the body by releasing important Phase II enzymes. It also protects the liver from dangerous pharmaceutical drugs and other damaging chemicals.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The best source of sulforaphane is broccoli sprouts. They have 100 times more sulforaphane than mature broccoli. In fact, most research projects use broccoli sprouts when studying it\u2019s benefits.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Half a cup of broccoli sprouts is about 73 mg. But the amount you give your dog will depend on his size \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 to 25 lbs \u2026 1 \u2013 5 mg <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">25 to 50 lbs \u2026 5 \u2013 10 mg<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">50 to 100 lbs \u2026 10 \u2013 20 mg&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can also use broccoli sprout powder. If you do, look for a product that is freeze dried. Heat will kill the beneficial nutrients. If you use powdered sprouts, give your dog \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 to 25 lbs \u2026 250 mg <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">25 to 50 lbs \u2026 500 mg<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">50 to 100 lbs \u2026 1,000 mg&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More ways sulforaphane can help your dog \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Dandelions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dandelions<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are a great way to strengthen your dog\u2019s liver. As they start to come up in spring, pick some of the young leaves. Try to harvest the leaves before the plant buds. Once the buds appear the leaves will taste bitter.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Herbalists Gregory L Tilford and Mary L Wulff recommend drying the leaves before using them. You can do this outdoors by placing the leaves on a drying screen (or use a window screen covered with cheesecloth) in the shade for three or four days. If you want to dry the leaves indoors, tie them in a bundle and hang them in a dry airy spot until they\u2019re crackly-dry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feed your dog 1 teaspoon of the dried herb daily per 20 lbs of your dog\u2019s body weight, stirring it into your dog\u2019s food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can also make tea, using 1 teaspoon of dried leaf in 1 cup of boiling water. You can also use organic unsalted meat or vegetable broth instead of water to make a tastier drink for your dog. Steep it for 3 to 4 minutes, then strain, and let it cool before giving it to your dog.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give 1\/3 cup of tea per 20 lbs of body weight up to 3 times a day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caution: Only use dandelions from your yard if you don\u2019t spray pesticides or herbicides. Otherwise, you can buy fresh dandelion leaves, dried herbs, tinctures and teas at many health food stores.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Milk Thistle<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Milk thistle<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (or silymarin) protects liver cells against toxins and the oxidation they cause. It can also help regenerate liver cells.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But milk thistle is best used if your dog has an existing liver disease or for acute exposure (after vaccination, drugs or other chemical exposure). Animal herbalists Greg Tilford and Mary Wulff explain:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cDespite much of the publicity that has been generated about this \u2018wonder herb,\u2019 milk thistle should not be used as a daily food supplement. Milk thistle is a medicine that is best reserved for situations in which the liver is already under abnormal stress.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can find milk thistle in most health food stores in capsules, tincture (liquid) or powder. If you\u2019re using a product made for dogs, follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions on the jar; but if you buy a product made for humans, here\u2019s how much to give:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Tincture: 1 to 2 drops per 10 pounds of body weight, 2 to 4 times a day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (split the dose up if you\u2019re giving it more than once a day)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Powder: 100mg per 10 pounds of body weight, 2 to 4 times a day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (split the dose up if you\u2019re giving it more than once a day)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t give milk thistle to pregnant and lactating dogs and if your dog is taking medication, you might want to consult your holistic vet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. SAMe and NAC<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">S-adenosyl-L-methionine (or SAMe), is produced naturally in the body by amino acids and is a precursor to glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that\u2019s known for its ability to detoxify the liver. It\u2019s also a great immune booster.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Glutathione binds to toxins in the liver before they can cause any damage. In fact, it\u2019s used for accidental overdoses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) in hospitals. The patient would receive an amino acid called N-acetylcysteine (or NAC), which is a glutathione precursor, just like SAMe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Both NAC and SAMe improve detoxification, reduce inflammation and serve as an antioxidant. Here\u2019s how much to give for both NAC and SAMe:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Small dog \u2026 25 mg\/day<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Medium dog \u2026 50 mg\/day<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Large dog \u2026 100 mg\/day<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Giant dog \u2026 100-300 mg\/day<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Antioxidants<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The body naturally produces free radicals as a byproduct of metabolism, and from environmental factors like pollution. These are unstable atoms that can damage cellular health and cause cells to die. Free radicals build up in the body like rust and they are the cause of all disease \u2026 including liver disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Antioxidants are molecules that can prevent this cell damage.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most effective antioxidants is called Superoxide Dismutase (or SOD). SOD uses a process called dismutation to deactivate a free radical called superoxide. This turns the free radical into hydrogen peroxide, which then breaks down into harmless oxygen and water.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">SOD is said to be 6,000 times more potent than vitamin C. And the best bioavailable sources of SOD are green lipped mussels and astaxanthin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blueberries are also an excellent source of antioxidants. In fact, there\u2019s more antioxidants in blueberries than any other fruit.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6. Liver&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeding liver to your dog can help boost is liver. If you can, buy organic liver from, grass fed, naturally raised animals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But liver is rich, so if your dog is eating it for the first time, start slowly. A tablespoon is a good place to start with a medium sized dog. From there, you can gradually increase the amount of liver until it is 10% of his diet.&nbsp; If you don\u2019t want to feed fresh liver, you can also find a glandular supplement. You can find products with a single organ or a blend of organs to boost your dog\u2019s health even more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3 reasons your dog needs more organ meat \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Other Foods<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In general, raw foods support the liver and help it cleanse. Feeding your dog a fresh, raw diet is always the best diet to give him a solid foundation for his overall wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are many foods you can add to your dog\u2019s diet to support his liver:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lemon and apple cider vinegar: your dog may not like the taste of lemon but many will tolerate a few drops of apple cider vinegar added daily to their water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Greens, especially spring vegetables like spinach, broccoli rabe, celery or asparagus. Greens help support the detox mechanisms in the liver. Give them to your dog any way he likes them \u2013 chopped, pureed, steamed, mashed, or even with a little butter!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fermented foods like kefir or fermented vegetables.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With a little effort, you can protect your dog\u2019s liver so it can continue protecting him. Try these foods and watch your dog glow with good health, inside and out!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The liver is a vital organ. That means your dog can\u2019t live without it. Yet a staggering number of dogs suffer from liver disease, affecting not just their overall wellbeing,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-natural-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duuvk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}