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Acute liver disease

This can arise secondary to specific infections such as Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Salmonellosis, drugs or other toxic substances, and abdominal trauma (causing liver rupture), as well as many other causes. The description "acute liver disease" refers to a syndrome that can be caused by many factors. In many cases the specific cause may never be isolated.

Presentation of this disorder may include vomiting, inappetance, lethargy, thirst and increased urination. There may be jaundice and nervous signs.

Blood tests will show elevated liver enzymes and can also be used to shed some light on the cause of the problem, for example infectious disease will produce abnormalities in the white blood cell count.

A liver biopsy is the definitive diagnostic method but in some cases it may be considered to risky to perform, especially if blood clotting problems have developed.

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