Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, plays out very differently in human family members compared to our non-human family members, which makes understanding those differences very important for protecting the whole household.
Here's how symptoms of Hepatitis differ between humans and pets:
- Humans experience yellowing of the skin, while cats & dogs experience yellowing of the gums and sclera/eye whites.
- Humans experience dark urine, pale stools, nausea while cats & dogs experience vomiting, diarrhea, fluid buildup in abdomen.
- Humans and pets both experience fatigue. However, humans often feel accompanying abdominal pain. Cats & dogs typically experience fatigue alongside a poor appetite.
Prevention and management for humans involves:
- Keeping your routine vaccines for Hepatitis A and B up to date.
- Practicing good hygiene by wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or handling raw food.
- Limiting alcohol intake and checking chemical warning labels before product use.
Prevention and management for pets involves:
- Keeping dogs up to date with their DHPP booster, which protects against Canine Adenovirus.
- For cats, managing any inflammatory liver conditions through specialized diets, medications, and fluid therapy rather than preventative vaccines.
- Keeping human medications, household cleaners, and toxic foods safely locked away.
- Keeping up routine bloodwork through annual veterinary exams, especially with senior blood panels as they can catch elevated liver enzymes long before physical symptoms appear.
Sources:
Knowing that many pet liver issues come from household toxins, what are some everyday items you're sure to keep safely locked away?
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Kayla Anderson
Veterinary Social Worker
Center for Pet Family Well-Being, the University of Tennessee
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