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A low copper diet is essential in controlling Chronic Active Hepatits in dogs. This post lists the copper contents in common high quality dog foods to help you make the correct choice for you.
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My 6 yr old chocolate lab has been diagnosed with the CAH and is unbelievabley skinny. She hates the l/d and I am now switching her to the homemade food to see if this will increase her appetite. She is on Denamrin, D-Penicillimine, Vitamin E, and I have just stopped the Ursodial becuase I am thinking this is part of her appetite problem (along with the food). Thank you for all the posts, and I wish all of you the luck and patience we all need 
Hi Lisa – I am delighted to hear that your Westie is doing good on her new diet! I am not a vet or a dietician so this is just my personal opinion but I would say to just feed her as much as she wants and add some healthy fat to it like olive oil or flax oil. If she is on steroids, it is going to really increase her metabolism and make her really hungry.
Hello, our Choco Lab Dori has this fun disease. Based on your postings we have had her on Rice/Chicken/Eggs/Sweet Potatoes/Green Beans for about a month now and her copper is doing much better. However, she has lost a TON of weight and I was wondering if you could tell me what portions you were giving Misty when you were doing all home made? We are up to 2 cups morning, noon and night….but she still acts like she is starving and is quite skinny.
My little Westie was diagnosed December 2011. Her levels are quite high and the microscopic showed more damage than we anticipated. Other than that, she is in wonderful health, energy, and attitude. We are doing an aggressive treatment to try to detox her liver of copper.Penicillamine and Ursodiol. She also takes Denamarin and vitamin E. After two weeks, she will need to be tested to make sure her kidneys are not being affected by the Penicillamine (off of Ursodiol for 4-5 days prior to test). I looked into Hills food, but have never been impressed with it in the past and their L/D contains carcinongenics. I am putting her on the Royal Canin food, supplemented with some home cooked turkey/chicken/beef.
One of my Irish Setters was just dx’d (thru biopsy) with copper storage disease. His copper levels are currently 814. I’m moving him (and his sister since they cross feed – but she will have chicken and meat when he isn’t around) to a vegetarian diet. Currently he is moving to Hill’s Prescription l/, which all 3 love (but expensive). I will also check on this NRG- I live in Phoenix, so will check out Pawsitive as well. Thank you. Misty is beautiful!!!
Stephanie – I totally understand where you are at right now. I would look out for a low appetite, weight loss & excessive thirst. The proper low copper diet and medications are critical. You vet is the best person for advice on this but please feel free to send me a private message at susan@adogslifephoto.com or join our Google Group to ask others for advice – http://groups.google.com/group/chronic-active-hepatitis-in-dogs
My beautiful 5 year old male, red & rust Doberman was just diagnosed with Hepititis. I am kind of freaking out… On his blood work it showd his ALP at 435 {normally between 20~150} and his ALT at 1710 {normally between 10~118} Doc said we will try some meds and a ultrasound. Can anyone tell me what to look for? Could he die suddenly? Any recommendations our advice would really be appreciated.
Hi Pat. NRG is a brand of dehydrated all natural dog food. Just Google it and you should be able to find retailers near you. I get it from Pawsitive Foods in Phoenix, AZ. I hope your Aussie is feeling better soon. Please join our Google Group to share your story and help others -http://groups.google.com/group/chronic-active-hepatitis-in-dogs
My australian shepherd was just diagnosed with excessive copper in his liver by liver biopsy. He is on cupramine and zinc along with sam-e, vitamin e and milk thistle. We started him on the hills l/d diet but he hates it. What is NRG diet and where do you get it. Thanks, Rio is my baby boy and I will do anything to help him. I work full time too so cooking home diets is pretty hard for me. Thanks for any help!!! Pat
i need some food recommendations of food with no copper or very little for a lab that has the liver copper problem…thank you what veggies would be good ? and how many eggs a week, and is it both the white & yolk…cooked or raw ? how are sweet potatoes ?
I have a 4 year old Red female named Stella. I just went through many of the tests discussed on this post. Stella just had the liver biopsy completed (Anita – I feel your pain…..I am in for $3500 thus far). The results came back confirming Chronic Hep with copper hepatopathy and it is recommended she go on penicillamine, ursodial, and denamarin. All total this would be $450 a month which I cannot afford and don’t know what options I have. If anyone is familiar with these meds please share (Stella has never been on anything before). Her diet prior consisted of an all homemade raw diet with just a little kibble for her teeth so I am looking for options that are low in copper (if anyone out there knows just how much copper a day is ok for these dogs, PLEASE let me know…you can find the mg for each food but how much is too much?) Thanks for this website!
Cindy – I wish you the best of luck with your Great Dane. I assume you are asking about the homemade diet referred to on this page – http://phoenixdogphotography.com/2009/07/chronic-active-hepatitis/. I would make a big batch with 2 bags of frozen chicken breasts – boiled (I think they were 4 lbs each), two big bags of frozen green beans – defrosted, about 6 large sweet potatoes – boiled, 4 cups rice (before cooking), a dozen hard boiled eggs and about 1/4 cup flax oil. Please clear this with your vet first! Every dog is different. I saw an immediate improvement after switching to a homemade diet and she was on it for well over a year before I switched to NRG and Great Life. I can send your email address to someone else that had a Great Dane with this issue if you want to chat with her. Hugs to you and your dog. Keep me posted.
My great dane was just sonogrammed and by elimination diagnosed with a form of hepatitis (unknown which kind). The doctor recommended a high quality food, which he was already on before the poor appetite and the now full beef homecooking to keep him eating. I would like to cook something better for the liver now. What proportions were your above ingredients in, and any other recipe ideas or sources? thanks!
cindy
[...] it with the most outstanding customer service I have ever experienced in my life. My dog has Chronic Active Hepatitis and is on a very low copper diet. They went through every brand of food that they carry and [...]
Anita – I am very sorry to hear about Zena. My Misty was diagnosed with a liver biopsy. I know that it is expensive and scary but my vet says it is the only way to know for sure. I think it wa a little less than $1000.00 when I had it done and my vet let me make payments without interest. Maybe you can work something out with your vet. It really is a necessary step. Please keep me posted and let me know if there is anything I can do to help. The NRG food is really working out well for us and has no added copper (very expensive though!).
Thank you for this information. I have a 5 year old female doberman named Zena. She is being evaluated for possible liver desease because of elevated liver enzymes found on 4 blood panels since May 2010. The vet internist is now recommending liver biopsy. Zena is doesn’t show any other signs. Since she is a doberman, they think it is likely. I am worried about having her opened up for surgery not to mention the cost of at least $2000.00. Is there any other way? How was your dog diagnosed? Well wishes to all. Anita
Let your dog help relieve your stress. Savor every moment with them. They hold copious amounts of love and are offering it to you every second of their lives.
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Jen,
You are welcome! Thank you so much for sharing! I love hearing the stories! Your babies sound so cute! I know exactly what you mean. I feel so loved too. Dogs are the best.
Laura,
Thanks for sharing. This was great and it made me think of my 3 doggies; Tucker, Dayton and Jackie.
STRETCH: Yes, they do the stretch…..with their butt as high in the air as possible and their snouts as close to the ground as possible.
DREAM: Yes, my doggies dream like crazy. I don’t remember any of my dogs dreaming when I was growing up, but mine do now. They don’t just twitch their feet, they literally kick anything and everything around them and my big guy, Tucker, sounds like he’s knocking on the door real loud. And yes, we always joke and say “get the bunny, go get it” and it seems to make them run faster LOL! Of course that’s what they are doing…..chasing little bunnies!
PLAY TOGETHER: When all 3 of my dogs play together, they are hilarious. Tucker will stand there while Dayton jumps around and on him nipping at his ears, legs and ankles. In the meantime, Jacking is bouncing like a ping pong up and down, left and right doing acrobats and running under the other two tripping everyone up. Poor Tucker can’t even move sometimes. It provides memorable moments of special fun for my husband and I while we stand there laughing at them.
WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR: Whether we step out for 1 minute or 1 hour, our wittle gwuys cry and moan like they haven’t seen us in a year. They whimper, scream and bark while running around in circles and jumping at the door. Tucker’s tail is knocking over anything within reach. You can see them peeking out the window at you barely able to stand it anymore cuz you’re not unlocking the door fast enough. It is the funniest thing ever! They make us feel so loved and wanted. They are the best friends we could ever have!
Thanks again!
Laura,
Thanks for sharing. This is great. Of course, it makes me think about these experiences with my dogs.
They definately do the STRETCH sticking their butt as high in the air as possible bringing their snouts as close to the groung as possible.
My doggies DREAM like crazy. I don’t remember any of my dogs when I was growing up ever dreaming the way mine do now. They make noises, their feet don’t just twitch, sometimes they kick, they’ll kick the wall or whatever is near them, and they also snore…snore….snore.
OMG, I have 3 dogs….you should see them PLAY TOGETHER…small, medium and large and when you get a toy out (SQUEEK TOY or anything) it’s like a circus!!! The big guy, Tucker, stands there while the medium one, Dayton goes back and forth, up and down and around him, nippin at his ears, legs and feet. In the mean time the little one, Jackie is bouncing like a ping pong ball, up and down, left and right, running under Tucker’s and Dayton’s feet constantly tripping them. It is hilarious!
I can walk out the door for 1 minute or 1 day and they will let out cries like you wouldn’t believe when I come WALKING BACK through the door. They whimper and moan and run all around. I mean even if it is just for one minute!!!!! They make me feel soooooo loved and wanted even if their cries are going to make me go deaf LOL! It’s the greatest!
Thanks Again!
Pawsitive Pet Foods has to be the best dog food retailer there is. Read about their amazing customer service here.
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by adogslifephoto
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