Can I put my dog on a low-fat diet myself if I suspect liver problems?

No, see your vet first rather than changing your dog's diet based on a guess. Liver disease needs proper diagnosis, since the right diet depends on the specific condition affecting your dog, and an incorrectly adjusted diet can do more harm than good to a dog whose liver is already compromised.

Do you stock prescription liver diets for dogs?

No. Prescription veterinary diets, which is what liver disease is typically managed with, come from your vet's practice or a veterinary-specific stockist following a diagnosis rather than from a shop shelf, and we would always point you back to your vet for this rather than suggest an alternative.

What are the signs of liver disease in dogs?

Reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting, increased thirst, changes in behaviour and yellowing of the gums or eyes can all be associated with liver problems, though these signs also overlap with other conditions. Any of them is worth a vet visit for proper investigation rather than assuming a cause from the symptoms alone.

Can diet alone cure liver disease in dogs?

No, diet is one part of managing liver disease alongside whatever treatment your vet prescribes, and it is not a cure on its own. The right diet supports the liver and reduces its workload, but the underlying condition still needs proper veterinary diagnosis and, in many cases, ongoing treatment.

What to feed a dog with liver disease

A dog with diagnosed liver disease needs a diet chosen by your vet, not one picked off a shelf, since liver disease is usually managed with a prescription veterinary diet rather than anything sold on a shop shelf. What follows explains what those diets are generally built around and where a shop like ours fits in — mainly with general, gentle everyday food, not a treatment.

Why this needs a vet-directed diet, not a shop choice

Liver disease covers a range of conditions with different severities and causes, and the right diet depends on your dog's specific bloodwork and diagnosis rather than a general set of liver-friendly rules. A vet, sometimes alongside a veterinary nutritionist, will typically prescribe a therapeutic diet formulated for the specific way your dog's liver is affected, which is not something available without that diagnosis.

Prescription veterinary diets of this kind are not something a shop like ours carries. If your dog has been diagnosed with liver disease, your vet's practice or a veterinary-only stockist is where that specific food comes from, and it is worth asking your vet directly about ongoing supply if you are looking for it.

What these diets are generally built around

Therapeutic liver diets commonly focus on highly digestible protein in an appropriate amount for the individual dog, moderate fat, and controlled copper levels, since copper accumulation in the liver is a feature of some liver conditions. The exact balance depends entirely on the specific diagnosis, which is why this is formulated and adjusted by a vet rather than read off a general list.

None of the above is something to attempt at home by adjusting an everyday food yourself. Getting the balance wrong in either direction can do real harm to a dog whose liver is already under strain, which is exactly why this sits with veterinary guidance rather than general advice.

Where a shop can genuinely help

Outside of the specific prescription diet your vet has recommended, gentle, easily digestible everyday food can be useful for a dog who is not eating well, provided your vet has confirmed it is suitable alongside whatever treatment plan is in place. This is a supporting role, not a replacement for the prescribed diet.

Our sensitive and easily digestible wet food range is where we would point you for that supporting role, always alongside — never instead of — whatever your vet has specifically recommended for your dog's condition.

Signs worth mentioning to your vet

Reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting, yellowing of the gums or eyes, increased thirst and changes in behaviour can all be associated with liver problems in dogs, among other conditions. None of this is something to self-diagnose from a symptom list, but any of these signs is worth raising with a vet rather than waiting to see if they pass.

If your dog is already diagnosed and being managed, ongoing changes in appetite or energy are still worth reporting between check-ups rather than saving for the next scheduled visit, since liver conditions can progress or respond to treatment in ways worth tracking closely.

Forthglade Complete Adult Dog Grain Free Salmon & Veg: complete wet dog food with salmon 75% — 395G

£1.99

Browse all of Dogs →

Common questions

Can I put my dog on a low-fat diet myself if I suspect liver problems?: No, see your vet first rather than changing your dog's diet based on a guess. Liver disease needs proper diagnosis, since the right diet depends on the specific condition affecting your dog, and an incorrectly adjusted diet can do more harm than good to a dog whose liver is already compromised.
Do you stock prescription liver diets for dogs?: No. Prescription veterinary diets, which is what liver disease is typically managed with, come from your vet's practice or a veterinary-specific stockist following a diagnosis rather than from a shop shelf, and we would always point you back to your vet for this rather than suggest an alternative.
What are the signs of liver disease in dogs?: Reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting, increased thirst, changes in behaviour and yellowing of the gums or eyes can all be associated with liver problems, though these signs also overlap with other conditions. Any of them is worth a vet visit for proper investigation rather than assuming a cause from the symptoms alone.
Can diet alone cure liver disease in dogs?: No, diet is one part of managing liver disease alongside whatever treatment your vet prescribes, and it is not a cure on its own. The right diet supports the liver and reduces its workload, but the underlying condition still needs proper veterinary diagnosis and, in many cases, ongoing treatment.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.