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Posted On Mar 24, 2026

Updated On Mar 24, 2026

Copper-Associated Liver Disease In Dogs

Internal Medicine

Copper-associated liver disease in dogs is a problem that has been on the rise for the last several years. There are some breeds that have a genetic predisposition for accumulating copper in their liver including the Bedlington Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Labrador Retriever, and King Cavalier Charles Spaniel. Whether it's due to a genetic abnormality or a dog's inability to metabolize and excrete dietary copper, if proper interventions aren't instituted, patients can develop irreversible cirrhosis of the liver. With early recognition and management (e.g., dietary changes and medications) affected patients can do fairly well. In this excerpt from her discussion on Copper-associated Liver Disease in the Dog, Dr. Cyndie Leveille-Webster shares some important clinical pearls regarding diagnosing and monitoring patients: