Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Various Treatment Approaches for Canine Liver Dysfunction: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Liver dysfunction in dogs presents significant challenges to veterinary practice, with clinical symptoms ranging from modest to severe. For the development of optimised treatment strategies, this study was conducted at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B.P.U.A. & T. Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) from September 2021 to April 2022 in dogs diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction. The study involved a therapeutic trial on dogs with liver impairment. 18 dogs diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction were divided into three groups, i.e., B, C, and D. Each group received different therapeutic protocols, and changes in hematobiochemical profiles were observed and compared before and after treatment. Dogs in Group B received urosdeoxycholic acid, Group C received ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin while Group D received ursodeoxycholic acid and L-ornithine Ornithine L-aspartate. Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated at presentation and after 21 days of treatment. Urosdeoxycholic acid demonstrated efficacy in improving biochemical parameters, with additional benefits observed when combined with L-Ornithine, L-Aspartate, or Silymarin. Group D exhibited the most significant improvement, suggesting the effectiveness of combination therapy. These findings underline the importance of regular monitoring and appropriate therapeutics in managing hepatic dysfunction in dogs, with combination therapies offering enhanced recovery through hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.