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Diet for Dogs With Liver Disease

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Feed small, frequent meals of a highly digestible, calorie-dense food.
  • Don't cut protein unless your dog has hepatic encephalopathy.
  • Copper-associated hepatitis needs a lifelong low-copper diet.
  • Avoid xylitol, moldy food and high-copper foods such as liver and shellfish.
  • Use a veterinary nutritionist for homemade diets.

Table of Contents

Research Principles Protein Low copper Prescription diets Foods to avoid Homemade FAQ Sources

Liver Disease Quicklinks

Liver Disease Symptoms Liver Enzymes Treatment Diet Liver Shunt Liver Cancer Leptospirosis

The best diet for a dog with liver disease is easily digestible, tasty and calorie-dense, fed as small, frequent meals.1,2,3 Most dogs with liver disease should not have their protein cut. Vets restrict or change protein only in dogs with signs of hepatic encephalopathy, and then dairy and soy proteins are usually tolerated best.1,2 Dogs with copper-associated hepatitis need a copper-restricted diet for life, and prescription liver diets are the only foods reliably low in copper.1,4 Most dogs don't need fat restricted, except some with bile duct blockage or gallbladder mucoceles.1 Homemade diets should be designed with a veterinary nutritionist.5

Call your vet if your dog with liver disease:

  • Won't eat for more than a day or two. Vets may consider tube feeding if a poor appetite lasts beyond about 3 days.2,1
  • Becomes dull, confused or wobbly after meals, which may mean the diet needs adjusting for hepatic encephalopathy6,1
  • Is losing weight or muscle on its current diet3,1

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • Don't cut protein automatically. Merck states that a liver disease diagnosis "should not automatically dictate a need for restricted dietary protein."1
  • Copper debate. In 2021, ACVIM liver specialists wrote that "safe upper limits for dietary copper in dog foods are too high for many dogs." In 2023, AAFCO kept its copper guidelines after an expert panel found no definitive evidence linking food copper to liver disease and advised against setting a maximum.4,7
  • Copper varies widely. A veterinary nutritionist told JAVMA News that copper can differ tenfold or even thirtyfold between two dog foods.8
  • Homemade diets can fall short. A 2023 case report found a dog's homemade diet was deficient in vitamin E and zinc, both important for the liver.5

Principles of a Liver-Friendly Diet

  • Highly digestible and calorie-dense, so a dog with a poor appetite still gets enough energy1
  • Small, frequent meals, which are easier on the liver2,3
  • Normal amounts of good-quality protein in most dogs, to support healing and muscle1,2
  • A healthy body weight3
  • Vitamins only under veterinary guidance: B vitamins often help, but excess vitamin E can affect clotting, and dogs with copper or iron build-up should probably not get vitamin C supplements.1,3

Protein and Hepatic Encephalopathy

For dogs with hepatic encephalopathy, often those with liver shunts or advanced liver failure, vets may change the amount and type of protein. Dairy and soy proteins tend to be tolerated better than red meat or fish.1,3 Some surgeons still recommend a lower-protein diet for dogs with shunts, so follow your vet's plan.9,10 See liver shunt in dogs.

Low-Copper Diets

Dogs with copper-associated hepatitis need lifelong copper restriction, usually alongside medicine to remove stored copper. Diet alone slows build-up but doesn't remove large amounts already in the liver.4,2 Prescription liver diets are currently the only foods reliably restricted in copper.1 Avoid high-copper foods such as liver and other organ meats and shellfish, and ask your vet before adding protein. White-meat chicken is one lower-copper option vets may suggest.11,1

Prescription Liver Diets

Prescription liver (hepatic) diets are designed to be highly digestible, with better-tolerated protein sources and restricted copper. They're often the simplest choice, but not every dog with liver disease needs one, especially dogs without copper build-up or encephalopathy.1,12 Your vet will choose based on the diagnosis.

Foods and Products to Avoid

  • Xylitol, found in sugar-free gum, candy, some nut butters and baked goods, which can cause liver failure13,14
  • Moldy food or recalled pet foods that may contain aflatoxin15
  • High-copper foods, such as liver, organ meats and shellfish, for dogs with copper disease11
  • High-fat diets for dogs with gallbladder mucoceles1
  • Herbal or "detox" products not approved by your vet12

Homemade Diets

A homemade diet can be tailored to a dog's needs, but it's easy to get wrong. Work with a veterinary nutritionist, especially for copper-restricted diets, and don't change your dog's food without your vet's advice.5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best food for a dog with liver disease?

Usually a highly digestible food fed in small, frequent meals, often a prescription liver diet. Your vet will choose based on the cause.

Should dogs with liver disease eat low-protein food?

Usually not. Protein is changed mainly for dogs with hepatic encephalopathy.

Can dogs with liver disease eat eggs or chicken?

Often yes, as good-quality protein, but check with your vet, especially if copper is a concern.

What foods help repair a dog's liver?

No single food repairs the liver. A balanced, digestible diet supports healing while the cause is treated.

Are treats OK?

In moderation, if your vet approves. Avoid liver treats for dogs on copper-restricted diets.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 23, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Center SA. Nutrition in Hepatic Disease in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  2. Rutgers C, Biourge V. Frequently Asked Questions: Nutrition of Dogs with Liver Disease. In: Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition, 2008 (IVIS).
  3. Center SA. Disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated June 2026.
  4. Center SA, Wakshlag JJ, Cullen JM, Richter KP, Twedt DC, Watson PJ, Webster CRL. Possible diet-related increase in copper-associated liver disease in dogs (letter). Veterinary Record, 2021.
  5. Poblanno Silva FM, Grant CE, de Mello Ribeiro E, Verbrugghe A. Nutritional management of a dog with hepatic enzymopathy suspected to be secondary to copper-associated hepatitis: a case report. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023.
  6. Braund KG. Endogenous Metabolic Disorders. In: Braund's Clinical Neurology in Small Animals, 2002 (IVIS).
  7. Nolen S. AAFCO reaffirms guideline on copper levels in dog food. AVMA News, April 2023.
  8. American Veterinary Medical Association. Cornell scientists warn of excess copper in dog diets. JAVMA News, April 2022.
  9. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Portosystemic Shunts. ACVS, updated January 2025.
  10. Center SA. Hepatic Portal Venous Hypoperfusion in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  11. Marks SL. Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Hepatitis in Dogs. Auburn University small animal conference proceedings.
  12. Webster CRL, Center SA, Cullen JM, et al. ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2019.
  13. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Paws Off Xylitol; It's Toxic to Dogs. FDA Animal Health Literacy, February 2025.
  14. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Hepatotoxicant Table. ASPCApro, 2020.
  15. American Kennel Club. FDA Recalls Dog Food With Fatal Aflatoxin Levels. AKC News, August 2021.

About this article

Last updated : fully rewritten using the Merck Veterinary Manual, ACVIM specialists, AVMA News reporting on the copper debate, IVIS nutrition references and recent case research, plus International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS) proceedings and research published 2022 to 2026.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.