Diagnosis and therapeutic management of ascites of hepatic origin in dogs

Ascites is one of the most common clinical syndromes in dogs in which a dog’s abdomen is filled with fluid, and its probable causes are cardiac failure, kidney damage, hepatic insufficiency and low protein diet. In this case study, 11 dogs with ascites of hepatic origin were clinically managed with L-ornithine, L-aspartate, silymarin and symptomatic treatment. During the study, out of 11 dogs, 10 dogs clinically recovered and only 1 death was recorded. After 15 days of treatment, dogs started normal feeding and the ascitic symptoms were reduced with haematobiochemical reports returning to normal range. These findings underline the effectiveness of L-ornithine, L-aspartate and silymarin; with proper monitoring, it gives positive recovery in approximately 90% dogs suffering from ascites of hepatic origin.