Liver health in dogs & cats

The liver is your pet's detox centre, digestion helper and energy store, all in one. It works hard every day, and it's remarkably good at repairing itself when it's given the right support.

What the liver does

It filters toxins and medications out of the blood, makes bile to digest fats, stores energy and vitamins, and builds many of the proteins the body runs on. When it's struggling, almost every other system feels it.

Signs to watch for

• Yellowing of the gums, eyes or skin (jaundice)
• Vomiting, diarrhoea or poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Drinking and peeing more
• A swollen belly
• Confusion, wobbliness or unusual tiredness

Cats: a cat that stops eating for more than a day or two can develop fatty liver disease, which is serious. See your vet quickly.

What strains the liver?

Toxins (some human foods like xylitol, mouldy food, household chemicals and pesticides), long-term medications, infections, excess weight and age. The more a pet is exposed to, the harder the liver has to work.

What you can do at home

• Lock away the liver-harmers. Paracetamol is dangerous for cats and dogs, and xylitol (in some sugar-free gums and peanut butters) can cause liver failure in dogs.
• Never let a cat go without food. If your cat hasn't eaten for more than a day, call your vet.
• Ask for regular bloodwork if your pet is on long-term medication, so any liver strain is caught early.
• Keep them lean. Excess fat can build up in the liver, especially in cats.
• Store chemicals safely, and keep pets off freshly treated grass and gardens.

How Optimus Pet fits in

• Antioxidant shield. Natural antioxidants help protect liver cells from the free-radical damage that toxins cause.
• Smoother detox. Our natural gene activators are designed to help move waste and toxins out of the body efficiently, reducing the load on the liver.
• Clean, easy nutrition. Highly digestible protein and nutrients with nothing artificial added, and each batch tested for heavy metals and contaminants.
• For poor appetites. Dense nutrition in small amounts, which matters when a pet won't eat much.

Which formula?

For pets with liver problems we recommend The Potent Vials with The Gold Series, whose organic turmeric adds extra antioxidant support. For everyday protection in healthy pets, The Blue Series is a great daily base.

Working with your vet

Optimus Pet is a whole food, so it sits alongside your vet's plan rather than replacing it. Keep your vet in the loop about everything your pet eats and takes, and book a check-up whenever symptoms are new, severe or getting worse. Our nutritionists can help you fit Optimus Pet around your pet's current care, free of charge.