Copper Storage Disease In Dogscopper Storage Disease In Dogs

Copper storage disease is a disease characterized by excessive accumulation of copper in the livers of affected patients.

Copper storage disease in dogscopper storage disease in dogs.

Copper storage hepatopathy in dogs copper storage hepatopathy is a condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of copper in the animal s liver which leads to progressive damage and scarring of the liver cirrhosis. All the dog breeds face the danger of contracting this disease but there are certain breeds that are more prone to this than their fellow dogs. A gene mutation causes copper storage disease in bedlington terriers. Copper storage or hepatotoxicosisis is a disease that results because of excess saturation of copper in the dogs liver.

Clinical signs are variable as some pets may not have any clinical signs while others may have severe neurological deficits secondary to liver dysfunction. The urine of affected dogs might be unusually dark. In other breeds primary inflammatory hepatic disease may facilitate copper accumulation because of chronic cholestasis. Copper storage disease symptoms of copper storage disease include vomiting appetite loss lethargy and yellowing of the mucus membranes a condition known as jaundice.

Copper storage disease can occur as a primary disease or secondary to another disease such as diseases that cause build up of bile. This condition may be secondary to a primary disease or the result of genetic based abnormal copper metabolism. In some terrier breeds an inherited metabolic defect compromises copper excretion.