Disease Description: Canine copper hepatotoxicosis, also called copper storage disease, is a condition that is caused by an excessive accumulation of copper in the liver.

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Disease Symptom: Dogs with copper storage disease show a range of symptoms depending on the amount of damage to the liver. Symptoms may include bleeding from the gums or the nostrils, ascites, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Acute release of the copper from the liver may result in red blood cell destruction causing anemia, hemoglobinemia (free hemoglobin in the blood), and hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in the urine).

Disease Cause: The excess accumulation of copper in the liver may be caused by an abnormal binding of copper to certain proteins in the liver or abnormal secretion of copper in the bile.

Disease Diagnose: The symptoms and breed of dog will cause a veterinarian to suspect copper storage disease. Blood tests may indicate an increase in the liver enzymes such as serum alanine aminotransferase (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Liver Disorders). A liver biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis and to determine the amount of copper present.

Treat Method: Treatment includes the use of penicillamine to chelate (bind) and increase urinary excretion of copper. Zinc acetate helps to bind copper preventing its absorption. Affected dogs are placed on a low copper diet, preferably with less than 0.5 PPM of copper. Extra Vitamin E is supplied as an antioxidant therapy to help reduce damage to the liver. Vitamin C should be avoided in dogs with copper accumulation because it may increase the copper's damage to the liver. The use of copper chelating agents in the Doberman Pinscher is controversial since the disease tends to progress even if copper levels are decreased to normal.

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