liver rot

liver rot

n.

Infestation with liver flukes, especially in sheep and cattle.

liver

1. the large, dark-red organ located in the cranial portion of the abdomen, just behind the diaphragm. Its functions include storage and filtration of blood; secretion of bile; detoxication of noxious substances; conversion of sugars into glycogen; synthesis and breakdown of fats and temporary storage of fatty acids; and synthesis of serum proteins such as certain of the alpha and beta globulins, albumin, which helps regulate blood volume, and fibrinogen and prothrombin, which are essential blood clotting factors. See also hepatic.

2. a rich red-brown coat color in dogs that resembles the color of the organ.

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liver abscess

causes toxemia, possibly local signs of subacute abdominal pain, pain on percussion or palpation over the liver if peritoneal inflammation is present, when there may also be a positive paracentesis sample.

liver damage

damage to the liver parenchyma causing some degree of hepatic insufficiency.

liver displacement

may be because of a diaphragmatic hernia with the liver protruding into the thoracic cavity. Usually accompanied by dyspnea.

liver dullness

dullness on percussion over the right rib cage, used to help in defining the size of the liver which must be grossly enlarged to register a recognizable change.

liver dysfunction

the result of diffuse damage to the liver, e.g. in hepatitis. There may be clinical signs including photosensitization, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy in the form of the dummy syndrome, dullness and anorexia, or there may be subclinical disease detectable by clinicopathological tests, e.g. hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia, hyperammonemia. All of the functions of the liver will be affected at the one time.

liver enlargement

may be caused by neoplasia, congestion (as with heart failure), and infiltration by fat or inflammatory cells.

liver enzyme

when there is acute, diffuse damage to the liver some of its enzymes are liberated into the blood, where they can be measured. An indication of the severity of the damage can be obtained in this way. Different enzymes are used in each animal species.

liver failure

when liver function is inadequate to sustain life; the end-stage of liver dysfunction.

fatty liver

one affected with fatty infiltration.

fatty liver syndrome

see fat cow syndrome.

liver fluke

fasciolahepatica.

liver fluke disease

see hepatic fascioliasis.

liver function

summation of the functions of the liver.

liver function tests

biochemical tests capable of demonstrating that the liver's functions are, or are not, at full capacity. The sulfobromophthalein clearance test is the most commonly used in veterinary medicine.

liver inflammation

see hepatitis.

inherited liver insufficiency

occurs in several breeds of sheep and is characterized by the appearance of photosensitive dermatitis when the lambs begin to eat green feed. There is an accumulation of phylloerythrin in the blood and other biochemical indications of insufficiency, but the liver is histologically normal. Called also inherited photosensitization.

liver injury

damage to the hepatic parenchyma, possibly by massive trauma, but usually by an hepatic toxin. A common cause of hepatic insufficiency.

liver insufficiency

see liver dysfunction (above).

liver lobe torsion

see liver torsion (below).

liver melanosis

see hepatic lipofuscinosis.

liver meridian points

acupuncture points along the liver meridian.

liver necrobacillosis

a disease characterized by multiple liver abscesses, usually containing Fusobacterium necrophorum and resulting from infection from a chemical rumenitis which originated from carbohydrate engorgement and lactic acid rumenitis.

liver protectant

substance used for the treatment of liver failure. The important ones are choline, methionine, betaine, lecithin, vitamin B₁₂, selenium-vitamin E, essential phospholipids, glucose, fructose, vitamins E and B complex, and glucuronic acid.

liver rot

see acute hepatic fascioliasis.

liver rupture

is usually the result of severe trauma to the abdomen. In most cases there is massive hemorrhage into the peritoneal cavity, acute hemorrhagic anemia and mucosal pallor. Abdominal paracentesis recovers whole blood.

liver torsion

is usually restricted to a single lobe. Causes severe abdominal pain and severe vomiting.