High Cholesterol in Dogs: Our Vet Discusses Signs, Causes & Treatments

The post High Cholesterol in Dogs: Our Vet Discusses Signs, Causes & Treatments by Dr. Samantha Devine DVM (Veterinarian) appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

You’re reviewing your pup’s latest lab results from their annual exam, and you see a value flagged as abnormally high: cholesterol. What kind of problems can high cholesterol cause for your dog, and what can you do about it?

What Is High Cholesterol in Dogs?

High cholesterol is also called hypercholesterolemia, also referred to as hyperlipidemia. With this condition, your dog has higher-than-normal levels of triglycerides or fats circulating in its bloodstream.

Cholesterol is a fatty molecule that is essential for many normal body processes. For example, your dog’s body uses cholesterol molecules to make hormones and even create new cells. Both you and your dog’s bodies need triglycerides to form the permeable cell membranes that surround all living cells.

The normal range for cholesterol in dogs is 120 to 270 mg/dL.¹

What Are the Signs of High Cholesterol in Dogs?

While many dogs don’t have clinical signs from elevated cholesterol levels, some may have ophthalmic changes, gastrointestinal issues, or even neurologic problems.

Ophthalmic Changes

Dogs with high cholesterol are prone to developing lipid spots on their corneas, often visible to the naked eye as white spots. Excess lipids can also accumulate within the aqueous humor of the eyes and lead to inflammation.

Gastrointestinal Changes

Vomiting and diarrhea are possible in dogs with hyperlipidemia. These dogs are also at a higher risk of developing pancreatitis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition.

Other Changes

What Are the Causes of High Cholesterol in Dogs?

Dogs develop high cholesterol for several possible reasons.

Hereditary

Some dog breeds are predisposed to having higher cholesterol. While veterinarians commonly think of Miniature Schnauzers as representing this category, other breeds can be affected, including:

Postprandial

Postprandial refers to after eating. Often, dogs have elevated cholesterol levels after eating a meal, especially if it’s a fatty meal. This cause is usually transient.

Medication

Certain medications that our dogs take can increase their triglyceride levels. Steroids like prednisone or prednisolone are commonly implicated.

Acquired

Some health issues affecting our dogs can lead to high cholesterol. These conditions can affect your dog’s metabolism, leading to higher-than-normal cholesterol levels. These diseases include:

Consulting a veterinarian is recommended for the best course of action.

Read Original   

What's Your Reaction?

0

Like

0

Dislike

0

Love

0

Funny

0

Angry

0

Sad

0

Wow