Copper toxicosis is a hereditary liver disease in Bedlington Terriers and other breeds where copper accumulates in the liver, causing progressive cirrhosis and liver failure in untreated dogs.
Copper toxicosis causes progressive liver damage that is silent in early stages but eventually manifests as the full spectrum of hepatic failure - vomiting, jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy causing neurological symptoms. By the time clinical signs appear, significant irreversible liver damage has occurred. The slow progression means affected dogs live for years with subclinical liver damage causing subtle fatigue and reduced wellbeing before acute decompensation. The disease is entirely preventable in Bedlington Terriers through genetic testing - the COMMD1 mutation is well characterized and a simple DNA test identifies affected and carrier dogs. Every affected Bedlington represents a failure of the breeding program to implement available genetic testing.