Chronic hepatitis in dogs is a progressive inflammatory liver disease that requires long-term management to slow progression, maintain quality of life, and prevent life-threatening complications.
Chronic hepatitis can provide good quality of life for years with appropriate management. The welfare focus must be on monitoring progression, preventing complications like hepatic encephalopathy, managing ascites, and maintaining nutritional status. Dogs with liver disease benefit from frequent small meals, low-copper diets in copper-associated hepatitis, and careful avoidance of hepatotoxic drugs.