Royal Canin Hepatic diet provides nutritional support for dogs and cats with liver disease. This diet is designed for pets with special needs and is available only from your veterinary practice. Royal Canin Hepatic diet should be the sole source of food unless otherwise indicated by your Veterinary Surgeon.

The liver performs many vital functions in the body and is important for:

n The metabolism of:

Proteins

Fats

Carbohydrates

Many vitamins and minerals

n Neutralising and excreting toxins

n The blood and blood clotting system

n Hormone balance

Liver disease is a relatively common problem in dogs and is occasionally seen in cats. Royal Canin Hepatic diets are highly palatable and balanced for the dietary support of dogs and cats with liver disease and insufficiency.

Royal Canin Hepatic diets are enriched in antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, taurine and lutein) to help maintain health and vitality.

'Antioxidant' is a general term for nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and other components naturally present in many foods.

Antioxidants neutralise free radicals produced during normal body metabolism that can cause damage to body cells. Free radical production increases when your pet is ill.

the breakdown of meat proteins. It is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Circulating in the blood, these toxins can cause issues for the nervous system, known as Hepatic Encephalopathy. Signs commonly seen include behavioural changes, fits, tremors, excessive salivation (particularly in cats), vacant staring, disorientation and head-pressing.

Liver diseases tend to fall into two categories:

n Inflammatory liver disease (called hepatitis, cholangitis or cholangio-hepatitis) that is characterised by an impaired flow of the blood or bile through the liver.

n Abnormal accumulation of substances in the liver.

Symptoms of liver disease include:

n Lethargy or tiredness n Loss of appetite

n Nausea n Vomiting

n Weight loss n Jaundice/icterus

n In severe cases, neurological signs or even death

The liver has great regenerative capacity, but during and after disease it is vulnerable to damage from copper and free radicals. To aid recovery and restore optimal function, the liver requires high levels of energy, high quality protein, plus antioxidants in the diet.

Why does my pet need fibre?

Dietary fibre helps remove ammonia and other toxins from the intestine via the dog or cat s stools and also supports the growth of healthy bacteria, further reducing ammonia production.

Why are protein and fat moderated in this diet?

If meat protein levels are high, the body will produce more ammonia, a toxin which is usually neutralised by the liver. By feeding vegetable proteins we can reduce ammonia production and therefore workload on the liver. However, if the protein level is too low, your pet will begin to break down its own body tissues and lose weight. Royal Canin Hepatic diets provide the correct balance of high quality, digestible protein.

The fat in the diet is a valuable energy source, enhances palatability, and is at an appropriate level for dogs and cats with certain types of liver disease.

Should I give my pet extra vitamins and minerals in addition to the Royal Canin Hepatic diet?

No; the diet has been formulated with the optimum balance of vitamins and minerals specifically for support of dogs and cats with liver disease.

Why has zinc been added to the diet?

To avoid zinc deficiency which is common in liver disease. Zinc is involved in the detoxification process and so helps to remove the ammonia which could affect the nervous system. Zinc is also said to displace copper and therefore reduce it's uptake in the gut and reduce copper accumulation in liver cells.

The recommended diet

Changing your pet s diet

A specific diet for your pet

Key features

Antioxidants

The key features of Royal Canin Hepatic diet are:

n High energy density

n Moderately restricted levels of high quality (vegetable) protein

n Highly digestible carbohydrates

n Adapted levels of soluble and insoluble dietary fibre

n Enriched with a synergistic antioxidant complex

n Increased zinc content

n Restricted copper content

n Moderately restricted sodium content

n Enhanced levels of B-complex vitamins

For adult dogs and cats, the diet is formulated to:

n Provide energy and nutrients to help support the pet and its liver function

n Provide select nutrients to help liver cell regeneration

n Help reduce the toxins produced by metabolism of proteins

n Help limit absorption of toxins from the large intestine

Dietary modification can significantly reduce the level of toxins to which the liver cells (hepatocytes) are exposed.

Changing your pet s diet should always be carried out over several days. It is not uncommon for pets to refuse a new diet or to suffer from stomach upsets if the change is not gradual. On day 1, begin by adding a small amount of the new diet to your pet s existing food. As each day passes, add more of the new diet to less of the original food, until eventually you are only feeding the new diet. This change should take around 5-7 days.

Royal Canin are leaders in palatability. So confident are we that your pet will enjoy their food that we offer a no quibble, money-back guarantee. Simply return the food to your veterinary practice for a full refund*. * Terms and conditions apply

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS Is liver disease a serious condition?

Liver disease can lead to problems with the metabolism and storage of nutrients and the breakdown of their potentially harmful by-products (toxins). The most important of these toxins is ammonia, which is produced by bacteria in the large intestine from