Chronic Active Hepatitis

What exactly is CAH (chronic active hepatitis). Let's break it down by individual words:

Chronic: Lasting a long time or recurring often: said of a disease, and distinguished from Acute.

Active: Currently in operations, in effect, in progress, etc.

Hepatitis: A general term for for inflammation of the liver.

The disease is also known as Chronic Canine Inflammatory Hepatic disease. A bunch of big words to describe a variety of liver diseases with similar characteristics.

When Chase was first diagnosed with this disease I spent hour upon hour doing research and trying to find out what caused it and how to fix it. I joined a wonderful emailing list CanineLiver-d and joined others who were fighting the same battle. Please check into this group, they were there when I needed them most! I wanted to share my hours of research so other dog owners would have a single page where they could turn to find lots of info. So...without further ado here are some wonderful links to help you understand what's going on with your beloved dog.

Long Beach Animal Hospital - I felt I'd struck gold when I found this site. It's got about everything you need to completely understand liver disease. From terminology, cause, symptoms, diagnosis and specific liver diseases. It also shows how to read blood work and has some interesting pictures of the canine liver.

How To Read Laboratory Tests - This page gives you an in depth CBC (complete blood count) review. It helped me to know exactly what those high numbers meant.

Assessment of liver disease - Another great page explaining canine liver disease with even more in depth explanations of specific liver enzymes.

VetInfo - Although you can't ask a question unless you subscribe, you can read the answers to other dog owner's questions. Lots of useful information.

Liver Disease: Signs, Symptoms & Diagnosis - A column written by Dr. Flemming, Sherwood Animal Clinic. Great at explaining the different liver diseases and problems resulting from liver disease.

Dr. Larry Thornburg - DMV from the University of Missouri and one of the top canine liver researchers in the country. Gives details on The Liver Registry, a resource you can use for consultation and diagnosis.

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM - I've heard so many great things about Dr. Dodds. This website gives you information on what type of blood work she analyzes and where to send it.  She does not charge a fee, but takes donations.  In order to keep Dr. Dodds  wonderful work going please make sure to donate generously.  If you've got a pet with CAH and had the blood work done you know how much it costs.