Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: Jaundice (Icterus)

Dog skin comes in a variety of colors; yellow is not one of them.

Jaundice (also known as icterus) is a term describing yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, caused by deposition of bile pigments. The easiest areas to spot jaundice are in the mucosa (such as the gums) and the sclera (whites of the eyes).

The orange/yellow pigments (bilirubin) is a byproduct of a normal process of breakdown of dead red blood cells in the liver. It has, however, no business ending up anywhere but in bile--make its way through the digestive system and ultimately be eliminated with other waste.

Jaundice is broadly considered a symptom of a liver issue. Is it?

Since the liver is where dead red blood cells are metabolized, it is a reasonable conclusion. Let's not forget the whole picture, though.

dead red blood cells → liver → galbladder → GI tract

This means that jaundice has three main causes: prehepatic (ie RBC destruction), hepatic (liver disease) and post-hepatic (usually biliary duct obstruction).

Liver disease

Any disease or condition that damages or destroys liver cells can hinder the liver's ability to process the waste red blood cells. Underlying causes can be infections, toxins, adverse reaction to medications.

Bile duct obstruction

Even if the liver has done its job perfectly but the bile ducts became blocked, everything backs up. Bile flow becomes obstructed and the whole process of bilirubin elimination breaks down.

Red blood cell destruction

When abnormally large numbers of red blood cells are destroyed, the liver is simply unable to keep up. In such a case, jaundice will be accompanied by anemia as well.

Therefore other symptoms that can come with jaundice might include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, paleness, increased drinking a urination, bleeding, and others.

No matter the cause, jaundice is a serious red flag

If your dog becomes jaundiced, they are VERY unwell. You need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.

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Do you know what your dog is telling you about their health?

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog now available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is an award-winning guide to help you better understand what your dog is telling you about their health and how to best advocate for them. 

Learn how to see and how to think about changes in your dog’s appearance, habits, and behavior. Some signs that might not trigger your concern can be important indicators that your dog needs to see a veterinarian right away. Other symptoms, while hard to miss, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or limping, are easy to spot but can have a laundry list of potential causes, some of them serious or even life-threatening. 

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is a dog health advocacy guide 101. It covers a variety of common symptoms, including when each of them might be an emergency. 

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