Indian Vet. Med. Jour. Vol.

23, September, 1999 : 245-247

THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF AV/LTP/15* IN HEPATIC DYSFUNCTION

IN DOGS

Anuj Agarwal 10/188, Rampur Road, Haldwani-

263 139 - INDIA

The clinical signs of liver disease are usually vague and non-specific
requiring laboratory testing for its recognition and evaluation (Rutgers, 1996),
However, gastrointestinal abnormalities like anorexia, vomition and enteritis,
besides jaundice, hepatomegaly and ascites may point towards an underlying liver
problem. The present report deals with therapeutic value of a herbal liver tonic
(AV/LTP/15*) in clinical cases of impaired liver function in dogs.
The trial was carried out on 11 clinical cases suspected to have impairment
of liver functions on the basis of history and/or clinical signs. The spectrum included
inappetence, general debility, vomiting, diarrhoea, pigmented urine, anaemia and
hepatomegaly. Laboratory tests using standard analyser (Miles India, Baroda) were
carried out and interpreted in the light of the accompanying clinical observations.
Treatment with AV/LTP/15 was administered at the dose rate of 2 tablets two
to three times daily in heavy breeds (over 10 kg) and 1 tablet two to three times a
day in light breeds for 7 days, increased or decreased midcourse as per the exigency
of the case to extend for 15-25 days. Five dogs with pyrexia were treated with
antibiotics for 2-3 days. Supportive therapy with dextrose normal saline @ 10-15
ml/kg b.wt. i/v was given as and when required, besides essential symptomatic
treatment.
Response to therapy was assessed from the pattern of clinical observations
and laboratory tests at various time intervals post-treatment (p.t.).
Clinical observations : The colour of mucous membranes and urine varying
between deep yellow, yellow and pale initially, progressively reduced in intensity
following therapy, the normalization taking as little as 3 days to as long as 23 days.
In the pyretic dogs, therapy resulted in lowering of body temperature to normal limits
within 4-5 days. In one dog, it remained mildly elevated till the 14th day before
coming to normal limits. The stool colour and consistency varied greatly between
black, blood or mucus tinged (4 cases), clay coloured (2 dogs) to yellow and watery,
pasty and hard to normal. In three dogs stools remained normal throughout the
treatment. Vomiting was observed in three dogs only. Appetite was variably
reduced in all the dogs, but improved following therapy, normalising in 6 to 16
days. In the two dogs that died, the recovery in the clinical parameters was partial.
The yellow colour of mucous membranes and urine was

* Research code name of herbal liver tonic since marketed as Livjivan : Dabur
Ayurvedic Limited, 22 Site IV, Sahibabad, ghaziabad - 201010 (U.P.). The main
ingredients of the formulation are given in the later part of the article.
persistent, stools were infrequent and there was relapse of high temperature (104-105°F)
before death on day 11 and 17, respectively.
Laboratory tests : The presence of bilirubin in the urine is always abnormal and
frequently reflects liver disease (Candlin, 1968). The pre-treatment laboratory tests
(Table-1) strengthened the suspicion of liver dysfunction as the predominant syndrome in
the present study. The post-treatment tests (Table-1) indicated gradual but consistent
trend towards improvement in all the parameters in consonance with the clinical
improvement. At the end of 28 days observation period, the values had reached within
normal range or nearly normal limits. For 9 out of the 11 dogs, the recovery was
complete. Thus the efficacy rate of AV/LTP/15 in the present study was 81.8%, which is
highly satisfactory for liver disease.
Table-1: Efficacy of A V/LTP/15 in improving liver functions in dogs

Treatment Lab parameters

day S.B. U.B.P. S.C. Hb
Range No. of Range No. of Range No. of Range No. of
(mg/dl) dogs dogs (mg/dl) dogs (gm%) dogs
0 0-1 3 5-7 3
1-2 4 P 6 0.5-1.6 11 7-9 3
2-3 2 9-11 4
3-4 2 A 5 >1.6 - >11 1
7 0-1 4 5-7 4
1-2 5 P 5 0.5-1.6 11 7-9 1
2-3 1 9-11 3
3-4 1 A 6 >1.6 - >11 3
14 0-1 5 5-7 3
1-2 4 P 4 0.5-1.6 9 7-9 2
2-3 1 9-11 1
3-4 - A 6 >1.6 1 >11 4
21 0-1 5 5-7 1
1-2 4 P 3 0.5-1.6 8 7-9 2
2-3 - 9-11 2
3-4 - A 6 >1.6 1 >11 4
28 0-1 7 5-7 -
1-2 2 P - 0.5-1.6 8 7-9 2
2-3 - 9-11 1
3-4 - A 9 >1.6 1 >11 6

S.B. = Serum bilirubin U.B.P. = Urine S.C. = Serum creatinine A=

bile pigments Absent
Hb = Haemoglobin P= Present
Two dogs died on days 11 & 17.
 In liver disease, the objectives of therapy are to eliminate the causative agent (if known),
stop inflammation and provide optimum conditions for hepatic regeneration (Rutgers, 1996)
before the disease gets too advanced. While systemic broad spectrum antibiotics have to be
given to control infection and fluid therapy and nutritional
management are essential as supportive and symptomatic therapy, herbal liver tonics are useful
adjunct for the treatment of liver disorders in animals (Awasthy and Rao, 1984). these help
maintain the liver parenchyma in healthy state and regulate liver functions like detoxification of
metabolic products, toxic drugs and chemicals (Dwivedi et al, 1986; Peer et al, 1990; Kohale
et al, 1993) and treatment of hepatic dysfunction (Keskar et al, 1995).
AV/LTP/15 is polyherbal product containing ingredients with documented
antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective properties such as Andrographis paniculata (Handa et al,
1986), Ecpipta alba (Khim et al, 1978) Picrorhiza Kurroa (Ansari et al, 1991), Phyllanthus
niruri (Syamsundar et al, 1985), Tephrosiapurpurea (Sharma et al, 1991), Tinospora cordifolia
(Reddy et al, 1992) and Boerhavia diffusa (Chandan et al, 1991).
It is concluded from the results of the present trial that AV/LTP/15 alone or in
combination with specific treatment, can be a useful therapy for liver dysfunction in dogs.

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