Serum protein electrophoresis as a prognostic marker of chronic liver disease in dogs.

In a previous study in dogs with chronic liver disease it was found that a combination of clinical features and laboratory findings was useful in differentiating liver diseases but could not be used to evaluate a dog's prognosis. When an electrophoretic analysis of the serum proteins was included, marked decreases in the concentrations of albumin and the alpha-globulins alpha-1-antitrypsin and haptoglobin were observed in terminal liver cirrhosis, indicating impaired liver function. However, low albumin concentrations, together with normal or increased concentrations of alpha-1-antitrypsin and haptoglobin, were observed in dogs which, although severely depressed when examined, often recovered and survived for a year or more.