Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
This condition is anything causing damage to the liver including eating plant toxins or chemicals or from bacterial or viral infection. The liver cells are destroyed by the inflammation and are replaced as scar tissue causing cirrhosis. The liver, however, is remarkable and can grow new cells to replace the damaged areas so no signs of disease are seen. When the damage becomes so widespread that the remaining healthy cells are unable to keep up liver function then signs of liver disease are seen.
Treatment
Affected animals should be rested and fed feed high in branched chain amino acids (beet pulp). Antibiotics and/or steroids are often used depending on the cause.