 It may range from brown to reddish brown, and the color represented in the adjacent box is the gross average of these shades.A yellowish or greenish liver may indicate jaundice or a similar condition, a dark brown color may indicate alcohol poisoning, a black color can indicate terminal Emphysema, and white or grayish tones may indicate cancer.It is unknown why the color of dogs and horses came to be known by the term "Liver", as these tones indicate an unhealthy liver.