Solution: "What's Your Diagnosis?"
If you guessed a gallbladder mucocele with suspected secondary cholangiohepatits and biliary obstruction, you are absolutely right!
Kira was taken to surgery, and a cholecystectomy and liver biopsy were performed which came back as severe cholangiohepatits with fibrosis.
Kira recovered well post-op and recheck blood values eventually normalized. She was discharged on Metronidazole, Pepcid, and liver protectants such as Denosyl, Vitamin E, and Ursosiol.
Canine Biliary Mucocele is a common cause of extahepatic biliary disease. The etiology is unknown; however, primary disease of the mucus-secreting glands of the gall bladder has been implicated. Predisposing factors include liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, and hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical signs are vague and non-specific and sometimes can be found as an incidental finding. There is limited success to medical treatment. That's why surgical treatment (cholecystectomy) is the treatment of choice. In this case, Kira was lucky because the expanding size of the mucocele typically leads to pressure necrosis of the gallbladder wall with a high risk of potential rupture and development of bile peritonitis.