Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with liver damage caused by hypothyroidism and artery blockage
By Bolton, Timothy Andrew·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2021·From the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Acute Hepatopathy in a Dog Secondary to Hypothyroidism-Induced Atherosclerotic Infarction and Necrosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male beagle was brought in because he was lethargic, not eating, and had discomfort in his abdomen. Tests showed very high liver enzymes and cholesterol levels, and imaging revealed problems with his liver and gallbladder. The vet performed surgery to remove part of the liver and the gallbladder, which helped the dog feel better and improved his liver function. After diagnosing him with hypothyroidism, the vet started him on medication, which resolved the remaining liver issues.
People also search for: dog lethargy and not eating · beagle liver problems treatment · hypothyroidism in dogs symptoms
Abstract
A 7 yr old male beagle was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, and cranial abdominal discomfort. Significant clinicopathologic abnormalities included severe liver enzyme elevations and hypercholesterolemia. Abdominal imaging identified vascular compromise of the left lateral liver lobe and a gallbladder mucocele. Following liver lobectomy and cholecystectomy, the dog's clinical signs resolved, and liver enzymes substantially improved. Diffuse hepatocellular infarction and necrosis secondary to multifocal atherosclerosis was present on histopathology of the liver. Hypothyroidism was subsequently diagnosed. Restoration of euthyroidism with oral levothyroxine therapy resolved the remaining liver enzyme elevations and hypercholesterolemia. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report of hypothyroidism resulting in a clinically apparent and resolvable acute hepatopathy due to atherosclerosis. Clinicians should include atherosclerosis as a differential diagnosis for dogs with an acute hepatopathy and investigate dogs for hypothyroidism if atherosclerosis is diagnosed on liver biopsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33260219/