Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Drug use linked to gallbladder mucocele in dogs study
By Gookin, J L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2015·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of Gallbladder Mucocele Histologic Diagnosis with Selected Drug Use in Dogs: A Matched Case-Control Study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with gallbladder mucocele (a condition where the gallbladder fills with mucus) was found to have a higher likelihood of having used certain medications compared to healthy dogs. Specifically, dogs with this condition were more likely to have been treated with thyroxine for hypothyroidism, medications for Cushing's disease, and products containing imidacloprid, a common flea and tick treatment. In Shetland sheepdogs, the association was even stronger, with those affected being significantly more likely to have used imidacloprid. This suggests that some medications may be linked to the development of gallbladder mucocele in dogs, particularly in certain breeds.
People also search for: dog gallbladder mucocele symptoms · Shetland sheepdog medication side effects · imidacloprid and dog health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The cause of gallbladder mucocele (GBM) formation in dogs currently is unknown. Many available drugs represent a newer generation of xenobiotics that may predispose dogs to GBM formation. OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is an association between the histologic diagnosis of GBM in dogs and administration of selected drugs. ANIMALS: Eighty-one dogs with a histologic diagnosis of GBM and 162 breed, age, and admission date-matched control dogs from a single referral institution. METHODS: Medical records of dogs with GBM and control dogs from 2001 to 2011 were reviewed. Owner verification of drug history was sought by a standard questionnaire. Reported use of heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, corticosteroids, or medications for treatment of osteoarthritis was recorded. RESULTS: Dogs with GBM were 2.2 times as likely to have had reported use of thyroxine (as a proxy for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism) as control dogs (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.949-5.051), 3.6 times as likely to have had reported treatment for Cushing's disease (95% CI, 1.228-10.612), and 2.3 times as likely to have had reported use of products containing imidacloprid (95% CI, 1.094-4.723). Analysis of a data subset containing only Shetland sheepdogs (23 GBM and 46 control) indicated that Shetland sheepdogs with GBM formation were 9.3 times as likely to have had reported use of imidacloprid as were control Shetland sheepdogs (95% CI, 1.103-78.239). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study provides evidence for an association between selected drug use and GBM formation in dogs. A larger epidemiologic study of Shetland sheepdogs with GBM formation and exposure to imidacloprid is warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26478445/