Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bacterial bile duct infections in dogs - signs and diagnosis
By O'Neill, Emma J·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2025·Department of Small Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Biliary Tract Infections in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog showing signs of vomiting, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin (jaundice) may have a bacterial infection in the biliary tract. If your dog is also experiencing abdominal pain or fever, it's important to see a vet. They may use an ultrasound to check for any serious issues, like a ruptured bile duct, and to collect samples for testing. Treatment typically involves antibiotics to fight the infection, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary. With prompt care, many dogs can recover well from this condition.
People also search for: dog vomiting jaundice treatment · dog abdominal pain causes · biliary tract infection in dogs
Abstract
Bacterial biliary tract infections are increasingly recognized in dogs and should be considered in any dog presenting with vomiting, anorexia, and jaundice, particularly if they have abdominal discomfort or pyrexia. Commonly recognized clinicopathologic findings include increased liver enzyme activities, hyperbilirubinemia, and an inflammatory leucogram. Hepatobiliary ultrasound forms a key component of the diagnostic approach to these cases, aiding the identification of dogs that require urgent surgical management due to biliary tract rupture, or that have another surgical condition. Ultrasound also allows guided percutaneous bile sampling to gain a sample for cytology and culture, guiding rational antimicrobial therapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40360338/