Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Biliary Tract Infections in Dogs.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- O'Neill, Emma J
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Studies
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Bacterial infections in the biliary tract, which is part of the liver system, are becoming more common in dogs. If your dog is vomiting, not eating, and has a yellowish tint to their skin or eyes (jaundice), especially with signs of belly pain or fever, this could be a sign of such an infection. Tests often show increased liver enzymes and other changes in blood work. An ultrasound of the liver area is important for diagnosing these infections and can help identify if your dog needs immediate surgery or other treatments. The ultrasound can also help collect bile samples for testing, which can guide the right antibiotic treatment.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40360338/