Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using 2D shear wave ultrasound to check liver damage in two dogs
By Kim, Junyoung et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary science·2025·Hue Animal Medical Center, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Clinical utility of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in two dogs with presumptive toxic hepatopathy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Pompitz was brought in for vomiting, diarrhea, and not eating after eating garlic and onions. Despite intensive treatment, the dog's liver condition worsened, leading to euthanasia. In contrast, a 1-year-old Maltipoo showed signs of vomiting, depression, and abdominal pain, with elevated liver enzymes. After treatment for suspected toxic liver damage, the Maltipoo improved significantly within three days, with liver function tests returning to normal. These cases highlight how a special ultrasound technique can help veterinarians assess liver damage and track recovery in dogs with liver issues.
People also search for: dog vomiting after eating garlic · Maltipoo liver disease treatment · toxic hepatopathy in dogs
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound technique for assessing tissue stiffness. This study examined the clinical utility of two-dimensional SWE (2D-SWE) in two dogs diagnosed with presumptive toxic hepatopathy. CASE PRESENTATION: The first case involved a 9-year-old Pompitz that presented with anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea following garlic and onion ingestion. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, elevated liver enzyme levels, and diabetic ketoacidosis. Ultrasonography demonstrated increased hepatic echogenicity and elevated SWE values. Despite intensive treatment, the dog's condition deteriorated, with progressive increases in liver enzyme levels and SWE values, resulting in euthanasia. The second case involved a 1-year-old Maltipoo that presented vomiting, depression, and abdominal pain, with no reported history. Laboratory findings indicated elevated liver enzyme and bile acid levels. Ultrasonography revealed increased hepatic echogenicity and SWE values. Following treatment for acute toxic hepatopathy, the dog exhibited significant improvement within 3 days, with normalization of hepatic echogenicity, SWE values, and liver enzyme levels. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These cases demonstrate the clinical relevance of 2D-SWE in assessing hepatic damage, tracking therapeutic response, and informing prognosis in presumptive toxic hepatopathy.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40765227/