Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Copper-associated hepatitis causing liver disease in a young
By Nakaichi, Munekazu et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2021·Department of Veterinary Radiology, Japan·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Copper-associated hepatitis in a young Dalmatian dog in Japan.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 25-month-old male Dalmatian was brought to the vet because he wasn't eating and had high liver enzyme levels. Tests showed that his liver was smaller than normal and had a yellowish appearance, indicating liver damage. Further examination revealed severe liver disease caused by a buildup of copper in the liver cells. This condition, known as copper-associated hepatitis, is rare in Dalmatians, and the specific genetic mutation linked to this issue in other breeds was not found in this dog. Unfortunately, the abstract does not provide information on treatment or recovery.
People also search for: Dalmatian liver disease symptoms · dog not eating liver problems · copper accumulation in dogs
Abstract
A male 25-month-old Dalmatian dog attended our veterinary hospital because of anorexia and high circulating liver enzyme activities. Abdominal computed tomography showed a slightly small liver with rounded edges, and laparoscopic examination showed that the liver was yellowish. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal necrosis of hepatocytes and severe chronic hepatitis. Rhodanine staining showed severe copper accumulation in hepatocytes and a quantitative analysis of the copper content of the liver showed substantial accumulation (10.3 mg/g dry mass), suggesting a diagnosis of copper-associated hepatitis. Previously reported canine mutation in the COMMD1, the gene responsible for the copper-associated hepatitis in the Bedlington terrier, was not identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of copper-associated hepatitis in a Dalmatian in Japan.
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/33840721/