Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gallbladder mucus buildup in dogs diagnosis and treatment
By Gookin, Jody L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2025·College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis and management of gallbladder mucocele formation in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old Cocker Spaniel was diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele, a serious condition where the gallbladder fills with abnormal mucus. Symptoms may include vomiting, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain. The vet confirmed the diagnosis using ultrasound, which showed the mucus buildup. The recommended treatment was surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy), which can be risky but often leads to a good recovery in the long run. After the surgery, the dog showed improvement and was expected to live a healthier life without the gallbladder.
People also search for: dog gallbladder mucocele symptoms · Cocker Spaniel vomiting treatment · gallbladder surgery for dogs
Abstract
The past 20 years have observed the emergence of an enigmatic and deadly disease in dogs referred to as gallbladder mucocele formation. The disease has been the subject of over 100 PubMed-indexed publications, yet only a single review of the topic has been published approximately 10 years ago. The aim of the current review was to provide a practical overview of the current literature of and, in some cases, the authors' experience in the diagnosis and management of gallbladder mucocele formation in dogs. Key takeaways were that gallbladder mucocele formation is caused by secretion of abnormal mucus by the gallbladder epithelium and has a predilection for older, small-sized purebred dogs. These dogs are often concurrently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria. Diagnosis is reliant on ultrasonographic features demonstrating the presence of non-gravity-dependent mucus that is adherent to the walls of the gallbladder and encroaching into the lumen. The definitive treatment for mucocele formation is cholecystectomy, which carries a significant short-term mortality but good long-term prognosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40107232/