Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Limy bile syndrome in a dog.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Fabrès, V et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · France
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old spayed female golden retriever was taken to the vet because she was very tired, had stopped eating, was vomiting, and had abdominal pain. X-rays showed that her gallbladder looked unusual, and an ultrasound revealed a thick material inside it, along with signs of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). A sample taken from the gallbladder showed an infection, and after surgery to remove the gallbladder, the vet found it was filled with a thick, greenish-brown substance made mostly of calcium carbonate, which is known as 'limy bile.' After the surgery and treatment, the dog's health improved significantly, and two months later, she had a good appetite and has not had any problems in the 11 months since.
Abstract
A 11-year-old spayed female golden retriever was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, vomiting and abdominal pain. Plain abdominal radiography showed a uniform radiopacity of the gallbladder. Ultrasonography demonstrated hyperechoic material in the gallbladder lumen associated with an acoustic shadow and findings consistent with acute pancreatitis. Fine-needle aspiration of the bile revealed bacterial cholecystitis. Following cholecystectomy, it was apparent that the gallbladder was filled with a semi-solid, pasty-like greenish-brown material composed of 80% calcium carbonate, consistent with a diagnosis of 'limy bile'. After surgery and medical treatment, the dog's condition improved. Two months after discharge, the dog had fully recovered a good appetite and no relapse has been observed after 11 months of follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of limy bile syndrome in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29752730/