Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with liver lobe torsion and abscess treated by surgery
By Downs, M O et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1998·Department of Small Animal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Liver lobe torsion and liver abscess in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback was brought to the vet after suddenly starting to vomit, becoming very tired, and having discolored urine. The vet found that the dog had a swollen belly and was in pain, and tests showed a gas-filled area in the abdomen. After giving fluids, antibiotics, and medication for heart issues, the vet performed surgery and discovered that a part of the liver had twisted. The dog recovered completely after the surgery and was still doing well two years later. Liver lobe torsion is rare but can be serious, so it's important for vets to consider it when dogs show signs of severe abdominal pain.
People also search for: dog vomiting and lethargy · Rhodesian Ridgeback abdominal pain · liver surgery for dogs · liver lobe torsion symptoms
Abstract
A 4-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback had acute onset of vomiting, lethargy, and discolored urine. Physical examination revealed lethargy, pyrexia, weak femoral pulses, cardiac arrhythmia, distended abdomen, and signs of pain on abdominal palpation. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed a gas-containing lesion in the cranial portion of the abdomen. Preoperative care included administration of fluids, antibiotics, and antiarrhythmic medication. Exploratory laparotomy revealed hemobilia and a 360 degrees clockwise torsion of the papillary process of the caudate lobe of the liver. Clinical signs resolved completely after liver lobectomy, and the dog was alive 2 years after surgery. Torsion of a liver lobe is rare in dogs. Necrosis of the involved liver lobe can result in acute weakness, shock, and death. Hemodynamic stabilization, antibiotic treatment, and surgical intervention have been successful in treating this condition. Liver lobe torsion should be considered on the differential diagnoses list of acute abdominal pain.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9524639/