Treatment of gallbladder disease in dogs and cats

Abstract

Gallbladder diseases are relatively uncommon in small animals. Clinical conditions of the gallbladder include cholycystitis, gallbladder mucocele, cholelithiasis and neoplasia. Gallbladder diseases are more common in older animals and the clinical presentation of disease is similar to other gastrointestinal or hepatic diseases. Haematology and biochemistry often demonstrate nonspecific abnormalities including leucocytosis, neutrophilia, increased liver enzymes and hyperbilirubineamia. Endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism are often found concurrently with gallbladder diseases. Ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool for the investigation of gallbladder diseases. Ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis can also be performed and its complication rate is low. Medical treatments commonly include antibiotics and choleretics. The efficacy of medical treatment has not been totally determined and surgical intervention is often required as a definitive treatment. Morbidity and mortality of surgical intervention is relatively high, due to complications such as peritonitis.