Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐! This post is inspired by a case I had this week!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ is a condition where the ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ, the storage sac for bile from the liver, becomes full of mucus-like bile instead of the normal fluid bile!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This condition affects dogs, particularly older dogs that have ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฌ (diseases of endocrine system).
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Unfortunately, the inciting cause of the mucus accumulation is unknown, and may be due to multiple factors. Some proposed risk factors include decreased motility of the gall bladder wall, high-fat diets or steroid therapy.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Having a bunch of sludge in the gall bladder can block proper bile flow, leading to ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (stopped bile flow). This cause ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ, the main component of bile, to accumulate within the animal. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ (yellowing of the tissue). The abdomen can also become very painful, thanks to having an overly large gall bladder with a very stretched wall! Stopping bile flow can also allow bacteria to migrate through the bile tracts into the liver, causing a ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ (inflammation of the liver).
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis is typically done on ultrasound, where the gall bladder has a characteristic โkiwiโ appearance.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Treatment typically involves ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ, where the gall bladder is removed. This is the best route of treatment because it prevents the gall bladder from rupturing if alternative treatments do not work quick enough. These dogs should also receive antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary infection of the liver.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A seriously enlarged gall bladder at necropsy!
2-5) Examples of what the mucinous accumulation in the gall bladder looks like.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Center SA. Canine Gallbladder Mucocele. Merck Veterinary Manual, 2016.
Photos 2-3 ยฉ University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
Photos 1, 4-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Berkowitz, Vet Biosciences, Morris licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
