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Dissolution of cholelithiasis in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel receiving conservative management with ursodeoxycholic acid
Author(s) -
Allan Frederik,
McCallum Katie Elizabeth,
Genain MarieAude,
Harris Benjamin John,
Watson Penny J
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2020-001206
Subject(s) - medicine , ursodeoxycholic acid , anorexia , vomiting , pancreatitis , jaundice , furosemide , abdominal pain , conservative management , physical examination , abdominal ultrasonography , gastroenterology , surgery , general surgery , ultrasonography
SUMMARY A six‐year‐old female neutered Cavalier King Charles Spaniel presented with recurrent diarrhoea, intermittent vomiting and anorexia. She was diagnosed with partially obstructive cholelithiasis with concurrent suspected chronic pancreatitis based on abdominal ultrasonography and blood biochemistry. The dog responded to conservative management with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), paracetamol and a low‐fat diet with resolution of clinical signs attributable to obstructive cholelithiasis and near‐complete dissolution of the cholelith at follow‐up eight months after presentation. In human medicine, UDCA has been reported to be effective in cholelith dissolution, prevention of cholelith formation and resolution of clinical signs due to cholelithiasis but the non‐surgical literature in veterinary medicine is limited. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of dissolution of a cholelith in a dog receiving conservative management.