When a small organ goes bad Meet Coltrane; a 9.5 yr neutered male cockapoo. He had chronic bouts of vomiting and stomach issues over the last 12 months. On bloodwork, his liver values were always very high. After a few days of hospitalization and IV fluids, he seemed to recover well. Although he responded to treatment, he would relapse weeks to months later. With a little more diagnostics including an abdominal ultrasound, Coltrane was diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocoele. This is a condition where the gallbladder fills with dehydrated, gelatinous sludge instead of liquid bile. The bile cannot flow through the liver adequately and causes liver problems. More severely, the gallbladder extends to an abnormally large size and can rupture (burst) in the abdomen. This causes intense pain and leads to an emergency surgery with poor recovery. Coltrane had a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) before the organ ruptured. Although a major operation, Coltrane did fantastic. His liver values are dropping dramatically and he is feeling great. If you have a dog with abnormal liver values or signs of inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive drinking; your pet may be experiencing gallbladder problems. This is an organ which typically lingers to show signs of disease until the patient is very ill. The best way to diagnose gallbladder disease is with an abdominal ultrasound. Please give NAMC a call if you are concerned about your pets gallbladder.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 18:21:58 +0000
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