Characteristics and outcomes of dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for diseases other than a mature gallbladder mucocele: a retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy is well described for gallbladder mucocele management, but its role in other gallbladder diseases is less well understood. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Characterize and compare dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for mature gallbladder mucocele (M-GBM) versus "other gallbladder disease" (non-M-GBM). A secondary exploratory aim was to compare surgical complication and 10 to 14-day mortality rates between cohorts. ANIMALS: A total of 256 dogs undergoing cholecystectomy. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study (2018-2025). Dogs were assigned to M-GBM or non-M-GBM groups based on radiologist review of stored ultrasonographic images. Clinical, biochemical, histopathologic, and outcome variables were compared. Survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves and restricted mean survival time estimates. RESULTS: Sixty-nine dogs were classified as M-GBM and 187 as non-M-GBM. The M-GBM dogs were significantly older (11.0&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;2.8 vs 8.7&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.1&#xa0;years; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001) and had higher white blood cell (13.8&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.3 vs 10.0&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;4.5&#xa0;k/&#x3bc;L; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001), and neutrophil counts (10.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;6.2 vs 7.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.9&#xa0;k/&#x3bc;L; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001), and ALT (148; interquartile range [IQR]: 55.2-402 vs 78; IQR: 42.5-278.5&#xa0;U/L; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001) and ALP activities (446; IQR: 148-1860 vs 178; IQR: 59.5-786.8&#xa0;U/L; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). Fourteen-day mortality was significantly lower in the non-M-GBM cohort (3.2 vs 8.7%; P&#xa0;=&#xa0;.04). Post-surgical clinical improvement occurred in 83.7% of non-M-GBM dogs. Concurrent pancreatic and intestinal abnormalities were common. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cholecystectomy was safe, associated with owner-perceived clinical improvement, and carried a lower short-term mortality rate in non-M-GBM dogs compared with M-GBM dogs.