Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical and histologic outcome in a dog surviving massive hepatic necrosis.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Kook, Peter H et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This report talks about a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog that experienced a serious liver problem, leading to shock and bleeding in the abdomen. The dog underwent emergency surgery to remove part of the liver, which was badly damaged. After the surgery, the dog's liver function tests returned to normal within seven weeks, and a follow-up biopsy two months later showed that the liver was healing well. Over the next seven years, the dog continued to have normal health and liver tests, demonstrating that dogs can fully recover and live well after such severe liver issues.
Abstract
This report describes the clinical and histologic recovery of a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog presented with hypovolemic shock, markedly increased serum alanine amino transferase activity, and hemoabdomen. Emergency exploratory surgery revealed a friable liver with multiple capsule hemorrhages necessitating removal of the left lateral lobe. Histologic evaluation showed acute massive hepatic necrosis with centrilobular and midzonal distribution. The dog survived, and all monitored laboratory values normalized within 7 weeks. A liver biopsy taken 8 weeks after presentation revealed normal hepatic architecture with a few, randomly distributed neutrophilic foci. Follow-up included intermittent determination of liver variables including liver function tests for a period of 7 years. The dog's health status, and all test results remained normal during this time. Complete recovery and good long-term quality of life after life-threatening acute liver failure secondary to massive hepatic necrosis is possible in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30575127/