Clinical, clinicopathologic, radiographic, and ultrasonographic abnormalities in dogs with fatal acute pancreatitis: 70 cases (1986-1995).
OBJECTIVE
To determine clinical, clinicopathologic, radiographic, ultrasonographic, and coagulation abnormalities in dogs in which acute pancreatitis was fatal.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
70 dogs.


METHODS
History, clinical signs, and physical examination findings at the time of initial evaluation at the veterinary teaching hospital; results of pretreatment laboratory tests, abdominal radiography, and ultrasonography; and histologic abnormalities were obtained from medical records.


RESULTS
Clinical signs included anorexia, vomiting, Weakness, diarrhea, polyuria and polydipsia, neurologic abnormalities, melena, weight loss, hematemesis, and passage of frank blood in feces. At the time of initial examination at the veterinary teaching hospital, 68 (97%) dogs were dehydrated, 18 (26%) were icteric, 22 (32%) were febrile, 40 (58%) had signs of abdominal pain, and 30 (43%) were classified as overweight or obese. Most dogs had leukocytosis, neutrophilia with a left shift, and thrombocytopenia. Various serum biochemical abnormalities were identified, including hypoglycemia, azotemia, hypercalcemia and other electrolyte abnormalities, hypoalbuminemia, high hepatic and pancreatic enzyme activities, hypercholesterolemia, and lipemia. For 17 of 28 (61%) dogs, results of coagulation function tests were abnormal. Results of abdominal ultrasonography and radiography were consistent with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in 23 of 34 (68%) and 10 of 41 (24%) dogs, respectively. For 2 dogs, results of abdominal ultrasonography were not suggestive of acute pancreatitis, but results of abdominal radiography were.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical signs and results of clinicopathologic tests are inconsistent. Abdominal ultrasonography may be valuable in the diagnostic evaluation of dogs suspected to have acute pancreatitis.
Hess
R S
RS
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010, USA.
Saunders
H M
HM
Van Winkle
T J
TJ
Shofer
F S
FS
Washabau
R J
RJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary