Gallbladder disease in Shetland Sheepdogs: 38 cases (1995-2005).
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk, clinical features, and treatment responses for gallbladder disorders in Shetland Sheepdogs.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
38 Shetland Sheepdogs with gallbladder disease.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed for signalment, history, physical findings, laboratory results, imaging features, coexistent illnesses, histologic findings, treatments, and survival rates.


RESULTS
Mature dogs with gastrointestinal signs were predisposed (odds ratio, 7.2) to gallbladder disorders. Gallbladder mucocele was confirmed in 25 dogs. Concurrent problems included pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia, corticosteroid excess, hypothyroidism, protein-losing nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, and gallbladder dysmotility. Mortality rate was 68% with and 32% without bile peritonitis. Nonsurvivors had high WBC and neutrophil count and low potassium concentration. Although preprandial hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and high serum liver enzyme activities were common, gallbladder disease was serendipitously discovered in 11 of 38 dogs. Histologic examination (n=20 dogs) revealed gallbladder cystic mucosal hyperplasia in 20 dogs, cholecystitis in 16, periportal hepatitis in 9, and vacuolar hepatopathy in 7. Surgery included cholecystectomy (n=17) and cholecystoenterostomy (4). In 1 hyperlipidemic dog without clinical signs, gallbladder mucocele resolved 6 months after beginning use of a fat-restricted diet and ursodeoxycholic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
Shetland Sheepdogs are predisposed to gallbladder disorders, with mucoceles and concurrent dyslipidemia or dysmotility in many affected dogs. Most dogs were without clinical signs during mucocele development. Low survival rate after cholecystectomy in clinically affected dogs suggested that preemptive surgical interventions may be a more appropriate treatment strategy.
Aguirre
Ale L
AL
Departments of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Center
Sharon A
SA
Randolph
John F
JF
Yeager
Amy E
AE
Keegan
Alicia M
AM
Harvey
H Jay
HJ
Erb
Hollis N
HN
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009078:Mucocele / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome