Ascites is a negative prognostic indicator in chronic hepatitis in dogs.
BACKGROUND
Chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is common but little is known about factors associated with survival. Ascites is a well-recognized negative prognostic indicator in humans.


OBJECTIVE
Ascites is a negative prognostic indicator in CH in dogs.


METHODS
Thirty-four dogs with histologically confirmed CH presented to 1 institution between 1996 and 2005.


METHODS
Retrospective observational study. CH was diagnosed by histopathology of liver tissue according to the WSAVA criteria. Ascites was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. The association of ascites with survival from diagnosis or onset of owner-reported clinical signs until death from any cause or from liver disease was analyzed. Ascitic and nonascitic groups were further analyzed for differences in treatment and sex.


RESULTS
Fourteen of 34 dogs had ascites. Survival from diagnosis to death from liver disease was 0.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.6) for ascitic dogs and 24.3 months (CI 11.4-37.1) for nonascitic dogs (P < .001), and from onset of signs to death from liver disease was 2.0 months (CI 0.0-5.6) for ascitic dogs and 33.0 months (CI 8.6-57.4) for nonascitic dogs (P= .0020). Diet and spironolactone use differed between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Ascites is a significant negative prognostic indicator in dogs with CH. Veterinarians and owners can use this information to aid clinical decision making in affected dogs.
Raffan
E
E
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. er311@cam.ac.uk
McCallum
A
A
Scase
T J
TJ
Watson
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000473:pathology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies