Hepatic Diseases in Canine and Feline: A Review

Kassahun A. Negasee*

Hepatic Diseases in Canine and Feline: A Review.

The dual blood supply to the liver is hepatic artery and portal vein. The function of liver includes the regulation of digestion and metabolism, the synthesis of hormones and proteins, immune response and filtering of toxins from the blood stream. Any problem that affects the liver is liver disease. Inflammation of liver is hepatitis. Hepatitis caused by infectious, non-infectious, auto-immune and reactive. It can be acute and chronic. The most encountered liver diseases in dogs and cats are hepticlipidosis, cholangiohepatitis, portosystemicshunt, cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, pneumobilia and hepatic neoplsia. The clinical symptoms of liver diseases include jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, gastro intestinal disorders and nonspecific signs include polyuria/polydipisia.

The liver disease diagnosed based on history, liver function tests, medical imaging. The
latest imaging procedures are endoscopic retrograde cholagio pancreatography (ERCP) and computed tomography (CT). This laparoscopic technique for removal of gallstones and endoscopic retrograde cholagiopancreatography to treat gall stones on bile ducts and to widen the slipped ducts  and liver transplantation for cirrhotic dogs and cats. Early accurate diagnosis and managing any predisposing factors that affects the health of dogs and cats are important for controlling the liver diseases.

Dogs and cats are domestic animals belonging to different species; canine and feline families respectively. There are many differences between a dog and a cat including their physical features, nature and character. Both dogs and cats are our wonderful and lovable pets; canines and felines are friends more than anybody for human beings because of their keen observations, patience and
easily adapt with people in the home.

Vet Med Open J. 2021; 6(1): 22-31. doi: 10.17140/VMOJ-6-155