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Background: Liver disease in dogs is relatively common, but diagnosis can be challenging. Advances in veterinary medicine in the past 20 years have provided new and improved methods of diagnosing many different conditions that commonly affect the canine liver. Aim of the article: This article outlines a logical approach to cases of suspected liver disease in dogs, which can often present with non‐specific clinical signs and clinicopathological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current reports about the use of splenectomy for the management of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) or immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) or both in dogs are limited. Objectives: To retrospectively describe the use of splenectomy as part of the management for IMHA, ITP, and concurrent IMHA and severe thrombocytopenia (CIST) in dogs. It was hypothesized that splenectomy would be beneficial in allowing for reduction of dose of immunosuppressive drugs or discontinuation in 1 or more of these groups. Animals: Seventeen client‐owned dogs (7 with IMHA, 7 with ITP, and 3 with CIST) were identified across 7 UK‐based referral hospitals from a study period of 2005 to 2016. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively via questionnaires and included information about diagnosis, management and treatment response before and after splenectomy. Based on clinical outcome, treatment with splenectomy as part of the management protocol was classified as either successful or unsuccessful. Results: Six of 7 dogs with ITP were managed successfully with splenectomy as part of their management protocol (3 complete and 3 partial responses), although 1 subsequently developed suspected IMHA. Of the 7 dogs with IMHA, splenectomy was part of a successful management protocol in 4 dogs (2 complete and 2 partial responses). In the CIST group, 1 case (1/3) responded completely to management with splenectomy as part of the management protocol. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Splenectomy was considered successful and well tolerated in most cases of isolated ITP. Whether there is a benefit of splenectomy in cases of IMHA and CIST could not be determined in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biliary sludge (BS) frequently is identified on ultrasonographic examination and is described as incidental. It is hypothesized that biliary stasis and hypersecretion play a role in both BS and gallbladder mucocele (GBM) formation. Recent studies have documented similarities in composition of BS and GBM, and there are several examples of progression from BS to GBM in the veterinary literature. Objectives: To assess the relationship between the presence of BS and later development of GBM in dogs, over time periods >12 months. Animals: A total of 154 dogs with BS and ultrasonographic follow‐up >12 months. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively collected from 9 UK‐based referral centers for all available time points. A semiobjective scoring system was used to track volume of BS within the gall bladder (GB) over time. Results: Twenty dogs developed GBM during the study period. Shetland Sheepdogs (odds ratio [OR], 40.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.61‐465.95; P =.003) and Border Terriers (OR, 11.66; 95% CI, 3.28‐46.63; P <.001) were independent risk factors for the development of GBM. Non–gravity‐dependent BS (NDBS) was noted to form before GBM development in 9/20 dogs, and breeds at‐risk for GBM were more likely to have NDBS. Odds for the development of GBM increased with BS score. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs with NDBS may be at risk for the development of GBM and a stratified BS scoring system could allow for semiobjective monitoring over time, particularly in at‐risk breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic pathogens, with pigs predominantly implicated in disease transmission. The rapid rise in human cases in developed countries over the past decade indicates a change in epidemiology of HEV, and it has been suggested that additional animal species may be involved in transmission of infection. Multiple studies have identified contact with dogs as a risk factor for HEV infection in industrialised nations, and a low seroprevalence to HEV has previously been reported in dogs in low-income countries. In this study we aimed to evaluate the possibility that dogs are susceptible to HEV, and determine the frequency with which this occurs. Serum samples from UK dogs with and without hepatitis were screened for HEV-specific antibodies, and canine liver and stool samples were analysed by qPCR for the presence of HEV RNA. We describe evidence to show HEV infection occurs at low levels in dogs in the UK, but the strain of origin is undetermined. The low seroprevalence level of HEV in dogs implies the risk of zoonotic disease transmission is likely to be limited, but further investigations will be required to determine if HEV-infected dogs can transmit HEV to man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe a virus discovery protocol for a range of different virus genera, that can be applied to biopsy-sized tissue samples. Our viral enrichment procedure, validated using canine and human liver samples, significantly improves viral read copy number and increases the length of viral contigs that can be generated by de novo assembly. This in turn enables the Illumina next generation sequencing (NGS) platform to be used as an effective tool for viral discovery from tissue samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THIS article, the second of two discussing the management of liver disease in dogs, describes the treatment of the clinical signs of several liver diseases and considers a number of specific examples, including some case studies to highlight their management. An article in the last issue of (March 2009, volume 31, pp 130-135) described the indications and actions of some of the commonly used drugs and dietary therapies for the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE treatment of canine liver disease involves a combination of drug therapy and dietary support. This article, the first of two discussing the management of liver disease in dogs, describes the indications and actions of some of the commonly used drugs and dietary treatments for the condition. An article in the next issue of In Practice will consider how to manage the clinical signs of hepatic disorders and outline the clinical approach to some specific liver diseases in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

LIVER disease is relatively common in dogs, but its diagnosis presents a challenge. The liver's large reserve capacity means that many dogs show no clinical signs until late in the disease process and signs are often non‐specific. Findings on blood tests and diagnostic imaging are also relatively non‐specific and a biopsy is often required for definitive diagnosis. This article outlines a logical approach to the dog with suspected liver disease, describing the rational work‐up from first suspicion of disease to final biopsy‐confirmed diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses a study being conducted on the sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis in the English springer spaniel, aimed at describing the history, clinical signs, and clinicopathological abnormalities of the condition.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Liver Standardization Group produced standardized criteria for the histologic diagnosis of canine chronic hepatitis (CH). They define CH by the presence of hepatocellular apoptosis or necrosis, a variable mononuclear or mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate, regeneration, and fibrosis. There are variations in histologic appearance between breeds. Hepatic copper accumulation is an important cause of canine CH. However, where copper accumulation has been ruled out, dogs are said to have idiopathic CH. This article reviews theories regarding the etiopathogenesis of canine CH other than copper accumulation, and its clinical features, diagnostic findings, and management., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)