Clinico-pathological and therapeutic management of canine hepatic dysfunction
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Date
2022-07
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G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to study clinico-pathological and therapeutic evaluation of canine hepatic dysfunction. In addition, prevalence of canine hepatic dysfunction was studied in and around Pantnagar by screening clinical cases of dogs presented at Dr. I. P. Singh Veterinary Clinical Complex and Trauma Centre, Pantnagar. The overall prevalence of hepatic dysfunction in dogs was found to be 3.36% among total number of dogs presented in this study and the prevalence was 6.62% among dogs with gastrointestinal and nervous disorder. The mean age in dogs diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction was 5.12±0.96 years. In terms of age maximum incidence was seen in dogs with age between 4 - 6-year and Mongrel breed of dogs had maximum incidences of hepatic dysfunction. The dogs which were diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction were showing a variety of clinical signs such as fever, anorexia, vomition, emaciation, polydipsia, polyuria, dullness, oedema of hind limbs, diarrhoea, respiratory distress, hepatodynia, haemorrhages, icterus, corneal opacity, unkempt hair coat and nervous signs. Eighteen dogs were selected randomly irrespective of their age, sex, breed and were divided into 3 groups with 6 animals in each group namely Group B. Group C, Group D and were subjected to different therapeutic protocol i.e. urosdeoxycholic acid + L-Ornithine L-Aspartate, urosdeoxycholic acid + silymarin and urosdeoxycholic acid without any combination respectively in each group, changes in their vital parameter, hematobiochemical profile was noticed and were compared to 6 dogs in healthy Group A at different interval of time. Changes in vital parameters included significant increase in respiration rate, pulse rate and heart rate as compared to healthy group A while temperature in different treatment group increased nonsignificantly. Findings of haematological examination revealed significant decrease in Hb, PCV, TEC, platelets, lymphocytes whereas there was significant increase in neutrophils in different treatment group as compared to healthy group A. There was significant increase in clotting time in dogs affected with hepatic dysfunction. Findings of biochemical parameter revealed significant increase in total bilirubin ALT, AST, GGT, ALP whereas there was significant decrease in total protein, albumin, A:G ratio, blood glucose in different treatment group as compared to healthy group A. Analysis of urine sample on day of presentation revealed urine with low specific gravity, acidic pH and yellow to dark yellow colour along with presence of urobilinogen and bilirubin in majority of the cases. Radiography and ultrasonography and were found useful in diagnosis of canine hepatic dysfunction. Ultrasonography had additional advantage over radiography with evaluation of echogenicity, echotexture, size, shape and margins of liver. From the comparative therapeutic study, it was established that combination of urosdeoxycholic acid + L-Ornithine L-Aspartate had better improvements in dogs with hepatic dysfunction followed by combination of urosdeoxycholic acid + silymarin and urosdeoxycholic acid without any combination. Regular monitoring with proper therapeutics in dogs affected with hepatic dysfunction can contribute towards good prognosis.