Volume: 56 Issue: 4
Year: 2025, Page: 620-630, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2025.56.4.620-630
Received: Sept. 11, 2025 Accepted: Oct. 22, 2025 Published: Dec. 31, 2025
Cirrhosis in dogs is the end stage of chronic liver disease, characterised by fibrosis, regeneration and distortion of normal liver architecture leading to portal hypertension and ascites. The present study was carried out at the University Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy and Kokkalai, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, to evaluate the clinicopathological ultrasonographic and ascitic fluid features of hepatic cirrhosis in dogs. Dogs with clinical signs of abdominal distension, icterus, anorexia, vomiting and melaena were examined using ultrasonography. Haematobiochemical, coagulation and urine analyses were done. Ascitic fluid was collected for biochemical analysis and bacterial culture. Ten healthy dogs were used as control. Eight dogs were diagnosed with hepatic cirrhosis. Abdominal distension, hyporexia/anorexia and melaena were the predominant clinical signs. Haematological analysis revealed marked anaemia and biochemical findings showed significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Ascitic fluid was predominantly transudate with low protein content (<2.5 g/dL). Ultrasonography consistently revealed a shrunken hyperechoic liver with irregular margins, hypoechoic nodules and free abdominal fluid. Erythrogram values, granulocyte count, albumin, ALP and GGT were significantly correlated with survival. Clinical features including distended abdomen, hyporexia, melaena, haematochezia, dyspnoea and all ultrasonographic criteria also showed significant association with survival time. Cox proportional hazard analysis identified albumin, leucocyte count and glucose as the major prognostic determinants of survival. To conclude, cirrhotic dogs with concurrent leukocytosis, low serum albumin and elevated serum glucose have relatively less chance of survival than cirrhotic dogs with normal leukocyte count, serum albumin and serum glucose.
Keywords: Liver, cirrhosis, ascites, ultrasonography, prognosis
Alleman, R. and Wamsley, H. 2017. In: Elliott, J., Grauer, G. F. and Westropp, J. L. (ed.), BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Nephrology and Urology (3rd Ed.). British Small Animal Veterinary Association, pp. 60 – 84.
Assawarachan, S.N., Chuchalermporn, P., Maneesaay, P. and Thengchaisri, N. 2019. Evaluation of hepatobiliary ultrasound scores in healthy dogs and dogs with liver diseases. Vet. World, 12(8): 1266-1272.
Assawarachan, S.N., Ongvisespaibool, T., Hakhen, B., Chuchalermporn, P., Maneesaay, P. and Thengchaisri, N. 2023. Predictive factors for two-year survival in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases: Importance of clinical and laboratory monitoring. Animals, 13(16): 2677-2686.
Brennan, P.N., Dillon, J.F. and Tapper, E.B. 2022. Gamma‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT)–an old dog with new tricks? Liver Int. 42(1): 9-15.
Brauner, C., Joveleviths, D., Álvares-da-Silva, M.R., Marroni, N., Bona, S., Schemitt, E. and Nardi, R. 2020. Exposure to organic solvents and hepatotoxicity. J. Environ. Sci. Health. 55(10):1173-1178.
Breheny, C.R., Handel, I., Banner, S., Milne, E.M., Morrison, L.R., Smith, S.H. and Mellanby, R.J. 2020. Neutrophilia is associated with a poorer clinical outcome in dogs with chronic hepatitis. Vet. Record, 187(6): 234-234.
Center, S.A. 2007. Interpretation of liver enzymes. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 37(2): 297-333.
Calleja, S., Shiel, R., Bree, L., Silvestrini, P., Trehy, M., McMahon, L. and Murtagh, K. 2023. Prognostic indicators in dogs with intra-hepatic portal hypertension. Canadian Vet. J. 64(2):174-180.
Dewhurst E. 2016. Body cavity effusions. In: Villiers, E. and Ristic, J. (ed.). BSAVA Manual of canine and Feline Clinical Pathology (3rd Ed). British Small Animal Veterinary Association, pp. 451-453.
Elhiblu, M.A., Dua, K., Mohindroo, J., Mahajan, S.K., Sood, N.K. and Dhaliwal, P.S. 2015. Clinico-hemato-biochemical profile of dogs with liver cirrhosis. Vet. World. 8(4): 487-491.
Eulenberg, V.M., and Lidbury, J.A. (2018). Hepatic fibrosis in dogs. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 32(1):26-41.
Favier, R.P. (2009). Idiopathic hepatitis and cirrhosis in dogs. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 39(3):481-488.
Feeney, D.A., Anderson, K.L., Ziegler, L.E., Jessen, C.R., Daubs, B.M. and Hardy, R.M. 2008. Statistical relevance of ultrasonographic criteria in the assessment of diffuse liver disease in dogs and cats. Am. J. Vet. Res. 69(2): 212-221.
Joseph, A., Vinodkumar, K., Tresamol, P.V., Vijayakumar, K. and Sajitha, I.S. 2023. Aetiopathology of canine hepatitis in Kerala. J. Vet. Ani. Sci. 54(2):477-485.
Lawrence, Y. A., and Steiner, J. M. 2017. Laboratory evaluation of the liver. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 47(3): 539-553.
Lisciandro, G.R. 2020. Point-of-Care Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner (2nd Ed.). John Wiley and Sons, USA, pp.580.
Loan, N.V.T.H., Van Chao, N. and Nhung, T.T. 2025. Clinical features and hematological and biochemical blood parameters of dogs with hepatobiliary disorders. Vet. World. 18(4): 986-993.
Mattoon, J.S. and Nyland, T.G. 2015. Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound. Elsevier Health Sciences, 653p.
Neagu, D. M., Purdoiu, R., Popovici, C., Codea, R. and Biris, A. 2024. Ultrasonographic examination in liver and gallbladder pathology in dogs. Clinico-ecographic correlations. Ani. Bio.Ani. Husban. 16(1): 14-25.
Parrah, J.D., Moulvi, B.A., Gazi, M.A., Makhdoomi, D.M., Athar, H., Din, M.U. and Mir, A.Q. 2013. Importance of urinalysis in veterinary practice–A review. Vet. World. 6(9): 640-646.
Phom, O.K., Sarma, K., Arya, R.S., Behera, S.K., Konwar, B., Saikia, B. and Debnath, P. 2019. Ascites and hepato-renal syndrome in cirrhosis in Dogs. J. Ent. Zoo. Studies. 7(5): 313-321.
Poldervaart, J.H., Favier, R.P., Penning, L.C., Van den Ingh, T. and Rothuizen, J. 2009. Primary hepatitis in dogs: a retrospective review (2002–2006). J. Vet. Intern. Med. 23(1): 72-80.
Raffan, E., McCallum, A., Scase, T. J. and Watson, P. J. 2009. Ascites is a negative prognostic indicator in chronic hepatitis in dogs. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 23(1): 63-66.
Rothuizen, J. 2006. WSAVA Standards for Clinical and Histological Diagnosis of Canine and Feline Liver Disease. Elsevier Health Sciences, 130p.
Saravanan, M., Mondal, D. B., Sarma, K., Mahendran, K., Vijayakumar, H. and Sasikala, V. 2014. Comprehensive study of haemato-biochemical, ascitic fluid analysis and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ascites due to hepatobiliary disorders in dog. India. J. Ani. Sci. 84(5): 503-506.
Sastry, G.A. and Rao, P.R. 2019. Veterinary Pathology. (7th ed.). CBS Publishers and Distributors, pp. 290-313.
Sevelius, E. 1995. Diagnosis and prognosis of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in dogs. J. Small Ani. Prac. 36(12): 521-528.
Shih, J.L., Keating, J.H., Freeman, L.M. and Webster, C.R. 2007. Chronic hepatitis in Labrador Retrievers: clinical presentation and prognostic factors. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 21(1): 33-39.
Tantary, H.A., Soodan, J.S., Chirag, S.S.C., Ansari, M.M., Kumar, S.S.K. and Imtiyaz, T.T. I. 2014. Diagnostic studies in dogs with hepatic disorders. Intern. J. Vet. Sci. 3(4): 210-215.
Thelagar, V. N. 2017. Studies on clinicopathological and ultrasonographic evaluation of hepatic disorders in dogs. Ph.D. thesis, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.
Umesh, C.G., George, A., Unny, M.N., Karthiayini, K., Shyma V.H. and Philip, L.M. 2025. Comparative clinico-pathological studies in occult and overt cardiomyopathies in dogs. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 56(2): 304-312.
Webster, C.R., Center, S.A., Cullen, J.M., Penninck, D.G., Richter, K.P., Twedt, D.C. and Watson, P.J. 2019. ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 33(3): 1173-1200.
© 2025 Akilkumar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Akilkumar, D., George, A., Gleeja, V.L., Udayasree, V.J, Unny, M.N., and Prasanna. K.S. 2025. Prognostic determinants of survival in dogs with cirrhosis: a clinico-pathologic and sonographic approach. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 56 (4):620-630