COMMON LIVER DISEASES IN THE DOG

摘要

Abnormal liver enzymes are a common encounter in the dog and can be due to a number of etiologies. The following discussion includes some of the more common conditions I encounter that cause abnormal liver enzymes. This section does not, however, include chronic hepatitis, which is covered in a separate presentation. The so-called "reactive hepatopathies" that occur secondary to nonhepatic disease can result in increased serum biochemical hepatic tests and histomorphologic abnormalities. Most of thereactive hepatopathies cause increases in laboratory tests that evaluate hepatocellular integrity (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and tests of hepatic cholestasis (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT]). In most cases there are little, if any, changes in tests that evaluate hepatic function (bilirubin, albumin, glucose, and BUN). Most of the animals with secondary liver disease also retain normal serum bile acid concentrations, which, again, supports the concept that there is generally minimal hepatocellular dysfunction in most of these disease conditions.