Symptoms of Chronic Canine Cholecystitis

The symptoms of chronic canine cholangitis include indigestion, light-colored stool, fat in stool, weight loss, lethargy, decreased or absent appetite, painful liver palpation, irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall detected by ultrasound, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and abnormal levels of bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase in biochemical tests.

Can kidney failure cause cholangitis?

Kidney failure in dogs does not cause cholangitis. Instead, it leads to impaired excretion of waste products from the body, resulting in uremia and causing disorders of water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. This, in turn, can cause heart and respiratory failure. In the digestive system, dogs can develop gastric ulcers, while cats can experience gastric fibrosis and mineralization. Chronic kidney failure in cats can lead to non-regenerative anemia.

Treatment for Cholangitis

For cholangitis, conventional treatment usually involves administering protective liver medications to prevent the condition from worsening. If cholangitis is complicated by cholangiohepatitis, vitamin B12 absorption may be impaired, requiring supplementation with B12. Moreover, oral administration of certain protective liver medications can cause taurine loss, so it is recommended to take taurine orally. The best treatment is fluid therapy.

Diet for Cholangitis

For dogs with chronic cholangitis, it is important to provide prescription food and cans that protect and repair the liver and gallbladder system, enhance nutrition, and prevent problems in other organ systems. Prescription food and cans are the mainstay, and excessive consumption of other foods should be avoided. It is also necessary to monitor vomiting and regularly visit the veterinary hospital for checkups.