Hearing the phrase “gallbladder mucocele in dogs” as your sweet pup’s diagnosis may leave you feeling a bit unsure of what this means for him or her. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook for a gallbladder mucocele in dogs. Armed with this information you will better be able to help and support your dog.
Bijou the Sheltie is notoriously a bit of a picky eater. He was one of the few puppies I’ve met that turned up his nose at the squeeze cheese I often offer to distract from vaccines. I mean, what dog doesn’t like bright orange processed goo? Bijou. That’s who. Over the last six years he’s occasionally skipped a meal here and there. His owner and I kept track of his dental health to make sure that wasn’t an issue, and we ran yearly bloodwork. He had always been the picture of health.
But then something changed. Bijou went from picky to downright not eating. He became lethargic. He started vomiting. His dad knew something was wrong, and brought him to me right away.
Bijou has always been a little standoffish with me—maybe he never forgave me for assuming he’d like squeeze cheese. But this time he barely acknowledged my existence. He let me do a full exam without much resistance, save for a little wince when I palpated his belly. Something was very not right.
Getting to the root of Bijou’s problem
Unfortunately in dogs, lethargy, vomiting, and inappetence are somewhat nonspecific. I couldn’t tell just by looking at him what was troubling Bijou, though I thought I could see a little yellow tinge in the white of his eyes. But maybe it was the lighting in the exam room. I knew we needed to do some diagnostics.
I started by taking X-rays. Maybe he’d eaten something he shouldn’t have? He wasn’t the most trustworthy dog when his dad was at work. X-rays looked clear—nothing was obviously wrong in his abdomen. We ran some bloodwork and that’s when my level of concern raised significantly. Bijou’s liver values were through the roof. Apparently, I wasn’t imagining the yellowing of his eyes—he really was jaundiced.
The next step was an ultrasound because I knew something was going on with his liver, and I hadn’t seen an obvious problem like a tumor on X-rays. As it turned out, his liver looked ok on ultrasound. However, his gallbladder looked like a sliced kiwi when it should be a clear black circle. This odd appearance to the gallbladder meant Bijou had a gallbladder mucocele.
What is a gallbladder mucocele?
You may have heard about people having gallbladder issues (or suffered some yourself). But did you know dogs also have gallbladders? The gallbladder is like a little balloon tucked up in between liver lobes.
The liver produces bile from bile acids, bile salts, water, cholesterol, and other components. Bile flows from the liver through bile ducts into the gallbladder where it is stored. Then the larger common bile duct takes bile from the gallbladder into the intestines to aid in the digestion and excretion of toxins.
Normally bile is a thin liquid. However, in some dogs, the consistency of bile inside the gallbladder becomes thicker due to an accumulation of mucous. As a result, a canine gallbladder mucocele forms. The mucous-laden biliary sludge can become too thick to travel through the common bile duct. This causes the gallbladder to become distended and potentially obstructed, unable to empty. Gallbladder obstruction can make a patient very sick, just like Bijou.
What causes a gallbladder mucocele in dogs?
Let’s back up for a minute to see how a gallbladder mucocele happens. There is still so much that veterinarians and researchers don’t fully understand about gallbladder mucoceles, but here is what they have learned so far.
If the gallbladder isn’t appropriately contracting to send bile to the intestines, bile acids build up inside it. This can cause inflammation of the gallbladder wall, which in turn increases mucous production, compounding the problem. The more mucous that builds up, the thicker the bile becomes, and the greater the chance of obstruction.
There is a presumed genetic component that predisposes some dogs to develop gallbladder mucoceles. They are more commonly diagnosed in Shetland Sheepdogs, Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, and Dachshunds.
Additionally, certain metabolic disorders can increase the chance of a dog developing a gallbladder mucocele. Pups with Cushing’s disease in dogs are 29 times more likely to develop a mucocele. Diabetes and hypothyroidism in dogs also increase the likelihood of a gallbladder mucocele. These conditions may alter the way fat is metabolized, and make it more difficult for the gallbladder to contract to release bile.
What are the symptoms?
Just like we saw with Bijou, usually dogs with gallbladder mucoceles are pretty sick. Clinical signs can include:
- Vomiting
- A lethargic dog
- Decreased appetite
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes, gums, or skin)
- Painful abdomen
- Fever
Not all dogs with mucoceles have all of these symptoms, and all of these symptoms can be associated with other diseases. For this reason, It is very important to seek veterinary care immediately if your dog is showing any of these signs.
How is a gallbladder mucocele diagnosed?
Your vet will start with a physical exam to assess for jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, or other abnormalities. Next, he or she will probably consider further diagnostics like bloodwork.
Usually the bloodwork involves a complete blood count, which assesses white and red blood cell numbers and platelet numbers. The vet will also run a chemistry panel, which looks for signs of kidney disease, liver disease in dogs, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalances, and other conditions. Dogs with a gallbladder mucocele tend to have elevations in their liver values, much like my canine patient did.
If your vet suspects a gallbladder mucocele or other problem with the internal organs, he or she will probably recommend an abdominal ultrasound. This test allows the vet to assess the liver, contents of the gallbladder, and other abdominal organs. Typically, a normal gallbladder should be a black circle on ultrasound. However, if it looks like a sliced kiwi due to mucous accumulation, the dog probably has a gallbladder mucocele.
What is the treatment for a gallbladder mucocele?
In some milder cases, medical management can be successful. Your vet may recommend starting your dog on ursodiol, a medication that can sometimes improve the flow of bile out of the gallbladder. However, vets typically only try it for dogs who have not yet become extremely ill from the mucocele. A low-fat diet may also be beneficial. Generally speaking, medical management is usually reserved for dogs who are incidentally diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele and are not clinically ill from it yet.
However, the best course of action for dogs who are showing symptoms at the time of diagnosis is emergency surgery to remove the gallbladder (i.e. cholecystectomy). If a mucocele is causing biliary obstruction, the risk is that if not removed, it may lead to gallbladder rupture. Gallbladder rupture can make the dog even sicker and is potentially fatal.
Gallbladder removal surgery
Gallbladder removal surgery is often rather involved. Your veterinarian may refer you to a specialty hospital for intensive care and the surgery. In addition to removing the gallbladder, the surgeon may take a sample of the liver or bile to send off for bacterial culture. The information gleaned from this may guide treatment and which antibiotics are more likely to be successful in battling infection.
Sometimes during surgery bile can leak into the abdomen. Alternatively, it may already have been present if there was a gallbladder rupture prior to surgery. Bile is very irritating and this can lead to an inflammatory condition called peritonitis. If this happens, the dog may need abdominal drains placed to manage peritonitis after surgery.
What is the prognosis for dogs with a gallbladder mucocele?
Unfortunately, gallbladder mucoceles do not always lead to a happy outcome. The mortality rate (i.e. death rate) for dogs undergoing gallbladder removal surgery for this condition can be as high as 20-25%. However, if surgery is successful, dogs can have a normal life expectancy. The earlier in the condition the dog has surgery, the higher the likelihood of a successful outcome.
The good news is that the gallbladder is not an essential organ so dogs can do fine without it. As mentioned earlier, the function of the gallbladder is to store bile. So after gallbladder removal, the bile just travels directly from the liver to the intestines as the liver produces it. Some dogs may require a special diet or lifelong medication, but their prognosis after surgery is good overall.
The veterinarian will closely monitor dogs undergoing medical treatment for a gallbladder mucocele. This will likely involve routine bloodwork and ultrasounds to ensure that the gallbladder does not become obstructed. If the dog does end up having a gallbladder blockage, there is a risk the gallbladder could rupture and/or the dog could need a cholecystectomy.
If you are interested in learning more about the outlook for the two options, a 2019 article in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine compared the long-term survival of dogs treated for gallbladder mucocele by cholecystectomy, medical management, or both. The researchers determined that while surgery is the treatment of choice, medical management can be a good option for some dogs.
Back to Bijou
Despite being very sick when he was first diagnosed, Bijou is alive and well today. His dad took him to our local specialty hospital where a board-certified veterinary surgeon removed his gallbladder. Thankfully, it had not yet ruptured and his surgery was otherwise routine.
I recheck Bijou’s bloodwork every few months, keep him on a low fat diet, and he’s back to his old self.
If your dog isn’t feeling good, the best thing you can do for him or her is to head to the veterinarian. The sooner you get a diagnosis—be it a gallbladder mucocele or something else—the sooner you can start treatment and hopefully get your pup feeling better again.
I understand it can be scary and confusing sometimes to navigate health issues with a beloved furry family member, but just take it one step at a time. You and your veterinarian both have your dog’s best interests in mind. Work closely with your vet, and follow his or her recommendations.
Have you had a dog with a gallbladder mucocele?
Please share his or her story and any words of advice for other dog parents.
C says
I wanted to give this info a bump given the somewhat grim outcomes of previous studies:
RESULTS 45 (64%) dogs were included in the elective group and 25 (36%) in the nonelective group. Group mortality rates were 2% (1/45) and 20% (5/25), respectively, and differed significantly.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs that underwent elective cholecystectomy had a considerably lower mortality rate than previously reported.
Source: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/252/8/javma.252.8.970.xml
Looks like there is some hope there!
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi C,
I love it when there are specific numbers to share, especially when it comes from a reliable source. Thank you for this great information!
Tina Abbacchi & LuLaMae says
Is anyone in the States doing lsp. cholecystectomy in dogs with mucoceles?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Tina,
Yes, there are specialists here in the U.S. that will perform laparoscopic surgery for many different conditions.
Alondra says
Hi there! I wanted to share my story of my eight-year-old long haired Chihuahua, who just underwent his gallbladder removal surgery. I live in NC, his surgery was 10k (no insurance). He was diagnosed with mucocele. Bentley had his surgery on a Wednesday stayed until Sunday that week in the ER. His total bilirubin level kept going up and vets didn’t understand why. As soon as the levels dropped some they were ready to discharge him. He’s home now, very thirsty but barely eating. Also his stomach is super super bloated, he literally looks pregnant. I can tell it’s very uncomfortable for him. Is this normal, almost a week after surgery?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Alondra,
I am so sorry your little guy has endured so much over the past few weeks. I understand why you are worried, and I agree this has me concerned too. Without examining your boy myself, I can’t make specific conclusions, but I do think this needs to be evaluated by your vet (or the specialist/surgeon). Please reach out to them as soon as possible and make them aware of the bloating, discomfort, and lack of appetite. Hoping for answers and a clear path forward. Praying for healing!
Jen says
Hello,
My 7 y.o. Golden Ret/Mix was just diagnosed yesterday with this. I have called every vet in a 2 hour radius. No one seems to think this is an emergency. Out of 4 places, only (1) can do it before the end of the year. I don’t think she will make it 2 more months. She still drinks, but will not eat. My vet mentioned medicine. I’m hoping this will help her until the surgery on the 28th of December. I guess I just don’t see how this isn’t considered more of an emergency type surgery considering the gallbladder can rupture.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Jen,
Goodness I am so sorry you are stuck in this difficult situation with your girl. I understand your concern and agree that moving forward with treatment sooner rather than later would be my choice. I am glad you have a date set (even if it is several weeks away) and pray your sweet girl will remain stable until then. Hoping the medication will help and wishing your pup all the best for a full recovery.
K Spice says
My dog, 3 lb toy Chihuahua, was diagnosed with gallbladder sludge. My vet found it by dog bloodwork that showed extremely high liver enzymes. After fasting bloodwork was done I was sent to an internal medicine vet. The internal vet did an ultrasound and found the gallbladder sludge. Stomach meds and an antibiotic were prescribed for my pup. I’ve learned that their diet is really important.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi K,
I am glad you were able to get a diagnosis so quickly. Hoping your little guy will respond favorably to the medications and is able to make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update as things progress. Best wishes to you both!
Deborah says
I lost my Shiloh shepherd 2 days ago to gallbladder mucocele. she would have been 14 tomorrow. Even though she was a paraplegic, her bloodwork was always perfect and she was a happy girl She had been on denamarin for about 9 months as she had been diagnosed with gallbladder sludge. About a month ago she was out on ursodiol. Tuesday she was very happy…Wednesday evening she couldn’t eat or drink and was retching. Took her to vet Thursday morning. Bloodwork showed liver and pancreas off the charts…..x-rays were done, then ultrasound. Gallbladder was bad. sent us to specialty hospital to for fluidsand pain medication. Another ultrasound was done the next day, diagnosed with gallbladder mucocele. Since surgery wasn’t an option, I brought her home Friday and had her euthanized. I am devastated. Her vet did not not inform me of her gallbladder sludge a year ago. I read the report and read that denamarin is used for it. I contacted my regular vet who agreed about the denamarin. This was from last December. she again had an ultrasound in July and the vet didn’t mention the gallbladder sludge. I read about ursodial and the vet wrote it a prescription for it. Do you think that if my dog had been on ursodial a year ago, it would have prevented the mucocele and my dog would still be alive?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Deborah,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your Shepherd. I know you must miss her terribly and would have done anything to give her more time. It is normal while grieving to contemplate all the “what ifs” but please don’t let this become a burden you carry. There is really no way to know if starting the ursodiol last year would have prevented this from progressing. In my experience, most gall bladder issues do end up becoming a problem at some point even with early intervention. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can focus on all the good times you shared. May your sweet girl’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life.
Deborah Kazsimer says
Thank you Dr. Buzby
Lori says
I would like to know where to find a very low fat diet for gallbladder mucocele. Just started Ursodoil. Prescription canned foods did not agree and loaded with bad ingredients such as carageenan and crushed pecan shells and pork by products.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Lori,
Unfortunately, since I am not personally involved with your dog’s medical care, I can’t make specific recommendations about diet and nutrition. It may be best to look into making a home cooked diet so you can control the ingredients and will know exactly what your dog is consuming. I highly recommend talking to a specialist. Most veterinary nutritionists are willing to schedule phone consultations and can guide you through the ingredient selection process. The reason I like to involve a nutritionist is to make sure the home cooked diet is not lacking in essential nutrients and is complete. I hope this helps a bit. Best of luck to you and your pup.
Sandra Jorgenson says
My 7yr old Sheltie Cody is on ursidiol and a low fat high fiber food. I order from Chewy it is Hills prescription WD stew, Cody loves it.
He had a mucous cell a few years ago but with antibiotics and Ursidiol and low fat high fiber food he has done ok. Lately his ALKP #’s are very high 1500. So now we will see a board certified Internist,All his other numbers are perfect! Not sure what’s causing this number to rise. I have an ultrasound at least once a year to check the gallbladder, this time it does show like it’s trying to form another mucous cell. He has no other symptoms he’s doing good otherwise.
Dr. Julie Buzby says
Hi Sandra,
I’m so glad to hear that Cody has been doing well on his ursodiol and WD stew! Hopefully you got good news from the visit with the internal medicine specialist and were able to work with them to keep Cody feeling great despite the rise in ALKP and changes on the ultrasound. Best of luck to you and him!
John Tasinas says
What is considered low fat diet after removing gallbladder?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi John,
There isn’t a lot of research to prove that a low-fat diet is necessary after the gallbladder is removed but is still recommended just as a precaution. There are no specific numbers for what low fat should be, but most prescription low fat dog foods have 10% or less crude fat.
Ashley says
Hi Julie,
My nearly 14 y/o shihtzu was diagnosed with this about 6 months ago. Due to her age my vet did not recommend surgery and prescribed Ursodiol as well as Denamarin and a low fat diet. He originally told me that she would stay on these medications in hopes that it would keep her ducts from being blocked. Now she is on her last refill of Ursodiol and he says she can come off of it which contradicts what he originally said. The other day when I took her in for a check up he claimed to have done an ultrasound and came back and said her gallbladder is clean and she doesn’t need the medication anymore – which again confuses me bc before he talked like it was something that would not go away completely. When I paid my bill, I was only charged for a visit and not an ultrasound so it left me questioning if he actually did one. I didn’t want to make any kind of accusations but wondering if I should take her elsewhere for a second opinion. She’s doing well but has had high liver values for over a year… other than that she is doing great! You wouldn’t know she’s 14 y/o and I hope to keep her with me for as long as I possibly can as she is my baby. 🥰 I worry that my vet has given up on her since she can be a bit of a diva when it comes to them trying to do xrays/ultrasounds etc. Any advice or information you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Ashley.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Ashley,
I am sorry your senior girl is having these ongoing issues with her gallbladder and liver. Since I was not present for her past exams, it is hard to know why certain choices were made. Without playing a personal role in your dog’s medical care I can’t make specific conclusions or recommendations about her treatment. It might be a good idea to discuss your concerns with your vet and have an honest conversation about how things have progressed with time. Don’t hesitate to ask hard questions or request more information that would help you gain some clarity. With that being said, it is always ok to get a second opinion. Do whatever you need to be comfortable with the choices that are being made for you and your sweet girl. She is lucky to have someone like you advocating for her health and well-being. Praying for a positive outcome and many happy days ahead for you both.
Monica P says
When you quote 20-25% mortality rate with the gall bladder removal, does this include ruptured gallbladder’s as well as elective, gallbladder removal‘s? As you know, a ruptured gall bladder, it’s going to have a much worse outcome and many more potential complications, than an elective gallbladder removal. I’m considering having my dogs gallbladder removed as she has mucoceles(classic kiwi pattern) showing with US. However, I’ve never seen a statistic that high for the mortality which gives me pause..
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Monica,
Yes, the percentage quoted does include elective and non-elective surgeries. Here is a quote from one source I researched:
” Overall mortality rates are reported to be between 20–39% for this disease, however, early surgical intervention may significantly reduce mortality rates.”
This is from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons website. Here is the link in case you want to read more from the source: https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/gallbladder-mucocele#:~:text=Dogs%20with%20gallbladder%20mucoceles%20that%20undergo%20cholecystectomy%20and,early%20surgical%20intervention%20may%20significantly%20reduce%20mortality%20rates.
I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for your pup. Praying for a positive outcome!
Betsy K. says
Our beloved Monte passed away last month after a mucocele ruptured his gallbladder. He underwent emergency surgery but it was too late. He’d been healthy and it was a total shock. I don’t regret putting him through the surgery — we had to try everything. (The pricetag — yikes. The very next day, we signed our other dog up for pet health insurance!) Here’s my question. Another commenter mentioned that her dog had had a limp a few weeks before, and it’s a symptom of gallbladder pain. Is this true? I can’t find it anywhere else online. Our Monte had also had a limp a month before and the vet couldn’t find the cause. It did stop and we figured maybe he’d pulled a muscle. Thank you.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Betsy,
I am sorry for your tragic loss of Monte. Even though the surgery was too late, I am glad you tried and gave your sweet boy the chance. As far as the limping is concerned, I am not sure this is a specific sign of gall bladder pain. Sometimes abdominal pain can cause dogs to “limp” or show pain when walking, but this is not always the case. I am glad you were able to get pet health insurance for your other dog. Hoping you will not need to utilize it and are headed for smooth sailing in the future. Thank you for sharing Monte’s story with us. Wishing you the best.
Jennifer Scarborough says
Hi! My poor dog had his gallbladder removed due to gallbladder microcell. Unfortunately, it’s been two weeks and he presents the same as before his gallbladder was removed. He still looks in pain and absolutely miserable. He’s very picky about what he will eat. He has muscle spasms in his front legs after eating and he won’t move from lying on the couch. I don’t think our vet knows what is wrong with him still. They said they are trying to “jump start” his liver. (The biopsy came back fine) he also doesn’t drink water. Just curious if anyone has encountered this or had any suggestions.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Jennifer,
I understand your concern for your pup and am sorry he is having so many issues since his surgery. It worries me that he isn’t drinking water. Please make sure your vet is aware of this problem and keep them up to date as his recovery process continues. Praying things will get better quickly and your sweet boy will make a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Hana says
Maxie also had surgery for a ruptured gallbladder. We are in our 2nd going 3rd week post surgery. I noticed that she had become a very picky eater.
John says
Hi all,
I’m looking for for experience with gallbladder mucocele and high liver enzymes.
We have a 12.5 year old dachshund who had extremely high alp and other high enzymes during lab work in November.
We followed up with an ultrasound which showed a mucocele.
He is currently asymptomatic.
We met with a surgeon and surgery cost is around 6k.
Currently we are on ursodiol, milk thistle and denamarin.
I have concerns about putting him through surgery at his age along with the cost but if this is definitely going to prolong his life I’m for it.
Can anyone share their experiences?
I also suspect he has cushings which started this discovery but that testing has been put on the back burner for now.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi John,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision for your Dachshund. I hope you will find the comments left by other readers to be helpful. I wish I could tell you the best course of action, but this is one of those instances where there is no straight forward answer. Generally, if the dog is asymptomatic, I tend to go with medical management. It is never wrong to get a second opinion when dealing with issues of this magnitude. I hope you can find the answers you need to make a decision with which you can be at peace. Praying for a positive outcome for your sweet boy and a long and happy future.
Judy says
My 10 year old black mouth cut had high liver levels I was told she had pancreatitis in December. I brought her in for annuals in February and the X-ray showed a large mass on her liver. An ultrasound was conducted and the radiologist did not recommend surgery because he thought laying on her back during surgery would cause the mass to crush her other organs nor did he and the vet thought it could be removed. I asked for a referral so I could get a second opinion and though the surgery was 7k, it was completed and they were able to remove the entire mass which weighed almost 10 pounds.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Judy,
WOW! That is impressive! I am so glad your senior girl made it through anesthesia and the surgery was successful. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. I am certain this will give hope to others in a similar situation.
Amy says
I’m in the same boat, john. my 13 yr old doxie has Cushings and has an “early mucocele”. blood work is good & shows no symptoms of gallbladder issue.
Dawn says
I’m going through this now
My 10 year old white doxie that is deaf and genetically bred in the worst way (2 major surgeries already and a pet store purchase) had his ultrasound today and he definitely has a mucocele
He is my heart and one of the best dogs I have had the pleasure of having in my life
I’m struggling right now on what is best for him. We are also waiting for the results on possible lymphoma, his lymph nodes in his neck are enlarged – he is on anti vomiting meds now to be able to keep his food down but his stool is bright yellow and then a green slime forms over it
I’m being told at a specialty vet hospital the surgery will be between 10-15 thousand dollars and at his age and the mortality rate of the surgery I’m just numb and shocked and don’t know what to do
My vet should have the radiology report within 48 hours and hopefully by that time we will know if we are dealing with lymphoma as well
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Dawn,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult situation with your senior boy. While you are advocating for him and addressing his needs, please make sure you are taking care of yourself as well. I can only imagine what an emotional toll this is taking and the amount of worry and stress you must be under. I am praying for comfort for you both. Wishing you strength as you navigate this tough road ahead. Bless you and your sweet little guy.
Dawn says
Thank you
His pathology came back and he does not have lymphoma his salivary glands are enlarged and were mistaken for lymph nodes
He went today for surgery and just came out of it an hour ago and doing okay – hopefully coming home Sunday
I hope for a few more great years with this special little guy! We ended up taking him to Michigan state university and they were so reasonable with pricing and so compassionate and thorough
I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted and I can breathe again
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Dawn,
This is such great news! So glad the surgery was a success and what a relief you don’t have to worry about lymphoma. I am happy to hear you had a great experience at MSU. Thank you for the update. Wishing you and your sweet boy continued health and happiness!
John Doty says
My 10 year old Jack Russell Cheyenne spayed female underwent cholecystectomy about 3 weeks ago. Gall bladder had a small rupture. bacteria culture and liver biopsy showed negative.
Currently on Denemarin and Ursodial. Liver values test last week showed ALKP at 1237 and ALT at 509, all other values in normal range. Incision has completely healed. Eating and general mood has improved dramatically. I will be retesting liver values in a month. Are there any changes I should consider, such as low fat diet or other medications?
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi John,
I am so glad Cheyenne’s surgery was successful and she was able to make a full recovery! A diet change might be a good idea and medication may be needed, but these decisions will probably be based on what the lab work looks like at the next recheck. Make sure you discuss these concerns with your vet so you can feel comfortable with the choices made going forward. Wishing you both many happy days ahead. Bless you!
John Doty says
Julie,
Cheyenne’s values have improved a lot since November
ALKP was 1237 now 258
ALT was 509 now 167
She’s off all medication at this point, has her energy back, and seems normal.
What’s the deal with Cushings disease?
Every time the liver values are slightly out of whack, the vets bring up Cushings.
It’s my understanding that Cushings is very hard to diagnose.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi John,
Wow! This is great news! I am so glad Cheyenne’s liver values have improved and you were able to discontinue her medications. Ugh…yes Cushing’s is tricky. There is just so much information to discuss it may be easier to share some articles with you. Here are links to other articles on this site about Cushing’s disease:
1. Cushing’s Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications
2. Trilostane for Dogs With Cushing’s Disease
3. What Does a High ALP in Dogs Mean?
I hope this helps a bit. Cheyenne may have some additional diagnostic tests in her future. But for now, let’s celebrate this win over her gallbladder disease! Thank you for the update. This has made my day. ♥
Diane Rizzo says
Can you please tell me how much more risky this surgery is for dogs with Cushing’s disease?
My vet said she needs to get her gallbladder removed and we are going to meet with a surgeon soon. This is scary !
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Diane,
I understand your concern for your dog with this upcoming surgical procedure. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the exact risks associated with gallbladder removal and Cushing’s disease. This would be a great question for the specialist! I would be curious to know what you find out at your meeting with the surgeon. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying for a successful surgery and a full recovery for your dog!
Kayla B says
My sweet baby girl Serenity (chihuahua mix) has been diagnosed with this as of today. I noticed her change in attitude and activity early and requested bloodwork from our vet. We confirmed high liver numbers and proceeded to an emergency care vet who did an ultrasound and confirmed this condition. She’s very young (3) and stable enough that our vet is confident she will come thru a removal surgery. We are hopeful as she is very much my whole world.
Monday she will have her gallbladder removed and hopefully start recovery and continue to live a long and pampered life.
I am relieved in some ways and in more ways still worried. I cannot express the importance of pet insurance. I’m thankful that we are financially in a position to help our baby and heartbroken its such a high expense for others (8k for ours)
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Kayla,
I am so glad you noticed the changes in your pup’s behavior and were able to get her medical attention quickly. I am glad the vet was pretty confident about positive results and a good prognosis. How did surgery go today? I am praying your sweet girl is resting comfortably and in the healing process. I hope Serenity will make a full recovery and have many happy years ahead. Bless you both. ♥
Johanna Cotte says
My 14 year old sweet Daphne, cocker spaniel just got diagnosed with a ruptured gallbladder.
It took a week for the diagnosis. She has pancreatitis, thought I’d was that until blood work. Impossible to get an ultrasound, finally did. Our vet found a place after 7 attempts that might be able to do the surgery.
I’m torn.
She completely bounced back after antibiotics and 2 IVS eating and is bouncy and bright
My vet said very risky surgery especially at her age.
Going to go see what the surgeon says.
I don’t know how long she can live just on antibiotics.
Praying for guidance.
She’s my world.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Johanna,
My heart goes out to you and this difficult situation you are in with Daphne. I honestly feel like there is truly no right or wrong answer when it comes to whether to pursue surgery or not. I definitely think talking to the surgeon is a great idea. They can give you their recommendation and let you know what they think is best. I am glad the antibiotics have helped, and your sweet girl is feeling better. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and Daphne. Praying for strength and clarity for you and a positive outcome for your pup. ♥
Anna says
Johannah – curious to know if you went through with the surgery & how things went and how your baby is doing. My 13 year old may need his out and I am worried with his age and other conditions (heart & kidney disease) the surgery may be too much for him. Although he has a lot of life left in him for his age so we are torn too. Waiting to talk to internal med vet….
Teresa says
I am curious how your precious baby is doing. I am faced with the same dilemma. My 14 y/0 mixed terrier, Belle, was diagnosed in November, 2022, with a GBM. Here it is January, 2023 and we are still “walking on eggshells” with her. Every day I worry about her. She is currently on Ursodiol, Vitamin E and a low fat diet. I want her to be well so I have considered the surgery. The next thought is I don’t want to put her through the surgery and possibly lose her. She is doing good and happy. She doesn’t even behave like she is sick. She is my heart and best friend. If I do the surgery and lose her, I will feel so guilty; if I don’t do the surgery and her gallbladder bursts, I will feel so guilty. Damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Teresa,
I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation with your senior girl. I can only imagine the daily worry you must feel for Belle. I wish I had some good advice or could tell you what the right choice would be. If you haven’t spoken to a specialist, this could be a good way to gather more information and help with these tough decisions. Praying for clarity and strength to face this uncertain road ahead. Bless you both.
K. Littrell says
I lost my Joy, a Border Terrier, to this horrible disease 8 months ago. She was 13. She had full blood work every year and had just had a normal “well visit” a few weeks before she suddenly got very ill. A few weeks before, she had experienced a temporary limp on her front paw, which I later learned can be a sign of gallbladder pain. One morning she vomited in the morning. I was not too concerned. She seemed fine. However, while taking her daily walk, she vomited again. By later that afternoon she could not even keep down water. She also experienced backward sneezing, which can be caused by acid reflux. Joy had experience d those before, but we thought it was seasonal allergy related. So many things I did not know. The vet ordered bloodwork and found high liver and bilirubin levels. She ordered antibiotics and an elective ultrasound appt. The test was scheduled for 2 weeks later at Med Vet. Too long to wait in my opinion. After a few days on meds, she appeared to stabilize, but then went downhill again. I rushed her to Med Vet and asked for an emergency ultrasound. The dreaded diagnosis of a gallbladder on the verge of rupture was made. I did not want to put her through a major surgery, especially after seeing the high mortality rate and possible complications following surgery. The ER vet agreed. Joy passed away in my arms. I now live with the “what ifs.” Should I have let her go through surgery? I now see where many dogs survive, although I see that surgery outcomes are better with dogs that have been diagnosed before symptoms. She was my world, the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t think I will ever come to peace with my decision. But I would have hated it if she suffered following the surgery. No good answers. I miss her terribly and just don’t know if I will ever be able to go through this grief again. Till we meet again sweet Joy….
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear K.,
I am so sorry for your loss of Joy. I know it is impossible to stop running scenarios through your head and let go of the “what ifs”. Please know you did right by your sweet girl and made the best choices with the situation you were dealt. Saying goodbye was completely unselfish and came from a place of love. I know you would have done anything in your power to keep her with you if you felt it was truly best. What a blessing to have spent 13 years together. I have no doubt she knew how much she was loved. I hope with time your heart will heal and her memory will be a blessing. ♥
Joyce says
My dog passed away recently due to this surgery. I regretted putting her through it. I watched her suffer post surgery and did not make it.. 7 hours of pain. I was at the hospital through it all. She was 11. Her gall bladder has not ruptured. But I still lost her. Don’t regret not letting her go through the surgery. I regretted letting her go through it. She was my whole world.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Joyce,
I am sorry for your recent loss of your senior girl. My heart goes out to you as you work through your grief. Thank you for being willing to share your experience and offer advice. I hope you will be able to hold on to all the good memories of your sweet girl as you continue life’s journey.
Sarah says
We just experienced this diagnosis within the last week. Our sweet Abigail (Australian Cattle Dog mix) showed no signs of anything out of HER ordinary last Saturday and then on Sunday, 12/18, she was vomiting—- couldn’t keep water down, lethargic, etc… She was between 14-15 yrs old, as we rescued her a little over 13 years ago. This very diagnosis was confirmed to us the next day after an overnight stay at the emergency hospital where she was on liquids, anti-nausea, low dose antibiotics and some pain medication. This being her ONLY major health issue in all of the time we have had her, my husband opted for surgery, as it was explained (and I feel the vets believed) all would be well, despite her age. Recovery anticipated to be a bit longer, but not one noted that in their professional opinion, it wouldn’t be beneficial to her not to have the surgery. The emergency vet found another clinic in town that was able to complete the surgery the next day. The post-op complications were scarier than the explanation of the surgery itself, after speaking to the surgeon. Despite this, we proceed. The surgery went well; her gall bladder was severely diseased, liver looked fine, stomach full of bile. Unfortunately, she passed shortly after while in recovery. Our hearts are broken; however, after reading this article, I understand the bigger picture better. Her senior panel blood work was always normal. She never had a change in appetite, her drinking patterns, or urination—- nothing. Her activity level was declining, but she was a senior dog, who would have bursts of spontaneous energy as if she was 10 yrs younger. She was actively involved in her duties as an older sister to our younger dog. Her sass level didn’t decrease at all. I have been trying to figure out what we missed over the last week, and it seems that it truly can be a surprise diagnosis. HOWEVER, I feel that we were misinformed to some degree, and looking back, her poochy stomach was something I should have questioned more, instead of accepting that it was her being a bit overweight. Also the typical changes that come with aging are also similar to this diagnosis. I wish her regular vets would have picked up on it sooner… maybe she would still be with us. As a dog mom who lost her sweet girl, 6 days ago, emergency and speciality veterinary medicine preyed upon our love for our pet with this particular diagnosis. Our story and so many others in this thread could have been avoided—- yes, we would have lost them, their suffering was profit in someone else’s pocket, and I hate that part of me didn’t advocate strong for her, as her mom, I should have put my foot down. I know my husband felt strongly about this surgery because of the “what ifs”, as she was overall pretty healthy, and we were initially informed to believe that she would be okay. I didn’t want to lose her either, but the post-op complications were scarier to me. I knew I would find a way to cope with aftermath of not proceeding with the surgery, but he wouldn’t be able to if we didn’t try—- so surgery she got. My heart knew we were going to lose her either way, and the recovery was just more painful for her, and so she past when her vitals were being taken in recovery… without us. Sometimes the hardest decisions, are the best decisions for your pet and yourself. Her diagnosis was just another emergency hospital franchise making a profit—- lesson learned. This article, and those linked to it, have helped tremendously in trying to understand what we and her regular vets missed along the way, so thank you.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Sarah,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Abigail. You are right that this diagnosis can show up very suddenly with no prior warning. There is probably nothing you or your vet missed. I hope you can let go of the burden of guilt and allow yourself some grace. I understand how emotional these decisions can be, especially when your husband had different ideas of how to proceed. In this situation, I honestly don’t think there was a right or wrong choice. There was no way to know your girl wouldn’t make it through recovery and gain extra precious time with her loved ones. I can only imagine the grief you are experiencing. With that being said, please know the emergency hospital was not pushing for surgery just to make a profit. They didn’t even perform the surgery as you mentioned they found another clinic to send her to the next day. No veterinary professional enjoys seeing a dog suffering or wants to endure their loss. Many times, after losing a patient, my colleagues (myself included) will beat ourselves up over this for weeks and then it still comes to mind in the middle of the night for months to years later. Your precious girl was important, and her loss was a tragedy felt by all who had a part in her story. I hope with time your heart will heal and Abigail’s memory will be a blessing to you and your family.
Lea Frisco says
Don’t feel bad, our dear Sparky was euthanized almost two weeks ago. He was 14 years old and had pulmonary hypertension and thyroid disease. I did not feel that he would make it through the surgery and I didn’t want him to suffer more if he got complications. He was on Denamarin and lasted 7 months after diagnosis.
I also am reading these comments to see if we made the right decision. Terrible decision to make.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Lea,
I am sorry for your loss of Sparky. Take comfort in knowing you gave your sweet boy a wonderful life. I am certain he knew how much he was loved. May his memory be a blessing to you and your family. Wishing you peace and comfort.
Whitney says
Hi K. I’m so sorry for your loss of Joy. I see this comment is from 2022 but I’m sure the loss is no less present. Joy’’s story is nearly identical to my Alice. She was my 12 year old chihuahua mix who has been with me since she was 6 months old. She was my heart and soul. I had to make the same impossible decision as you for Joy just 3 days ago. Her symptoms came out of nowhere on early Saturday morning she vomited. Appeared lethargic and sitting up , would not lay down. She’d drink water and pee but wouldn’t eat. I took her to the urgent vet Sunday morning as she continued to vomit and appeared in worse pain. We got some extended blood work done and fluids and meds , opting to do the ultrasound Monday when our normal vet opened. Her vomiting also stopped and she drank water on Sunday so we thought she might improve with fluids and meds. When we met with our vet Monday and went over the blood work, her bilirubin levels were 6.7 and the ultrasound revealed a mucocele. The vet didn’t feel confident in surgery so he referred us to an urgent VCA vet where we rushed her. An hour later, the Vca vet came out and said “has anyone discussed Alice’s prognosis with you?” And proceeded to say that she needed 30k surgery to remove her gallbladder immediately or euthanasia. They said it was close to 30% success rate given her age and condition of her gallbladder. My wife and I went to the car, sobbing and frantically calling family who could offer guidance. Ultimately, I decided to do the surgery because any shot was worth it. I charged two credit cards and asked to hold her to say goodbye before surgery the next morning. While holding her and asking more questions about when she was likely to pass (after the surgery v during), I felt her sigh in my arms and knew she’d rather fall asleep in my lap. 3 days later, i question and regret every action or lack of action I made regarding her care, health, diet, etc.
She also has hypothyroidism which has been managed since 2022 with medication. She was otherwise showing no signs of slowing down. The complete opposite. She did a 4 mile hike , all 10lbs of her, on the prior Sunday . She walked twice a day for 20-30 minutes. She was our weekend warrior hiker and adventurer. She slept a lot but all of our dogs do (we had 3 Senior and one 6 year old, but we also had to put down our Frenchie from age related issues two weeks ago). So now we are down to a pack of two within a couple of weeks and I’m struggling to understand the suddenness of Alice and the decision to not try the surgery.
Reading your comment about Joy helps bring me some peace with the decision, thought I’m so early in this grief journey, I know I’ll struggle for quite some time with accepting my decision to give Alice a soft goodbye.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Whitney,
I am so sorry for your loss of Alice. I can only imagine how much you miss her and understand the need to ponder all the “what ifs”. You made a loving choice to prevent your girl from experiencing further suffering and pain. What a blessing you were able to hold her until the last breath. Praying for your comfort and peace. May Alice’s memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life.
Marion Hoffman says
I have just gone thru this nightmare with my beloved 11 yr old Havanese Lexi. Lexi was diagnosed with Cushing disease 2 yrs ago but we had managed her disease with periodic checkups with my vet and medicating her with Trilostane and Thyroxine for her thyroid issues.
Unfortunately this past Memorial Day Lexi became lethargic and started vomiting. We were away visiting in another state so I wound up taking her to a 24hr animal hospital. After numerous blood tests and ultrasounds Lexi was diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele. Emergency surgery was recommended. Surgery was performed and the gallbladder was found to have started leaking. Gallbladder was removed and abdomen was flushed, drain put in and she was put on antibiotics. A gastric nose tube was also placed to try to assist in getting her to take some nourishment. Lexi appeared to come out of the surgery okay and I was hopeful she would make it thru the postoperative period. But 4 days later I was given the option of allowing them to perform another surgery as the vet indicated that she was “leaking” inside (giving a 20 to 30 percent chance of survival) or euthanizing her. I held Lexi in my arms as she left me. The pain of loosing her is as fresh today as the day it happened. I pray I made the right decisions. I am in no way making any judgement on the treatment she received and the Drs who administered it. What I will comment on is the lack of compassion and empathy that I received. As I sat holding my set friend for the last time an aide came in wit a clipboard to give a final accounting of my bill so far and to tell me I was over the high limit that they were holding on my credit card by $1000 so she needed my card to run it again. I just pointed to my purse thru my tears and told her to take the card…after which she came back into the room where I’m attempting to say my goodbyes and asked me to sign the receipt. I essentially paid for Lexi’s euthanasia and cremation before she was even dead. Lexi isn’t my first dog nor will she be my last, but it’s the first time I was ever treated like that. I’m not sure what kind of a world we are living in today, but it’s not the same one I grew up in. Lexi’s total bill was over $9000. However after going over the final bill when I could finally think straight it was found that I had been overcharged for the intravenous meds they had been providing her by over $500, which they did finally refund to my card. I also requested copies of all her records, which I am entitled to by law. It took almost a month to the day of Lexi’s death, after numerous phone calls, and emails, to finally get her records. I think of her everyday.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Marion,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Lexi. It is so hard to say goodbye, but especially under emergency circumstances when you are away from home. It hurts my heart to know that the events surrounding her passing were less than what you expected and seemed cold and uncaring. I also try to make sure all the paperwork and financial details are taken care of prior to euthanasia. This is so that after the dog has passed, the owner can spend as much time as needed with their beloved pup and then leave when ready without having to have a conversation with staff while emotional. I feel like this was probably the intention of the clinic you were receiving services from, but it just did not come across well. It is always a bit tricky when dealing with a large bill like is common for emergency/specialty care. I hope the memories from the past 11 years will overshadow the events of those last moments. Praying you will be comforted in the knowledge that you made a difficult decision to give Lexi the peace and rest she deserved after a lifetime of loyalty and dedication. I have no doubt she knew how much she was loved. May her memory be a blessing as you continue on life’s journey.
Margie says
Our beloved Bentley, 13.5 years old, left us peacefully yesterday. Although he had had periods in his life with gastric issues, those had pretty much resolved over the last year or so. A couple of days ago, he refused breakfast and dinner, and asked to go outside several times during the night. In the morning, he was shaking and extremely lethargic. We had to be gone for the day, so we asked our vet clinic to take him for the day and fit him in where they could. Good thing. His liver values, which had been only slightly high over the past year, were through the roof. The vet kept him overnight, since the traveling radiologist happened to be in the area the next morning and they could do an ultrasound. Gallbladder mucocele, which they both expected to rupture in the next 72 hours, it was so extreme. Surgical options where we are near Seattle are few and far between, and at his age, the recovery was very iffy, with significant risks and pain for him to endure. We chose to avoid the risk of excruciating pain for him, and allowed him to leave us peacefully after many years of love and devotion. Thank you for the explanatory article. The only real risk he had was being a Cocker Spamiel.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Margie,
I am so sorry for the recent loss of Bentley. As hard as it was to let him go, it definitely sounds like it was the right decision. What a blessing to have shared 13.5 years together. I hope the memories of all the good times will comfort your heart. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. Bless you. ♥
Leanora Frisco says
Yes I may be facing this same decision. My 14 year old toy poodle Sparky is in an Emergency Vet clinic now that we took him to yesterday. Prior diagnosis of Mucocele on Denamarin since March doing well until yesterday when he was shaking, not eating or drinking. Ultrasound showed enlarged gallbladder and bloodwork increased liver values from 2 weeks ago. He is on IVs, antibiotics and pain meds now. Waiting to hear from doctor this morning. I wouldn’t consider surgery because of his age and he has pulmonary hypertension. 😢😭
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Leanora,
My heart aches for you knowing you faced this difficult situation with Sparky. I hope you were able to get the answers you needed to make the most loving decision for your sweet boy. Praying you have found peace and comfort. Bless you. ♥
Marie says
My sweet 13-year-old boy just had his gallbladder removed not quite a month ago. He had blood and mucus in his stool for several months and the vets couldn’t figure out why. He was happy and acting normal otherwise. He had an ultrasound on a Wednesday and was diagnosed with colitis. On Thursday he couldn’t stop vomiting and got a fever at night. Friday morning at 5am, his body released mucus and stool was just falling out of him. He was extremely lethargic and could barely walk. I rushed him to the emergency vet. Unfortunately they didn’t see him immediately. After about an hour they told me that he had pancreatitis and were going to treat with subcutaneous fluids and send him home. 20 minutes later they came back in and told me I had to put him to sleep or have his gallbladder removed. They told me the mortality rate was 50% due to his age and the status of the rupture. Of course I still rushed him to the surgery center. Thankfully the surgery was successful, but he was in the ICU for a week after. He was on a feeding tube and IV the whole time and regurgitated anything he tried eating. His bilirubin levels kept going up. They were at 8.46 and they told me he may need to go through another surgery to insert a stent. They first tried prednisone and thankfully it worked. I was able to take him home on day 6, which was 3 weeks ago. His 2-week check showed bilirubin levels down to 0.7. He’s almost fully weaned off the prednisone, but his eating habits are still off. He doesn’t want to eat in the morning and is starving and eating anything in sight from about 2pm until his dinner at 8:00 (he’s fed 3X/day). I’m praying he’s okay, but paranoid that I’m potentially missing something now. Being a dog parent is so hard. How else can I help him? He eats homemade food – is there anything special I should be including in his diet? Fiber? Probiotics? I still have no idea if he actually has colitis either. =( Any help or advice is appreciated!!!
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Marie,
Wow, that sounds like such a scary experience for you and your senior boy. I am glad the surgery was successful and he is on the road to recovery. Since I haven’t been personally involved in your pup’s case, I can’t make specific recommendations about his diet and treatment. It would be a good idea to talk to your vet or a veterinary nutrition specialist about the diet recommendations for your dog’s specific situation. Also, if you have any concerns that something else may be wrong, don’t hesitate to get him examined right away. It never hurts to repeat some lab work or get a second opinion. I hope your sweet boy continues to thrive and live his best life. Wishing you both the best!
Henry says
My 12 year old bichon / Shitzu male dog with Cushing’s had his gallbladder removed after discovering a mucocele during an ultrasound test. He had no symptoms and recovered quickly from the surgery. His Cushing’s symptoms completely disappeared after surgery and his blood tests show everything in normal range. I know this is a very unusual outcome, but I’m delighted and hope to get many more years of love and companionship with my pup.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Henry,
Wow, what a blessing! I am so glad your little guy had a complete recovery and is back to living his best life. Enjoy this gift of extra time together for making memories.
Beth says
My beloved border terrier Phinley (13.2) passed away on the 27th of April of a ruptured gallbladder due to a mucocele. She had diabetes mellitus for over a year and had insulin injections twice a day. Phinley’s glucose was heavily monitored, as was her diet (all meals were measured and on a prescription diet). She had regular visits with her internist vet, and a month prior had a full blood work up; which presented as normal. She did not have cushing’s. The evening before she passed she ate her dinner, had normal bowel movements, glucose normal, went for a walk, and presented normally. No jaundice was visible, no diarrhea, no swollen abdomen. She vomited a very small amount at 2:00 AM, yet nothing alarming and went back to sleep. At 5:00 AM she vomited a considerable amount and was rushed to the vet as she was having difficulty standing. They diagnosed an infection, high liver levels, and high white blood cells, Her gallbladder was thickened, yet they did not immediate see a mucocele yet suspected a serious issue w gallbladder. Unfortunately they could not perform surgery as her blood pressure was too low and unsteady, she was in shock, and diabetic. They did not feel she would survive surgery. They tried everything they could to save her, yet she passed away of a rupture within 17 hours of her initial symptoms.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Beth,
I am deeply sorry for your tragic loss of Phinley. I can only imagine how devastating it must have been to see her decline so quickly and know that surgery was not an option. I pray with time your heart will heal and you will be comforted in the knowledge that you did everything you could for your sweet girl. I have no doubt she knew how much she was loved. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers as it may help someone in a similar situation. May Phinley’s memory be a blessing as you continue along life’s journey.
Alisha Leblanc says
My 10 year old pug had gallbladder removed 15 days ago. He presents to the ER with vomiting and loss of appetite. Vitals were stable and blood work was all within normal ranges. I encouraged further testing which led to an ultrasound and a diagnosis of a gallbladder mucocele. My dog underwent emergency cholecystectomy that was successfully. 14 day post op blood work reveals normal pancreatic enzymes and mildly elevated alt enzymes and increased wbc and neutrophils. Dog has experienced occasional bloated post op and vomiting 2-3 times a week. Appetite is moderate. Fluid intake is moderate. Doing follow up ultrasound and blood work day 22 to hopefully determine the source of the occasional vomiting. Overall surgery saved his life however I am unsure if we are in the clear yet. Please advise any advice.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Alisha,
I am glad you were able to get a diagnosis and pursue surgery so quickly. I understand your worry over the vomiting and occasional bloating. It sounds like your vet has a follow up plan in place and has been staying on top of things. My only recommendation is to make sure you are keeping your vet up to date on the symptoms you are seeing at home. Make sure they are aware of your concerns and any changes in your dog’s behavior and health. They may want to schedule a recheck before day 22 or they can let you know that what you are seeing is expected. I hope your boy continues to heal without complications. Praying for a full recovery and many happy days ahead.
Susan MacDonald says
my senior 11.5 Georgie a havanese bichon was diagnosed with high GTT levels possible block in the bile duct high cholesterol and hypothyroidism. she also has a stage 5 heart murmur we can’t afford surgery or even a ultrasound. she has always been a fussy eater but now even harder to feed , drinks alot of water and sleeps a lot. she keeps really looking at me
i love her and don’t want her gallbladder to rupture
and suffer. cant afford surgery and she has already had crystals twice so no surgery
thoughts of putting her down right away is killing me but to sue in peace is better then a painful one
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Susan,
My heart aches for you and the difficult situation you are in with Georgie. It does sound like she may be struggling and nearing the end of her life. Allowing her to find peace and rest might be the most loving choice if treatment isn’t an option at this time. I will attach links to other articles that may offer additional information. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet girl. Praying for clarity and comfort.
1. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
2. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Susan MacDonald says
julie thankyou do ever much
it’s so hard but i have decided to have a party of her life and have friends and family have a chsnce to say goodbye
so hard when she looks at me with her big brown eyes i hope my other dog Rolly who passed away a year ago in Feb comes and meets her
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Susan,
A celebration of life party sounds wonderful. I pray it will be full of joy and happy memories. Thinking of you and your sweet girl. ♥
Ray says
My 9 year old girl Olive is currently undergoing a gall bladder removal operation. The sweetest, most calm chihuahua you’ll ever meet. Unfortunately her gall bladder ruptured and I’m hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst. This dog gave me unconditional love for 9 years, the least I can do is try. Amazing how fast this came on, as there were no signs of trouble at all. Please say a prayer for my girl 😢
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Ray,
My heart goes out to you with this traumatic situation your senior girl was in. How did the surgery go? I am thinking about you both and just praying Olive made it through the procedure and is recovering at home. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Dimitra says
My dog Bruce is 16 years old and a pom/chihuahua. He acts very normal, great energy levels, and besides mild heart disease and a chronic cough, he is doing very well. He does not act sick or anything. One of his liver levels have been high for years and they has tested him for cushings disease about 3 or 4 years ago and it was negative (he has no symptoms of it). They did an abdominal ultrasound yesterday and discovered the really bad gall bladder. For now they prescribed him urdisol and will do another ultrasound in 2 months. Is this a safe course for now? I am hoping it helps but surgery may be inevitable but I am worried about putting him under at his age 🙁
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Dimitra,
I am glad you were able to get a diagnosis for Bruce and start treatment so quickly. It sounds like your vet has a solid plan in place for how to deal with your pup’s gall bladder issue. If you have any concerns, I recommend you talk to your vet and let them answer any additional questions you may have. You can also ask for a consult with veterinary internal medicine specialist in your area. They can give you a second opinion if needed and help to bring some extra comfort to a difficult situation. I hope your senior guy responds favorably to the ursodiol and can avoid surgery. Wishing you both the best. Keep us updated!
Evelyn Schmechtig Cochran says
My dogs is 13.5 years has severe gallbladder disease as written about in the article. They want to do surgery but it costs $18,000. We’ve already spent $2000 on diagnostic. We are considering humane death.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Dear Evelyn,
I am so sorry you are facing this difficult decision for your dog. Humane euthanasia is a loving option and may be the best choice for your pup. I hope you are able to find the advice you need to be comfortable with whichever path you take. Wishing you strength and peace.
Laurie says
I had a sheltie many years ago who died in my arms from a ruptured gall bladder. She was 15 years old and was on medical management for her condition (her picture is shown on my website – the “Donate Care” page). I wish I had her gall bladder removed because it was a very painful death for her, and we couldn’t get her to the ER fast enough before she died. A few years ago I got two more shelties (brother and sister) and they BOTH have this condition! They are only 2 years old right now, and on medical management, however I am planning to have their gall bladders removed before they become a problem. I pray that they don’t have complications – this is very scary given the mortality rate. I am hoping because they don’t have a previous leak, and they are young and healthy, that they will bounce back.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Laurie,
I am sorry for the tragic loss of your Sheltie girl. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when things progress so quickly you don’t have time to process. I hope things go well for your young pups and you can avoid complications in the future. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers. Wishing you all the luck for happy days ahead.
Vanessa says
My senior dog had a gallbladder mucocele and had to get her gallbladder removed (she actually had her surgery today!). She did not have any signs of it either. My vet wanted to check up on a lump my dog had on her liver to see if it had enlarged since the last time we checked. An ultrasound was done and the lump was not bigger but the vet saw that my dog’s gallbladder was inflamed. My dog had no symptoms. She would eat anything and everything. She might have been lethargic and I just thought of that as her being a senior. Other than that she had none of the symptoms listed in this article. So you always want to make sure to perform annual blood work on your senior dog.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Vanessa,
What a blessing to have caught this issue on a routine screening before it became a dangerous problem. Yes, annual lab work can be such a life saver! Praying your sweet girl has a smooth recovery and is back to her happy self in no time. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Best wishes!
Debbie Bates says
Our old girl “Spirit” who’s a yellow Labrador, was diagnosed with “sludge” in her gallbladder when she was 12 years old. Luckily it had not progressed too far and the vet prescribed Ursodial. She is doing very well and just had her 14th birthday, so we feel very blessed to still have out sweet girl. We have also bought toegrips for her, which help keep her from slipping on our tile floors, and we give her Dr. Buzby’s hip & joint supplement.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Debbie,
I am so glad to hear Spirit is doing well and living her best life. Thank you for the kind words about ToeGrips and Encore Mobility! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with our readers. Wishing you and your sweet girl the best. ♥
Linda says
My 14 year old Bichon named Flash was diagnosed with a gall bladder mucocele in 2020. He had been throwing up, shaking, and wouldn’t eat or drink. Blood work showed extremely high liver enzyme levels and after ruling out other issues, an ultrasound was done, confirming the mucocele diagnosis. Flash was put on a very low fat diet, ursodiol, SamE supplements and more recently milk thistle. Flash turned 16 in September 2022 and is doing really well. He still has elevated liver enzymes but no clinical signs of illness. He was not a candidate for surgery due to his age, however we are so happy with his progress following the medicine and supplement routine. He also eats 3 small meals a day to help from overloading his system.
Julie Buzby DVM says
Hi Linda,
This makes my heart happy. What a blessing that Flash is doing so well and his mucocele has been able to be well managed with medications alone. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers. I know this will give hope to others in a similar situation. Praying your sweet boy will continue to thrive and have many happy days ahead. Bless you both. ♥