Occurrence, Clinical Findings and Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Hepatitis in Dogs in the Jabalpur Region, India

The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of hepatitis in dogs and to evaluate the associated clinical findings and ultrasonographic changes in affected animals presented to a Veterinary Clinical Complex. Over a period of six months, 260 dogs suspected of hepatic disorders were screened based on history and clinical examination. Dogs diagnosed with hepatitis were further evaluated for age, breed and sex-wise occurrence, along with assessment of clinical abnormalities, pre-treatment history and abdominal palpation findings. Ultrasonographic examination of the liver was performed in dogs diagnosed with acute hepatitis to evaluate changes in liver size, margins and parenchymal echogenicity. The data generated were analysed to identify occurrence patterns and clinico-diagnostic trends. Out of the 260 suspected cases, 63 dogs were diagnosed with hepatitis, indicating an overall occurrence of 24.23%, while on the basis of history, clinical signs, abdominal pain on palpation and duration of illness, acute hepatitis accounted for 13.07% of cases. A higher occurrence was observed in dogs below four years of age, with no marked variation among breeds or sexes. Common clinical signs included vomiting, weakness, anorexia and jaundice. Ultrasonographic examination of dogs with acute hepatitis revealed hepatomegaly, irregular liver margins, altered echogenicity and presence of ascites in several cases. The study concludes that hepatitis is a common hepatic disorder in dogs and that ultrasonography, in conjunction with clinical evaluation, is a useful diagnostic aid for early detection and effective clinical management. All procedures were conducted following institutional ethical guidelines and informed consent was obtained from all dog owners.