Treatment of Canine Gallbladder Mucocele in Dogs
The presence of a mucocele in the gallbladder can lead to further complications, and treatment follows the progression of the complications along two main paths, management and surgery.
Medical Management
Medical management is used in cases where the gallbladder has not yet ruptured or other more serious complications have not yet been diagnosed. Your veterinarian will take the test results and formulate a drug treatment plan. Antibiotic treatment is recommended for 6 to 8 weeks. Choleretic drugs may be prescribed to stimulate bile excretion. Hepatoprotectants may be prescribed to protect the liver, such as silymarin (milk thistle) and SAMe. Dogs are re-checked for mucoceles after 4 to 6 weeks of treatments. Surgery is generally recommended for dogs who do not improve with therapy, or if a re-examination found progressing symptoms.
Surgery
Emergency surgery should be performed if the gallbladder has ruptured, or if septic peritonitis is present. Surgery is also recommended if there is a suspected biliary duct obstruction, to explore the abdominal cavity, and to perform a cholecystectomy, a surgical removal of the gallbladder. Removal of the gallbladder will prevent rupture and any secondary infection in the gallbladder.
Other procedures may be undertaken once problems inside the abdominal cavity have been identified. Surgery will also flush the cavity clean if rupture has occurred, and enable collection of any other samples needed for further diagnosis.
Your dog will be stabilized with fluids, antibiotics, antiemetics and pain medications before anesthesia is given for surgery. Your dog may also be given electrolyte therapy that will start before surgery and continue after, until bile flow returns to normal, generally in 2 to 4 days.
Complications of a cholecystectomy can include vomiting, bile peritonitis, pancreatitis, and death. While 22% to 40% of dogs die within 14 days after surgery, the rate of survival is excellent if the dog survives this period. After surgery, it may take 1 to 3 days for your dog to stabilize.
Recovery of Canine Gallbladder Mucocele in Dogs
If your veterinarian has recommended medical management, then you may need to administer the antibiotics, choleretics, and hepatoprotectants at home. A veterinary visit to check on the treatment success will be needed in 4 to 6 weeks after treatment began. Subsequent visits may be scheduled.
Home treatment of your dog after surgery will include antibiotics specific to any infections found, and hepatoprotectant drugs to prevent liver damage. Also, the switch to a low fat diet may be recommended. If your dog has survived past the initial 14 days after surgery when most complications arise, then the rate of survival is excellent.