Haematological and Biochemical Observations in Canine Ascites Associated with Hepatopathy

Dogs of multiple breeds within the age group of 3-6 years, presented to VCC, Rajendranagar with clinical signs of distended abdomen, general weakness and inappetence were studied and grouped into two groups. The diseased animals (Group II), comprising of 8 affected animals and control (Group I), comprising of 6 apparently healthy animals. These animals were subjected to thorough clinical and physical examination, haemato-biochemical, serum biochemistry, ultrasonographical & radiographical examinations. The haematological tests revealed anaemia in the affected dogs, while the serum biochemistry revealed an abnormal increase in the liver enzymes with significantly decreased values of albumin, globulin, total proteins, and albumin/globulinratio. Radiography documented ground glass appearance of the abdomen, hepatomegaly and other hepatopathies in both the groups. Anechoic abdominal free fluid was noticed and samples were collected by ultrasound-guided abdominocentesis for analysis. The resultant diagnosis made was ascites associated with chronic hepatitis, hepatomegaly, and other hepatopathies in dogs.