Acute pancreatitis, azotaemia, cholestasis and haemolytic anaemia in a dog: a case report

Abstract

We here report acute pancreatitis with multiorganic complications in a female Cocker Spaniel. The most important alterations in clinical pathology were renal azotaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia with a prevalence of conjugated bilirrubin and increased alkaline phosphatase by cholestasis; hyperamylasaemia due to pancreatitis; dehydration, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia related to vomiting; metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis corresponding to mixed acid-base disorder; markedly regenerative anaemia with spherocytes and agglutination due to immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and intravascular haemolysis; leukocytosis with a left shift. Proteinuria, glucosuria, bilirubinuria and haemoglobinuria were detected in the urine. Severe suppurative pancreatitis with peripancreatic necrosis and suppurative esteatitis, tubulorrhectic nephrosis, severe hepatitis and intrahepatic cholestasis corresponded with alterations described by clinical pathology. In order to diagnose acute pancreatitis in dogs with multiple complications, it is very important to integrate the results of clinical pathology with the anamnesis and physical examination of the animal. It is especially important to note that the serum activity of amylase correlates with time after the pancreatic attack.