Global Journal of Medical Research, G: Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine, Volume 21 Issue 2

Detection of Hepatic Problem in Dogs and Cats by Biochemical Assay and Imaging Technique (X-Ray and Ultrasonography) Mizanur Rahman α , Mohammad Bayazid Bostami σ , Aparna Datta ρ , Tridip Das Ѡ , Mir Md. Afzal Hossain ¥ & Abdul Mannan § Abstract- Keeping pet (dogs and cats) has become a cultural phenomenon throughout the world including Bangladesh. Hepatic problem is an important health issue that may cause mortality of these pet. This study was conducted with the aimed to detect the hepatic problem in dogs and cats along with its frequency in different sex, age and breeds of animals. A total of 100 clinically suspected animals (50 dogs and 50 cats) were included in the study. After thorough clinical examination, 2 ml bloods were collected by venue puncture in serum vials for biochemical analysis. After that all animals were subjected to x-ray and ultrasonography. In biochemical analysis standard deviation of hepatic enzymes (902.48 u/l ALP, 626.66 u/l ALT, 722.98 u/l AST in dog and 564.22 u/l ALP, 300.06 u/l ALT, 340.00 u/l AST in cat) and bilirubin (2.02 mg/dl in dog and 5.22 mg/dl in cat) were remarkably above the mean value (333.86±127.63 u/l ALP, 256.36±88.62 u/l ALT, 261.62±102.24 u/l AST, bilirubin 0.72±0.29 mg/dl in dog and 245.42±79.79 u/l ALP, 180.16±42.43 u/l ALT, 188.99±48.08 u/l AST, 1.81±0.74 mg/dl bilirubin in cat). The standard deviation of other parameters like albumin, total protein, BUN, glucose and cholesterol were below the mean value. Some abnormal morphology (misshaped and enlarged liver) and pharenchymal lesions (hypoechoic zone and thickened capsule) were also found in some animals in x-ray and ultrasonography respectively. Hepatic problems were recorded 18% and 12% by serum biochemistry and 6% and 4% by imaging techniques (x-ray and USG) in case of dogs and cats respectively. In age wise distribution, old animals (more than 5 years) (50% in both dog and cats) were more susceptible for hepatic problem that was statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, a good percentage of hepatic problems were identified in both dogs and cats and was more in old animals. So, it is encouraging the pet owner to regular check up their pet in older age to diagnose the hepatic problems in earlier stage. This early diagnosis will be helpful for effective treatment. Keywords: serum biochemistry, x-ray, ultrasonography, hepatic problem, dogs and cats. Author σ ρ ¥ § : Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Center, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram-4225, Bangladesh. e-mails: bayazid.vet39@gmail.com, aparnadvm12@gmail.com, afzalhossaindvm@gmail.com , mannanhasmi_2008@yahoo.com Author Ѡ : Poultry Research and Training Centre, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram-4225, Bangladesh. e-mail: tridipdas@cvasu.ac.bd Corresponding author α : Mizanur Rahman, Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Center, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram-4225, Bangladesh. e-mail: mizan.dvm20@gmail.com I. I ntroduction eeping pet has become a cultural phenomenon in the advanced world. Currently around 13 million of households (48%) own a pet (excluding fish) in the UK (Islam et al., 2013). Dogs (23%) and cats (18%) are the most common pet animals in their houses in Britons currently. In the USA, around 62% of all households have a pet (Pet Industry Market Size and Ownership Statistics, 2013). In terms of number of dogs and cats the figures are around 78.2 million and 86.4 million respectively in the USA. A similar picture has been observed in Europe, Australia, and South East Asia including China, Japan and India. In Bangladesh the pet populations are also increasing day by day. Hypothetically, dog and cat populations in Bangladesh are predicted as 1.6 million and 1 million respectively. This increasing trend of having a pet in the home has been attributed to various reasons including ‘misfiring of parental instincts, biophilia (a hypothetical biologically based love of nature), social contagion, the tendency for the middle class to emulate the customs of the rich, the need to dominate the natural world, social isolation in urban societies, and the desire to teach responsibility and kindness to children’ (Herzog, 2011). But several health problems of the pet make their owners more tensed and worried. These health problems sometimes may cause mortality in pets. Hepatic problem is one of them. Infectious and inflammatory hepatobiliary diseases are common causes of morbidity and mortality in canine and feline patients (Callahan et al., 2011). The prevalence of the hepatic problems in dog and cat is 1.24% and 0.41% respectively (Apalkova, 2013). The common liver problems in dogs are hepatitis, chirrosis, bile duct obstruction, gall bladder inflammation, circulatory or blood vessels abnormalities, cancer and toxins (Willard et al., 2012). In case of cat, cholangiohepatitis, hepatic lipidosis and chronic hepatitis are the common problems of liver (Fluen et al., 2019). Liver diseases are considered often to remain under diagnosed. Clinical signs can be absent for a long time until the disease has progressed to a severe stage. Therefore laboratory findings, such as elevated liver enzymes in multiple samples, are what lead to suspect a liver disease more often than clinical signs. K Year 2021 Global Journal of Medical Research Volume XXI Issue II Version I ( D ) G © 2021 Global Journals 23