Case Study

RAD – Generalized hepatomegaly with muscle atrophy in a 13 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog

This 13 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog presented with a history of difficulty getting up and ambulating of one week duration.

Physical exam: increased lung sounds, crusty bilateral nasal discharge, moderately distended abdomen, mild hepatomegaly. BW pending.

This 13 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog presented with a history of difficulty getting up and ambulating of one week duration.

Physical exam: increased lung sounds, crusty bilateral nasal discharge, moderately distended abdomen, mild hepatomegaly. BW pending.

DX

• Moderate generalized hepatomegaly • Pendulous abdominal wall and muscle atrophy

Image Interpretation

Lateral and VD abdomen – The abdominal wall is pendulous.
The liver reveals moderate generalized enlargement with slightly rounded lobar margins. The gastric axis is rotated caudally. The thigh muscle volume is low. Diffuse fatty infiltration of the musculature is seen.

Outcome

Diffuse infiltrative hepatopathies – such as steroid induced hepatitis, vacuolar hepatopathy, benign hyperplasia, diffues inflammatory or neoplastic infiltration – have to be considered as differential diagnoses.
Also consider systemic syndromes such as hyperadrenocorticism/Cushing’s and Diabetes mellitus as possible underlying diseases. Laboratory work up and full abdominal ultrasound with sampling of the liver parenchyma is warranted for further deifnition.