Bob the precious Patterdale puppy

Bob, a gorgeous 3-month-old Patterdale Terrier was referred to us for investigation of vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy and elevated kidney and liver parameters which were identified by his local vet.

When he came to us, Bob was dehydrated and weak and under the care of Catarina Amorim, one of our Residents in Small Animal Internal Medicine, the team undertook thorough diagnostic tests including a complete blood count, biochemistry and abdominal ultrasonography. The blood tests confirmed significant elevation in kidney and liver parameters and abdominal ultrasound showed a slightly thickened gallbladder wall.  His leptospirosis test was negative. Bile aspiration (cholecystocentesis) identified bacterial growth which alongside the elevated blood were suggestive of a concurrent gallbladder infection.

Bob was diagnosed with an Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and concurrent hepatopathy. AKI occurs when the blood flow to the kidneys is reduced or obstructed, causing a build-up of toxins and an inability for the dog to balance its own fluids and electrolytes. A clear cause of AKI is often not identified; however, given the isolation of bacteria on the bile aspirates and the increased liver enzymes we identified, a gallbladder infection was potentially the primary cause of Bob’s AKI. Bob was treated with antibiotics, intensive fluid therapy, had a urinary catheter placed to measure his urine production and was nursed and monitored by our expert teams day and night.  He continued to get better and better and his blood parameters normalised during hospitalisation.

 Bob was a sweet and gentle puppy despite feeling so poorly and the team loved seeing him improve and start to play as he got brighter and brighter! Despite his original worrying prognosis, Bob went home to his happy owners after being hospitalised with us for 11 days.