Buddy had an abdominal ultrasound as part of a check of his liver health due to an underlying endocrine disease (Cushing’s or hyperadrenocorticism). The ultrasound showed he had a gallbladder mucocele, which is an abnormal accumulation of thick amorphous mucin in the gallbladder, in association with disease of the gallbladder wall. In both dogs and people, early surgical removal of the diseased gallbladder is recommended, especially when disease is subclinical. Complications and mortality are much reduced with early surgery, with >95% of dogs successfully recovering from surgery. As outcome after surgery is worse in dogs with Cushing’s disease, surgery before his mucocele became clinical was recommended. 

 

Buddy had abdominal surgery to remove his gallbladder. As the disease was in the early stages, the gallbladder wall was not grossly diseased, and the gallbladder was removed without complication. He spent a few days at his vets to manage his post-operative discomfort and anxiety and was eating well within a week. He wore some very fashionable body suits instead of a buster collar to protect his wound, and by his 10-day check, he was “behaving as if he’s not had anything done, he’s definitely back to his usually mischievous self. It’s been a challenging stopping him jumping around!”