Increased risk of gallbladder rupture and death in small-breed dogs with concurrent hypothyroidism or pancreatitis undergoing cholecystectomy for gallbladder mucoceles.

The objectives of this multicenter, retrospective study were to: i) describe the incidence of gallbladder (GB) rupture in small-breed dogs affected by gallbladder mucoceles (GBM) and common endocrinopathies; and ii) determine if certain endocrinopathies were risk factors for GB rupture as they have been for the development of GBM. A total of 371 dogs were included in the study. Medical records from private specialty hospitals were reviewed for small-breed dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for GBM. Forty-seven of 193 dogs (24.4%) with endocrinopathies were diagnosed with GB rupture. Mortality due to GB rupture was 23.9%. Dogs with GB rupture were 3.2 times more likely to die than dogs without rupture (P < 0.001). Dogs with overall concurrent endocrinopathies, hypothyroidism, and pancreatitis were 2.5, 4.1, and 2.6 times (P = 0.001, 0.001, 0.002) more likely to develop a GB rupture and 2.6, 4.4, and 2.8 times (P = 0.008, 0.013, 0.011) more likely to die than dogs without concurrent endocrinopathies. Dogs with hyperadrenocorticism were not associated with a higher risk of GB rupture (P = 0.114) or death (P = 0.321). It was concluded that elective cholecystectomy should be considered in dogs with GBM and concurrent endocrinopathies, especially hypothyroidism and pancreatitis, to lower the risk of gallbladder rupture and death.