Skip to content
Home▶ Journals▶ Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology▶Archive▶Vol. 22 No. 3 (2026)▶Clinical, Haemato-Biochemical and Ultrasonographic…
Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology
Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology ›
Print ISSN 2394-0247 · Online ISSN 2395-1176
Submit your paper About the journal
Research Article

Clinical, Haemato-Biochemical and Ultrasonographic  Evaluation of Ascites of Hepatic Origin in Dogs

, , , , ,
Suresh B Magod — Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, KVAFSU, Bidar, India
Patel Suresh Revanna — Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India
Ravindra Boyar Gurubasappa — Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India
Sunil Chandra Ubaradka — Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India
Ravikumar Puttamallappa — Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India
Santosh Shinde — Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College, Shivamogga-577204, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India
Published 21 Apr 2026 Vol. 22 No. 3 (2026), pp. 120-124 ● Open access
❝ How to cite 🔗 https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.3.23
Download PDF

Abstract

This study evaluated ascites of hepatic origin in dogs through haemato-biochemical profiling, ultrasonography and peritoneal fluid  analysis to establish reliable diagnostic indicators. Twenty-four dogs with confirmed hepatic ascites presented to the Veterinary Clinical  Complex, Veterinary College, Shivamogga (January-June 2025) were included in the study. Clinical signs included abdominal distension  (100%), anorexia (83.3%), epigastric pain (50%) and diarrhoea (45.8%). Haematology revealed significant reductions in haemoglobin,  packed cell volume and erythrocyte count, with leukocytosis, while platelet counts remained unchanged. Biochemical analysis showed  marked elevations in ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH and C-reactive protein, with non-significant decrease in total protein, albumin and globulin.  Ascitic fluid was typically clear, low-protein transudate with serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) >1.1 g/dL, confirming hepatic  involvement. Cytology revealed mesothelial cells and leukocytes. Ultrasonography consistently demonstrated peritoneal effusion,  hepatomegaly, altered echogenicity and gallbladder wall changes. The integration of clinical, laboratory and imaging findings provides  a comprehensive diagnostic framework for characterizing hepatic ascites in dogs, enhancing accuracy in differentiating it from other  etiologies. 

 

KeywordsAscites in dogs, Hepatic disease, Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient (SAAG), Ultrasonography

The full text of this article is available as a PDF.

Download PDF
  1. Alleman, A. R. (2003). Abdominal, thoracic and peritoneal effusion. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 33, 89–118.
  2. Bhatti, A. K. (2020). Investigations on ascites in dogs (Ph.D. Thesis). Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishva Vidyalaya, Palampur, India.
  3. Burk, R. L., & Feeney, D. A. (2003). Small animal radiology and ultrasonography (Chapter 3, pp. 249–476). WB Saunders.
  4. Bush, B. M. (2002). Interpretation of laboratory results for small animal clinicians. Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford, UK.
  5. Cocker, S., Richter, K., Ettinger, S. J., Feldman, E. C., & Cote, E. (2017). Diagnostic evaluation of the liver. In Textbook of veterinary internal medicine: Diseases of the dog and cat (8th ed., pp. 1611–1621). Elsevier.
  6. Craig, S. M., Fry, J. K., Rodrigues Hoffmann, A., Manino, P., Heilmann, R. M., Suchodolski, J. S., Steiner, J. M., Hottinger, H. A., Hunter, S. L., & Lidbury, J. A. (2016). Serum C-reactive protein and S100A12 concentrations in dogs with hepatic disease. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 57(9), 459–464.
  7. Hassan, M. S. M., Abdel-Saeed, H., Abd El Aziz Ahmed, K., & Abdou, O. M. (2022). Clinical and hemato-biochemical studies on canine anaemia. Advances in Animal & Veterinary Sciences, 10(4), 838–844.
  8. Jain, S., Jyotsana, S., Naresh, C., & Ashish, S. (2013). Haemato-biochemical changes and therapeutic aspects of ascites with hepatic involvement in dogs. Environment and Ecology, 31(2C), 1205–1206.
  9. Kumar, S. K., Ahuja, A. A., Bihani, D. K., & Gahlot, A. K. (2003). Studies on canine ascites. Journal of Canine Disease Research, 3(2), 9–17.
  10. Mannion, P. (2006). Diagnostic ultrasound in small animal practice (1st ed., pp. 51–80). Blackwell Publishing Company, UK.
  11. Patel, M. D., Parikh, P. V., & Barot, H. M. (2022). Clinical, ultrasonographic and haemato-biochemical assessment of liver and gall bladder affections in dogs. Indian Journal of Veterinary Surgery, 18(1), 65–71.
  12. Phom, O. K., Sarma, K., Arya, R. S., Behera, S. K., Konwar, B., Saikia, B., Chaudhary, J. K., Rajesh, J. B., Prasad, H., & Das, H. (2019). Ascites and hepato-renal syndrome in cirrhosis in dogs. Journal of Entomology & Zoological Studies, 7(5), 313–321.
  13. Rothuizen, J. (2009). Important clinical syndromes associated with liver disease. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 39(3), 419–437.
  14. Runyon, B. A., Montano, A. A., & Akriviadis, E. A. (1992). The serum ascites albumin gradient is superior to the exudates-transudate concept in the differential diagnosis of ascites. Annals of Internal Medicine, 117(3), 215–220.
  15. Saravanan, M., Mondal, D. B., Sarma, K., Mahendran, K., Vijayakumar, H., & Sasikala, V. (2014a). Comprehensive study of haemato-biochemical, ascitic fluid analysis and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ascites due to hepatobiliary disorders in dogs. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 84(5), 503–506.
  16. Saravanan, M., Mondal, D. B., Sharma, K., Mahendran, K., & Sasikala, V. (2014b). Utility of serum ascites albumin gradient in dogs as an indicator of hepatobiliary disorders-induced ascites. Indian Veterinary Journal, 91(4), 33–35.
  17. Singh, S. K., Shukla, S. K., Bhatt, P., & Singh, A. K. (2019). Clinico-therapeutic studies on ascites in canines. International Journal of Current Microbiology & Applied Sciences, 8(9), 1120–1137.

Looking up citing articles…

    Creative Commons License

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

    Copyright © 2026 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology