Bile duct obstruction secondary to chronic pancreatitis in seven dogs

Seven dogs with histories of intermittent vomiting and diarrhoea had greatly elevated alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities and total bilirubin concentrations. Exploratory laparotomy in each dog revealed a 3 to 10 cm mass in the body of the pancreas and obstruction of the common bile duct. Three dogs treated with pancreatectomy, gastrojejunostomy, and cholecystojejunostomy died within five weeks. Three dogs treated with conservative surgical procedures were alive 8, 16, and 26 months postoperatively. One dog was killed because of suspected neoplasia. Hepatic enzyme activity and bilirubin levels decreased greatly in the surviving dogs. Histological examination of the pancreatic masses indicated chronic pancreatitis. Hepatic biopsies revealed evidence of cholestasis. It is concluded that chronic pancreatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of icterus, bile duct obstruction, and masses in the pancreas..