Canine Hepatitis Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver and represents a significant category of hepatobiliary disease in dogs. The liver has remarkable regenerative capacity, but when injury exceeds repair mechanisms, hepatitis can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatic failure. Understanding the etiology, clinical presentation, and management of canine hepatitis is essential for the NAVLE examination.

Canine hepatitis can be classified as acute (rapid onset, typically days to weeks) or chronic (progressive damage over weeks to months, characterized by fibrosis). The 2019 ACVIM Consensus Statement provides standardized criteria for diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs.

Classification of Canine Hepatitis

Canine hepatitis can be classified by duration (acute vs. chronic), etiology (infectious, toxic, metabolic, immune-mediated, idiopathic), and histopathologic pattern. The WSAVA Liver Standardization Group has established criteria for histologic classification.