Spontaneous Course of Biliary Sludge Over 12 Months in Dogs with Ultrasonographically Identified Biliary Sludge

Biliary sludge is associated with gallbladder (GB) dysmotility and mucus hypersecretion suggesting a link between biliary sludge and the formation of GB mucoceles (GBM). If biliary sludge progresses to GBM, treatment to reduce the production and progression of sludge is warranted.

The objective of this study was to determine the course of biliary sludge in dogs.

Seventy-seven healthy, client-owned dogs ≥4 years of age screened for biliary sludge; 45 affected dogs identified.

Prospective, observational design. Serial ultrasound examinations were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to monitor degree of sludge based on proportion of GB filled with sludge (mild [0.01-24.4%], moderate [24.5-49.4%], moderate to severe [49.5-74.4%], severe [74.5-100%]), gravity dependency of sludge, and GB dimensions.

After 1 year of follow-up, the degree of sludge was mild (34%), moderate (47%), moderate to severe (13%), severe (3%), or absent (3%). There was no significant difference in median degree of sludge over 1 year (P = .36). There were no significant changes in the gravity dependency of sludge over 1 year. A subset of dogs, 24%, with initial gravity-dependent sludge developed a combination of nondependent and dependent sludge. Dogs had resolved (2%), decreased (19%), static (40%), increased (29%), or recurrent (10%) sludge at the conclusion of the study.

Biliary sludge was prevalent, affected dogs remained asymptomatic, and it rarely resolves in healthy dogs over a period of 1 year. Some dogs developed nongravity-dependent sludge within 1 year, which might indicate changes in consistency of sludge.