Clinical and Nutritional Management of Gallbladder Mucocele in Dogs: A Four-Case Series

Gallbladder mucocele is a common extrahepatic biliary condition in dogs, traditionally managed with cholecystectomy, while conservative approaches combining clinical and nutritional strategies remain underexplored. This case series reports four dogs diagnosed with gallbladder mucocele, all presenting with hyperlipidemia, three with overweight or obesity, and one with hypothyroidism. The dogs were treated using a multimodal protocol combining pharmacological therapy with nutritional strategies. The pharmacological protocol included ursodeoxycholic acid, silymarin, S-adenosyl-L-methionine, bezafibrate, and omega-3 fatty acids, with doses adjusted according to body weight. Nutritional interventions were individualized and included weight-loss diets and a low-fat gastrointestinal diet. Clinical and ultrasonographic outcomes varied among cases, with partial or complete resolution observed over different follow-up periods. These findings suggest that clinical management combined with individualized nutritional protocols may be a potential approach for asymptomatic dogs with gallbladder mucocele, particularly when surgery is not feasible, and could inform future investigations.