I was recently called upon to remove the gall-bladder of a middle aged dog who’d had recurring infections and gallstones in its gallbladder. This procedure is called a cholecystectomy.

The gallbladder is essentially a storage organ situated between liver lobes. It stores bile, which is produced in the liver and is released into the intestine to aid in the breakdown of food and digestion. The liver will continue to produce bile without a gallbladder, but it can’t store it anymore.

A rare procedure in cats and dogs

Unlike in humans, gallbladder removal in dogs and cats is really quite rare. They can get gallstones and infections, and some dogs (Border Terriers, Spaniels and Schnauzers in particular) can get a mucoceole in their gallbladder, which results in it becoming distended with thick mucous.

A diseased gallbladder can result in symptoms such as pain, vague gastro-intestinal signs, and can occasionally even rupture. So in these situations, sometimes removal of the organ is required. The gallbladder is gently dissected free from the liver lobes that it sits up against and the cystic duct is identified. This is the tiny tube that bile will travel down, through the liver, until it reaches the intestine. The duct can be ligated and the gallbladder safely removed.

Assessment of the gallbladder is usually achieved with an abdominal ultrasound, and it is possible to sample the bile in the gallbladder with a needle to look for infections.

Recurring abdominal pain and nausea

This poor dog had had recurring abdominal pain and nausea, and an ultrasound had diagnosed the gallbladder pathology. The surgery was straightforward and the dog should look forward to a much more comfortable and settled tummy as a result.