Clinical findings and assessment of factors associated with survival in dogs presenting with hyperbilirubinaemia: 115 cases in Victoria, Australia (2015–2020)

INTRODUCTION: Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important clinicopathological finding in canine medicine. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical presentation and outcome of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia; also to identify factors associated with survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia from two referral centres in South Australia (2015–2020). Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnosis and outcome were obtained from searching clinical records. Univariable analysis and logistic regression modelling were used to compare outcomes and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 115 cases were included. The most common clinical signs were vomiting (63.5%), anorexia (62.6%), lethargy (55.7%) and pyrexia (18.3%). Pre‐hepatic icterus was diagnosed in 18 cases (15.7%), hepatic icterus in 51 cases (44.3%) and post‐hepatic icterus in 42 cases (36.5%). The median survival time across all cases was 40 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9–126 days). There was an increased risk of death in dogs with serum bilirubin greater than 60 μmol/L at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.55; 95% CI: 1.53–8.22; p‐value = 0.003) and in dogs with pre‐hepatic icterus compared to hepatic (OR = 4.35; 95% CI: 1.18–16.0; p‐value = 0.027) and post‐hepatic icterus (OR = 6.52; 95% CI: 1.67–25.5; p‐value = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Pre‐hepatic icterus was associated with a significantly higher risk of death than hepatic and post‐hepatic icterus. Serum bilirubin >60 μmol/L at diagnosis was associated with a significantly shorter median survival time. This cut‐off may be useful in discussions with owners regarding pursuing further diagnostic investigation and treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to prove the validity of this cut‐off.