Course Summary
From Incidentally Found Increased Liver Enzyme Activities to Acute Hepatitis:
A Case-Based Introduction to Liver Disease Diagnosis
A case-based review of how to interpret liver enzymes, biochemistry, imaging, and infectious-disease diagnostics in dogs and cats — emphasizing species differences and distinguishing incidental findings from clinically meaningful hepatobiliary disease.
This Lecture Covers
- Hepatobiliary enzymology : The diagnostic utility, sensitivity, specificity, and half-lives of ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST, and the important interpretive differences between dogs and cats.
- Biochemical interpretation : Distinguishing markers of hepatocellular injury, cholestasis, and true liver function, and recognizing why enzyme magnitude does not equal disease severity.
- Vacuolar hepatopathy: One of the most common canine hepatic changes, its causes (steroid excess, endocrinopathies, systemic illness), and its relationship to elevated ALP.
- Supporting diagnostics: Vitamin K–dependent coagulation, CBC changes, and abdominal ultrasound plus advanced imaging of the biliary tree.
- Hepatobiliary infections: Routes of infection, species anatomic differences, viral/bacterial/fungal/protozoal etiologies, and the diagnostic value of cytology, culture, FNA, gallbladder aspirates, and FISH.
- Acute liver injury: Etiologies, treatment and prognosis.
Core Learning Objective 1
Interpret hepatobiliary enzyme and biochemistry panels in the correct species-specific context
Core Learning Objective 2
Differentiate incidental findings from clinically significant hepatobiliary disease.
Core Learning Objective 3
Recognize and work up vacuolar hepatopathy and its underlying causes.
Core Learning Objective 4
Select and prioritize appropriate imaging and sampling techniques.
Core Learning Objective 5
Approach the diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary infections and acute liver injury/failure.
Discover More Courses
Diploma of Veterinary Nusring and Dr. Ran Nivy's Lecture Series
About Dr. Ran Nivy
Dr. Ran Nivy is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in small animal internal medicine. Dr. Nivy is actively involved in academic and research activities and is the author of numerous book chapters and articles in veterinary peer-reviewed journals. He teaches veterinary students at veterinary universities, regularly delivers CPD courses and lectures at international conferences worldwide. His clinical work involves referral internal medicine cases, diagnostic procedures, and consults by online TeleVet platforms in several countries, including for Pets central in HK.