Client-owned dogs of any age and sex, weighing greater than 3 kg bodyweight, and presenting to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) or Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists with a definitive diagnosis of a specific liver disease, arrived at either histologically or through diagnostic imaging, between 1 May 2019, and 30 November 2021, were prospectively enrolled into this study. In addition, during the spring and fall semesters of 2021, an additional 21 dogs owned by the faculty and staff of the VMTH were recruited as healthy controls (HC). The health of these dogs was determined by the absence of clinical signs based on owner questionnaire; physical examination; and the lack of clinically relevant abnormalities on a complete blood count, urinalysis, and serum biochemistry profile. The animal use protocol for this study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Texas A&M University (IACUC 2017-0351 and IACUC 2020-0248). Informed owner consent was obtained prior to study enrollment for all dogs.
Where clinically indicated for diseased dogs, 4 to 6 laparoscopic liver biopsy specimens were collected and submitted for routine histopathology (including rhodanine staining for copper) and for tissue copper quantification by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO, USA). The diagnoses of hepatic disease, based on micromorphological diagnosis by a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologists, routine bloodwork, and diagnostic imaging (i.e., CT angiography and ultrasound interpreted by a board-certified veterinary radiologist), when available, were used to identify dogs belonging to the following three liver disease groups: chronic hepatitis (CH), steroid hepatopathy (SH), or congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS). Basic demographic information (i.e., breed, sex, age, and weight) as well as a current medication list (including whether a dog was taking any antioxidant supplements) were collected at time of enrollment.
Where clinically indicated for diseased dogs, 4 to 6 laparoscopic liver biopsy specimens were collected and submitted for routine histopathology (including rhodanine staining for copper) and for tissue copper quantification by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO, USA). The diagnoses of hepatic disease, based on micromorphological diagnosis by a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologists, routine bloodwork, and diagnostic imaging (i.e., CT angiography and ultrasound interpreted by a board-certified veterinary radiologist), when available, were used to identify dogs belonging to the following three liver disease groups: chronic hepatitis (CH), steroid hepatopathy (SH), or congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS). Basic demographic information (i.e., breed, sex, age, and weight) as well as a current medication list (including whether a dog was taking any antioxidant supplements) were collected at time of enrollment.
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