Clinical manifestations of chronic pancreatitis in English cocker spaniels

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 2129 - 2137
• Main Authors: Coddou, M. Francisca, Blacklaws, Barbara, Watson, Penny J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-07-2024; Wiley
• Subjects: anal sacculitis; Anemia; Animals; canine; Case-Control Studies; Creatinine; Diabetes; Disease; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Exocrine glands; Female; Females; Histology; IgG4‐related disease; immune‐mediated disease; keratoconjunctivitis sicca; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - pathology; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - veterinary; Kidneys; Laboratories; Male; pancreas; Pancreatitis; Pancreatitis, Chronic - pathology; Pancreatitis, Chronic - veterinary; proteinuria; SMALL ANIMAL; Statistical analysis; Thyroid gland; Urine; Veterinary medicine; United Kingdom > UK; immune‐mediated disease; anal sacculitis; pancreas; proteinuria; IgG4‐related disease; canine; keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17100

Background
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is common in English cocker spaniels (ECS). It is histologically similar to IgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) in humans and is characterized by duct destruction, interlobular fibrosis, and dense periductular and perivenous lymphocytic aggregates. However, the clinical manifestations of CP in ECS have not been previously described.
Objectives
Characterize the clinical manifestations of CP in a group of ECS, including similarities and differences to IgG4‐RD in humans.
Animals
One‐hundred four ECS with CP and 44 client owned control ECS without CP (both healthy and diseased controls).
Methods
Affected dogs were divided into 2 groups according to the methods used to diagnose CP. Case records were searched for signalment, clinical, and clinicopathological findings, and evidence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), proteinuria, other immune‐mediated diseases, and anal sacculitis.
Results
Involvement of other organs was common. Affected ECS presented with a high frequency of KCS (n = 49), proteinuria (n = 47), anal gland disease (n = 36), atopy (n = 21), and other immune‐mediated diseases (n = 16). Those with parti‐color hair coats, particularly blue roan, had a strong association with CP, suggesting a link between coat color and autoimmune conditions in this breed.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
English cocker spaniels with CP show clinical similarities to humans with IgG4‐RD and common involvement of other organs. Clinicians should evaluate affected Cocker Spaniels for proteinuria, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and other potential immune‐mediated diseases.