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Veterinary Sciences
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Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends...
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Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends and Clinical Management

A Special Issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381) belonging to the section "Veterinary Internal Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2520

Editor

Dr. Veronica Marchetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; gastroenterology; endocrinology; canine and feline medicine; hematology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the complex and interconnected landscape of digestive diseases affecting companion animals, with a particular emphasis on the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas. The focus is to provide a comprehensive update on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of these conditions, which represent a significant portion of daily small animal practice.

The scope of this Issue is intentionally broad to reflect the clinical reality of the  interdependence of these systems. It will cover emerging topics such as the role of the gut microbiome in systemic health, novel immunotherapies for chronic enteropathies, and advanced diagnostic imaging techniques for hepatobiliary disease. Furthermore, it will explore the clinical challenges of managing complex, multi-systemic disorders like pancreatitis and its sequelae, as well as cutting-edge nutritional and pharmacological interventions for chronic liver failure. Contributions will span both canine and feline medicine, incorporating evidence-based reviews and original research.

The purpose is to consolidate recent scientific advances into a practical resource for clinicians, helping translate bench-side research into tangible improvements in patient outcomes. While existing literature often addresses these organ systems in isolation, this Issue will supplement current knowledge by emphasizing their anatomical and functional connections. By presenting a multi-disciplinary perspective, it will highlight how dysfunction in one organ can cascade into complex clinical syndromes, thereby offering readers a more integrated framework for diagnosis and treatment than is currently available in compartmentalized texts.

Dr. Veronica Marchetti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • small animal gastroenterology
  • hepatobiliary disease
  • pancreatitis
  • gut microbiome
  • clinical management

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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19 pages, 4061 KB  
Case Report
Mesenteric Abscess Complicated by Septic Peritonitis in a Dog: Multimodal Diagnosis, Surgical Management, and Serial Quantitative Bacterial Load Monitoring
by Daniel Schidu, Alina Levința, Paula Cucu, Codrin Moldovanu-Tonița, Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar, Liviu Cătălin Burtan, Vlad Zelinschi and Gheorghe Solcan
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(9), 946; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13090946 - 11 Sep 2026
Viewed by 192
Abstract
Mesenteric abscesses are an uncommon cause of septic peritonitis in dogs, and serial quantitative monitoring of bacterial load in peritoneal exudate has rarely been reported. This case report describes the diagnostic work-up and treatment response of a 14-month-old, 33 kg intact male Cane [...] Read more.
Mesenteric abscesses are an uncommon cause of septic peritonitis in dogs, and serial quantitative monitoring of bacterial load in peritoneal exudate has rarely been reported. This case report describes the diagnostic work-up and treatment response of a 14-month-old, 33 kg intact male Cane Corso with a mesenteric abscess complicated by septic peritonitis, two weeks after treatment for babesiosis. The dog presented with a 72 h history of anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Abdominal radiography revealed decreased peritoneal serosal contrast and findings suggestive of foreign material ingestion. Serial ultrasonography identified a mesenteric abscess with peritoneal effusion. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis; the abscess was excised, and the abdominal lavage was performed. Histopathology confirmed a mesenteric abscess with marked neutrophilic infiltration. Bacterial culture isolated Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium, with antimicrobial therapy guided by susceptibility testing. Serial quantitative bacterial counts of the peritoneal exudate on three postoperative occasions showed a progressive decline, paralleling clinical and hematological improvement. The dog fully recovered, with complete clinical and laboratory normalization confirmed at the 60-day reassessment. This case suggests that a multimodal diagnostic approach may assist in guiding management and confirming treatment response in canine mesenteric abscess with septic peritonitis, although the role of serial quantitative monitoring requires further evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends and Clinical Management)
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13 pages, 2378 KB  
Case Report
Suspected Paramalignant Pleural Effusion as the Primary Presentation of Disseminated Cholangiocarcinoma in a Cat
by Kanoklada Koomgun, Wuttikij Ruangpoonga, Piraya Jaiyangyeun, Nattawipa Suwannasaeng, Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua, Naris Thengchaisri and Panpicha Sattasathuchana
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(8), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13080834 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 559
Abstract
A 12-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with recurrent pleural effusion following repeated thoracentesis. Initial analysis of the pleural effusion did not reveal neoplastic cells. Thoracic imaging demonstrated pleural effusion without identifiable nodular lesions. However, abdominal computed tomography and histopathological examination of [...] Read more.
A 12-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with recurrent pleural effusion following repeated thoracentesis. Initial analysis of the pleural effusion did not reveal neoplastic cells. Thoracic imaging demonstrated pleural effusion without identifiable nodular lesions. However, abdominal computed tomography and histopathological examination of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous core liver biopsy identified a large hepatic mass, confirmed to be cholangiocarcinoma, with suspected metastases to the spleen. After exclusion of other potential causes, the effusion was suspected to be a paramalignant pleural effusion. Despite palliative management, the disease progressed, and the cat was euthanized 98 days after definitive diagnosis. Postmortem examination revealed widespread metastatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the lungs, spleen, and intercostal muscles. No gross mass lesions were identified in the pulmonary parenchyma. Histological results demonstrated neoplastic cell infiltration within both the pulmonary lymphatic and blood vessels, a finding consistent with lymphovascular spread, which can contribute to the development of pleural effusion. This case show that while the characteristics of neoplasia-associated pleural fluid may vary according to disease stage, cholangiocarcinoma-associated pleural effusion may occur in the absence of cytologic evidence of malignancy, pulmonary nodules on thoracic imaging, or typical hepatobiliary signs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends and Clinical Management)
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8 pages, 1343 KB  
Case Report
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography of Cholecystohepatic Communication Secondary to Gallbladder Rupture in a Dog: A Case Report
by Hyun Cho, Sang-Kwon Lee, Sunghwa Hong, Seunjo Park, Soyeon Kim and Jihye Choi
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(6), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13060542 - 30 May 2026
Viewed by 1460
Abstract
Cholecystohepatic communication is a rare complication of gallbladder rupture in dogs, and its imaging features are not well described. A 10-year-old Pomeranian showed a gallbladder wall defect, a tortuous tubular structure extending into an adjacent ill-defined hepatic lesion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography revealed marked enhancement [...] Read more.
Cholecystohepatic communication is a rare complication of gallbladder rupture in dogs, and its imaging features are not well described. A 10-year-old Pomeranian showed a gallbladder wall defect, a tortuous tubular structure extending into an adjacent ill-defined hepatic lesion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography revealed marked enhancement of the tubular structure and weaker heterogeneous enhancement of the hepatic lesion. Laparotomy confirmed gallbladder rupture with severe adhesion at the suspected communication site. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography enabled delineation of the enhancing tubular structure and improved characterization of the adjacent hepatic inflammation, increasing diagnostic confidence in cholecystohepatic communication secondary to gallbladder rupture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends and Clinical Management)
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