Concurrent polycystic liver disease and bilateral renal dysplasia in a 20-week-old Great Dane

A 20-week-old, unneutered, female Great Dane was evaluated for failure to thrive and anorexia after 4 weeks of adequate caloric provision. Initial bloodwork results indicated elevated liver enzymes, azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia and non-regenerative anaemia. Abdominal radiographs following a 24-hour fast revealed hepatomegaly. Additional bloodwork was submitted to screen for possible infectious and immune-mediated causes, of which none were discovered. The patient was referred to an American Veterinary College board-certified internal medicine specialist for abdominal ultrasound, whose diagnostic findings were consistent with polycystic liver disease and bilateral renal dysplasia. Due to the grim prognosis provided by the ultrasonographic findings, the owners elected to euthanase the patient. To the authors' knowledge, this is not only the first reported case of polycystic liver disease in a Great Dane, but its concurrence with bilateral renal dysplasia has also never been reported in any species.