Gallbladder and Bile Duct Inflammation (Cholecystitis and Cholangitis) in Cats - Causes, Treatment and Associated Conditions

Key takeaways

Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) and inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis) are inflammatory conditions of their respective organs.

The gallbladder and bile ducts act to produce, store, and transport bile to the small intestine where it assists in the breakdown of fats, eliminates toxins, and neutralizes stomach acid
Inflammation caused by infections, gallstones, immune disease, cancer, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease interferes with normal biliary function which leads to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss
Treatment for cholecystitis and cholangitis varies depending on the underlying cause and includes surgery, bile-thinning medication, immune-suppressing medications, antibiotics, and supplements that promote liver healing
Prognosis varies depending on the underlying condition and response to treatment
Lifelong therapy is often necessary

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A closer look: Gallbladder and Bile Duct Inflammation (Cholecystitis and Cholangitis) in Cats

Disorders of the liver and biliary system are common in cats and multiple conditions often influence each other. The conditions vary in severity based on the root cause of the inflammation and the response to treatment.

Inflammation of the bile ducts and gallbladder is often seen alongside inflammation of the surrounding liver cells (cholangiohepatitis) and can share symptoms.

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Risk factors

Inflammation of the bile ducts and gallbladder is also seen frequently with pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease which all influence each other’s symptoms. This combination of disorders is commonly referred to as triaditis.

Possible causes

Inflammation of the biliary structures may be caused by several types of underlying illness.

In some cases the cause of biliary structure inflammation is unknown (idiopathic).

Main symptoms

Testing and diagnosis

Treatment varies depending on the cause of the inflammation but can include;

Medications (immune suppressing, antibiotics, supplements that promote liver healing, milk thistle)
Surgery

Note: it is not safe to administer supplements to pets without veterinary guidance. Many supplements on the market are not suitable for use. Always consult a vet before administering medication or supplements to pets.

Prognosis is best with early intervention, however some underlying causes cannot be cured. In these cases the focus is on keeping the pet comfortable and minimizing pain.

Prevention

Prevention is dependent on the specific cause of the inflammation.If infections are caught early and not allowed to spread, this reduces damage and improves the outcome. If the underlying cause is cancer, however, this is unpreventable. This condition is not contagious.