Chronic liver disease associated with high hepatic copper concentration in a dog

An 8-month-old dog admitted for routine castration was found to have ascites. Liver biopsy revealed inflammation, fibrosis, and a copper concentration of 1,300 ppm on a dry weight basis. As cirrhosis developed, the copper concentration decreased without chelator treatment. At necropsy, the dog had cirrhosis, but the hepatic copper concentration was only 730 ppm.