Kernicterus in an adult dog

A 7-year-old, spayed female, Wheaton terrier dog was icteric, lethargic, and anorexic with increased activity of hepatocellular and cholestatic liver enzymes and an extreme hyperbilirubinemia level of 609 micromol/L (reference interval: 1.0-4.0 micromol/L). Necropsy findings included profound icterus and red and yellow mottling of the liver. Yellow discoloration of the thalamic and subthalamic nuclei was detected on subgross examination of the formalin-fixed brain. Histologic examination of the brain revealed neuronal necrosis within the discolored nuclei, necrosis of Purkinje cells, and Alzheimer type II astrocytes in the cerebrocortical gray matter and in the nuclei, with gross discoloration. Histologic examination of the liver revealed extensive necrosis in a periacinar-to-bridging pattern and often extending to portal triads. A case of naturally occurring kernicterus in an adult dog secondary to extreme hyperbilirubinemia resulting from fulminant hepatic failure is reported. The few reports of this disease in domestic species involved neonates, namely 1 foal and 1 kitten.