New advances in the diagnosis of canine and feline liver and pancreatic disease

New classes of diagnostic tests for liver disease that are currently being studied include direct and indirect serum markers of hepatic fibrosis, such as hyaluronic acid; novel markers of hepatocellular injury, such as circulating microRNAs; and quantitative tests of hepatic microsomal function. Assays for pancreas-specific lipase have greatly improved the ability of practitioners to diagnose pancreatitis in dogs and cats. However, further research is needed to fully understand the characteristics of these assays, especially in patients with concurrent non-pancreatic disease. The more common use and refinement of CT and MRI to assess the hepatobiliary system and pancreas of dogs and cats also have huge potential to improve diagnostic capabilities.