An eleven-year-old female spayed Beagle was presented to Cornell's Emergency Service for increased respiratory effort, vomiting, and inappetence. She had been presumptively diagnosed with degenerative mitral valve disease two weeks prior, and treated for congestive heart failure the night prior to presentation. At the time of admission, she was in hypovolemic shock. A ruptured gallbladder mucocele was diagnosed based on history; presence of pain on abdominal palpation; presence of abdominal effusion with a total bilirubin three-times the concentration in peripheral blood; and characteristic findings on abdominal ultrasonography.

Emergency surgery was recommended to and elected by the family. The dog was hospitalized for five days in the Intensive Care Unit. Her management included multi-modal analgesia; an infusion of human serum albumin; parenteral nutrition; gastrointestinal and liver support; antibiotic therapy; careful monitoring of vital parameters, fluid balance, organ function, and electrolyte status; and general supportive care. Four months later, she is doing well at home.