Liver function evaluation in dogs by the galactose load test.

Dynamic tests consists in administration of substances metabolised by the liver and in the subsequent study of their kinetics in order to provide quantitative indications about specific hepatic metabolic functions. The aim of the study is to verifiy the reliability of the application of the galactose load test in dogs an to compare the concentration-time curves in healthy animals with those obtained in patients with liver disease. 500 mg/kg of a 30% w/v galactose solution was administred e.v to 5 healthy dogs and to 5 patients with liver disease. Blood samples were collected every 10 minutes until 90 min after injection and serum galactose concentration was determined with an enzimatic method. Serous values for hepathopatic dogs over the T40-T90 period were higher than mean curve values of control dods in 4 out of 5 animals. Further investigations are needed in order to evaluate effective diagnostic and progostic reliability of this test.