Changes

The failure to excrete [[Bilirubin|bilirubin]] results in an increase in the blood concentration of conjugated bilirubin.  Beyond a certain level, this bilirubin stains tissues causing [[Icterus|jaundice]] which may be visible on the mucous membranes or sclera.  Since bilirubin has a low renal threshold, high concentrations are found in urine, although bilirubinuria is not necessarily an abnormal finding in healthy animals.  In a complete biliary obstruction, [[Bilirubin|urobilinogen]] will also be absent from the urine.

The failure to excrete [[Bilirubin|bilirubin]] results in an increase in the blood concentration of conjugated bilirubin.  Beyond a certain level, this bilirubin stains tissues causing [[Icterus|jaundice]] which may be visible on the mucous membranes or sclera.  Since bilirubin has a low renal threshold, high concentrations are found in urine, although bilirubinuria is not necessarily an abnormal finding in healthy animals.  In a complete biliary obstruction, [[Bilirubin|urobilinogen]] will also be absent from the urine.

The absence of bile salts in the gut results in fat maldigestion and '''steatorrhoea'''.  [[Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea|Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth]] (SIBO) may develop over time as bacteria metabolise the additional substrate in the intestinal lumen.  Bacteria convert fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids that irritate the colonic mucosa and may cause diarrhoea.  The failure to absorb fat may lead to deficiencies in the fat soluble vitamins (K, E, D and A) and in very severe cases, this may result in a coagulopathy due to poor production of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors..

The absence of bile salts in the gut results in fat maldigestion and '''steatorrhoea'''.  [[Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea|Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth]] (SIBO) may develop over time as bacteria metabolise the additional substrate in the intestinal lumen.  Bacteria convert fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids that irritate the colonic mucosa and may cause diarrhoea.  The failure to absorb fat may lead to deficiencies in the fat soluble vitamins (K, E, D and A) and in very severe cases, this may result in a coagulopathy due to poor production of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors..

===Laboratory Tests===

===Laboratory Tests===