Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Small Animal Medicine: Pharmacological Basis, Clinical Applications, and Translational Perspectives

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a hydrophilic bile acid with a significant role in natural and clinical hepatobiliary disease in humans. UDCA has emerged in veterinary medicine for controlling hepatobiliary disease, although studies and usage in veterinary medicine are limited at this time and species-specific pharmacologic variances exist which prevent a more translational viewpoint. This review article aims to summarize present knowledge about pharmacology, recommended therapeutics, safety, and possible translational roles for UDCA in small animal practice. The author takes a heuristic approach, bringing together experimental models, clinical experiences, time-dependent pharmacokinetic studies, and translational studies with a focus on input–output function, including drug dosages, observable clinical changes, and biochemical indices for monitoring. The key findings address the choleretic, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects of UDCA; document the observed clinical improvements of chronic canine hepatitis patients that had reduced ALT, ALP, and bilirubin levels; and a limit to supplementation for function in species like the cat without a dietary taurine source. The safety profiles support a maximum dosage of ۵۰ mg/kg without any expected serious clinical adverse outcomes. Overall, the article reinforces UDCA as a valuable adjunctive therapy in small animal practice and emphasizes its translational relevance while pontificating the urgent need for controlled veterinary medicine trials on the therapeutic use of UDCA.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) ، Small animal medicine ، Hepatobiliary disorders ، Cholestasis ، Translational therapy