Differential Diagnosis: Hypercholesterolemia

Julie Allen, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP (Clinical), Durham, North Carolina

ArticleLast Updated February 20191 min readPeer Reviewed
A large, shaggy dog with a long, flowing coat sits amidst tall, golden grass, its tongue out and eyes relaxed, suggesting a calm demeanor. The background features a soft, blurred landscape, enhancing the serene outdoor setting.

Following are differential diagnoses, listed in order of likelihood, for patients presented with hypercholesterolemia.

  • Hemolysis (false increase with marked hemolysis)

  • Postprandial (mild, typically does not exceed the reference interval)

  • Obesity

  • Certain high-fat diets (dogs only; meat-based diets only)

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Hyperadrenocorticism

  • Cholestasis

  • Pancreatitis (hypertriglyceridemia more common)

  • Familial hyperlipidemia of miniature schnauzers (primarily hypertriglyceridemia)

  • Nephrotic syndrome (in combination with hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, and edema)

  • Familial hypercholesterolemia (Briards, rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, rough collies, Shetland sheepdogs)

  • Inherited hyperchylomicronemia (in cats; primarily hypertriglyceridemia)