North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) Practice Test

The disease characterized by thickened small intestinal loops, icterus (jaundice), and increased liver enzymes is best represented by extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In this condition, the obstruction of the bile ducts outside the liver leads to a build-up of bile, causing increased bilirubin levels in the blood and resulting in jaundice. Additionally, the accumulation of bile can cause inflammation and irritation of the liver, leading to elevated liver enzymes, reflecting hepatic dysfunction. The thickening of the small intestinal loops can occur as a secondary effect related to the liver condition, perhaps due to changes in bile acids or other metabolic consequences stemming from liver disease. This multi-faceted presentation underscores the systemic effects of biliary obstruction, including gastrointestinal manifestations. Other conditions listed may present with similar symptoms but differ in underlying pathology and specific presentations, making extrahepatic biliary obstruction the most fitting diagnosis given the specified signs.