What are the causes of hepatic lipidosis?
In more than 90 percent of cases, says Dr. Center, hepatic lipidosis is a secondary consequence of some other underlying condition, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, kidney disease, or another type of liver problem.
What is feline hepatic lipidosis (feline liver syndrome)?
Feline hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver syndrome, is the most common liver disease in cats. Although obese or overweight cats are more prone to this disease, any cat can suffer from this liver disease. In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about feline hepatic lipidosis, its symptoms, treatment, recovery and prevention.
Can a cat recover from hepatic lipidosis?
Although many cats can recover from hepatic lipidosis if it’s caught early enough, it is a serious disease that requires long-term care and nutritional support. Therefore, prevention is very important!
How do you introduce food to a cat with hepatic lipidosis?
Introduction of food to cats with hepatic lipidosis should be initiated slowly and the amount of food increased to normal amounts over the course of several days. Slow feeding allows the cat to adjust and start to shift her metabolism away from using her own fat stores.
Can a cat recover from hepatic lipidosis?
Although many cats can recover from hepatic lipidosis if it's caught early enough, it is a serious disease that requires long-term care and nutritional support.
What causes hepatic lipidosis?
Obesity is known to increase the risk of hepatic lipidosis; however, there is no known "official" cause of the disease. Severe anorexia (lack of appetite) usually precedes the onset of the disease.
How fast does hepatic lipidosis happen?
Clinical signs of feline hepatic lipidosis The period during which the cat is anorexic (not eating) may be as short as two days. There is usually subsequent and rapid weight loss — as high as 40 to 60 percent of body weight.
Can a cat recover from liver failure?
The main treatment of the liver disease itself, is through intensive nutritional support. Cats usually need to be hospitalised and fed special diets via a feeding tube until such time that they are able to feed again for themselves. Although many cats do recover with intensive support, recovery may take months.
What are the signs of hepatic lipidosis?
These may include lethargy, anorexia (loss of appetite), weight loss, weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes and gums), vomiting, diarrhea and behavioral changes.
How long does it take for a cat to recover from fatty liver?
Typically, the cat fatty liver disease recovery process is about six to seven weeks, so it's important that the owners are consistent and aware of their feeding methods and schedules for the cat.
How long can a cat go without food before liver damage?
The average range of days without food for this disease to become fatal may vary from two to ten days. If it survives, it's very likely to have organ damage as a result.
How much should I feed my cat with hepatic lipidosis?
Based on these findings, Dr. Center recommends supplementing cats with a dose of 250-500 mg L-carnitine/day to cats with IHL. Additional dietary supplements that should be considered include vitamin B12 and S-adenosylmethionine.
Are cats in pain with liver failure?
Loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, and vomiting are common signs. The cat may be in a state of shock due to abdominal inflammation. The inflammation can also spread to the surrounding branches of the bile duct and the liver.
What do you feed a cat with a fatty liver?
In general, diets for cats with liver disease should have:High quality protein to reduce the workload on the liver.Highly digestible carbohydrates.High quality fats.Added antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium to combat oxidative stress.
How do I know if my cat is suffering?
Behaviour signs of a cat in painReduced appetite.Lethargy.Decreased interest in positive things like playing, social interaction and exploring outside.Being withdrawn and hiding away.Appearing lame and experiencing increased sensitivity to touch in specific areas of their body.Reduction in movement and activity.More items...
What are the signs of end stage liver failure?
Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include:Easy bleeding or bruising.Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)Intense itching.Abdominal pain.Loss of appetite.Nausea.Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs.Problems with concentration and memory.
How long can cats live with hepatic lipidosis?
This condition is frequently fatal if not treated aggressively, with affected cats dying within days or weeks. Intensive veterinary care is needed,...
How is feline hepatic lipidosis treated?
Treatment involves a combination of detailed nutritional support (e.g. with feeding tubes installed by the vet) and a spectrum of specific support...
What do you feed a cat with hepatic lipidosis?
Your vet will advise you on what to feed, but in general, a highly digestible, high carbohydrate diet that is very palatable is needed. A liquified...
What are the signs of liver failure in cats?
The most common signs are inappetence or anorexia, weight loss, lethargy and dullness, vomiting and diarrhea, and often jaundice (yellowing of the...
How much does it cost to treat a cat with hepatic lipidosis?
It is impossible to estimate this cost, as there are so many possible factors going on in the background of individual cases. You should ask your v...
How serious is hepatic lipidosis in cats?
This is a very serious and life threatening disease, requiring urgent and comprehensive veterinary treatment.
Diagnosis Of Hepatic Lipidosis
If your DVM veterinarian suspects that your cat may have hepatic lipidosis, the following steps may be taken.
Treatment Of Hepatic Lipidosis
The treatment includes intravenous fluids to rehydrate cats that have become dehydrated because of the lack of food and drink, alongside general liver-supportive medication.
Therapy To Treat Liver Failure
Initially intravenous fluids are necessary to rehydrate cats that have become dehydrated because of the lack of food and drink, combined with the metabolic changes caused by the disease process.
Nutritional Therapy To Move The Cat From Food Aversion Back To A Normal Eating Regime
Affected cats need to start eating nutritious food again, and this can be difficult, because anorexia is one of the signs of the disease. Feeding tubes are usually placed to allow force-feeding to take place. Typically, a veterinary recovery diet is given through the feeding tube for the entire recovery period, which could be as long as 8–16 weeks. Generally, these cats require 7–10 days of hospitalization to allow this type of refeeding to be started, and for quantities of food fed to be gradually increased until they are being fed enough every day to sustain them properly. Cats are then often sent home, where they are given a daily amount of tube feeding that’s enough to sustain their long term health. Pet owners start off with tube feeding, but will soon start to offer normal food as well, and a gradual process of changing from tube feeding to normal eating can take several weeks and after that, careful attention to monitoring food intake needs to continue for a further period..
What Types Of Feeding Tubes Are Used?
Nasal tubes: either nasogastric (NG) or naso-esophageal (NE). These are much narrower, and while helpful for hospital use, they cannot easily be used by owners at home.
Conclusion
Hepatic lipidosis is a serious liver disease that typically affects obese cats that have recently lost a significant amount of weight. If this is suspected, urgent and intensive veterinary care is critically important.
Frequently Asked Questions
This condition is frequently fatal if not treated aggressively, with affected cats dying within days or weeks. Intensive veterinary care is needed, with careful follow up care at home for up to four months.
What is the function of the liver in cats?
Among its vitally important functions, the liver plays an indispensable role in the digestion of food and supplies a cat’s energy by storing and releasing a carbohydrate called glycogen. The liver synthesizes proteins and certain fats (triglycerides); stores vitamins; manufactures bile (a fluid needed for absorbing fats and facilitating digestion); reduces the poisonous properties of toxic chemical compounds; and manufactures a variety of important hormones.
Why do cats have fatty livers?
This condition—also known as fatty liver syndrome—occurs when triglycerides accumulate within the liver cells and obstruct the organ’s function. “For some unknown reason,” explains Sharon Center, DVM, a professor of medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, “cats have a notable tendency to accumulate triglycerides in their ...
Can cats have deformed livers?
If not rescued promptly from the disease, affected cats don’ t just end up with deformed livers— they die!”. In more than 90 percent of cases, says Dr. Center, hepatic lipidosis is a secondary consequence of some other underlying condition, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, kidney disease, ...
Can cats have hepatic lipidosis?
In any case, the emergence of hepatic lipidosis is almost always accompanied by or preceded by the onset of anorexia —a cat’s nearly total avoidance of its food. This can occur in cats that otherwise appear to be normal and healthy as well as in those that are seriously overweight.
How to diagnose hepatic lipidosis?
Diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis is made from blood tests that demonstrate poor liver function and from a liver biopsy or fine needle aspirate. The latter may be performed during an exploratory surgery or by inserting a needle into the liver through the skin. The liver sample is sent to a veterinary pathologist for analysis.
How long does it take for hepatic lipidosis to recover?
A consistently high level of nutritional support is required for the liver to resume functioning so it may mobilize the excessive fat stores. This takes an average of six to seven weeks.
What is hepatic lipidosis in cats?
This disease is unique to cats and is one of the most common liver diseases seen in cats .
What happens if a cat's liver is yellow?
This fat becomes stored in and around the liver cells, further compromising liver function. The cat usually becomes icteric or jaundiced, as evidenced by a yellow color in the whites of the eyes or in the skin. At this point, the disease will be fatal if not treated rapidly and aggressively.
Can an anorexia cat cause hepatic lipidosis?
The chances of hepatic lipidosis occurring are greater if the cat was overweight or obese before the anorexia began. When fat is broken down rapidly to supply energy and nutrients to the anorectic cat, it can overwhelm the ability of the liver to process it. This fat becomes stored in and around the liver cells, further compromising liver function.
Can a cat have a liver biopsy?
In some cases, a presumed diagnosis may be made without a liver biopsy. If a cat’s history, clinical signs, and bloodwork are strongly suggestive of the condition and the cat is too unstable to obtain a biopsy, a presumed diagnosis may be considered adequate to proceed with treatment. Further tests may be required however, if your cat develops additional clinical signs or does not follow the expected course of the disease.
Can a cat have hepatic lipidosis?
A cat with hepatic lipidosis will have a large amount of fat in and among the liver cells. Other diagnostic tests may be performed in an effort to determine why the cat originally stopped eating. If the cause for anorexia is treatable or resolved, the prognosis is reasonably good.
What are the liver enzymes in blood test?
Blood tests usually show elevations in liver enzymes (particularly alkaline phosphatase/ALP, alanine aminotransferase/ALT, and total bilirubin/Tbili), ammonia, as well as anemia and high white cell counts.
How to tell if a cat has fatty liver?
Clinical signs of fatty liver depend upon the stage and severity of the liver failure as well as underlying conditions that predisposed to its development. Most cats are nauseated (drooling, anorexic), dehydrated, lethargic, and have jaundice (yellow) skin and gums.
Do you need a recheck for fatty liver?
Patients diagnosed with other, complicating disease processes that may have predisposed to fatty liver disease may need the help of other specialists as well. Recheck evaluations are necessary until the patient’s appetite, lab values, and weight are back to normal.
What is hepatic lipidosis in cats?
So, why should you think twice about springing a new kind of food on your cat? Because if it’s not the same exact brand and flavor, your cat may not eat it right away. And unlike dogs—who can go for several days to weeks without eating—cats cannot.
Why do cats develop hepatic lipidosis?
As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I see hepatic lipidosis in cats for several common reasons:
What tests does my veterinarian need to do to diagnose hepatic lipidosis in my cat?
Your veterinarian will need to get a thorough history (getting information about environmental changes, changes in diet, recent stress, etc.), do a thorough physical examination, and look at blood work to determine if your cat has hepatic lipidosis. Specific blood work that should be done includes a complete blood count and biochemistry panel.
What is the treatment for cats diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis?
Thankfully, cats with hepatic lipidosis can recover well with treatment, but this often requires intensive 24/7 hospitalization and care. However, hepatic lipidosis can cause liver failure—and even death—without aggressive treatment by your veterinarian.
Prognosis
Thankfully, the prognosis for hepatic lipidosis in cats is fair to excellent with rapid diagnosis, treatment, and nutrition. 85% of cats will recover well, but keep in mind that your cat often will need that temporary feeding tube for several weeks. Thankfully, cats typically recover without any long-term side effects.
Preventing hepatic lipidosis in cats
While the prognosis for hepatic lipidosis in cats is good, this disease is expensive to treat and “high maintenance” to treat at home. It also puts your cat through a lot, since your cat may need a temporary feeding tube.
What is HL in cholestasis?
The term “idiopathic HL” is appropriate only when an underlying disease condition or event leading to inappetence cannot be identified. HL has no necroinflammatory component, and the severe cholestasis is caused by canalicular compression secondary to hepatocyte triglyceride vacuolar distention.
What is canalicular cholestasis?
Canalicular cholestasis is commonly seen. Mistaken aspiration of omental fat rather than liver is easily deduced by the absence of hepatocytes. Treatment of HL is aimed at correcting fluid, electrolyte, and metabolic deficits and initiating food intake.
How long does it take for a cat to recover from hepatic lipidosis?
This treatment normally takes an average of 6-7 weeks and is treated at home. In addition, hydration is also key to treating this disease. Nutritional support is, without a doubt, the most important part ...
What are the symptoms of lipidosis?
Mental depression. Weakness. Dehydration. Vomiting and diarrhea. Constipation. Jaundice. They stop eating. It is important to establish the diagnosis by differentiating whether we are dealing with a primary or secondary lipidosis, since, in the second case, we must also treat the initial disease.
What is lipidosis in cats?
Cats with this type of lipidosis suffer from some disease that predisposes them to the accumulation of fat, that is, lipidosis will appear as a consequence of previous pathologies such as diabetes, infectious diseases, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease.
What is fatty liver in cats?
Feline hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver syndrome, is the most common liver disease in cats. Although obese or overweight cats are more prone to this disease, any cat can suffer from this liver disease.
What happens if a cat has lipidosis?
These can end in a coma and death. In addition, if the lipidosis is secondary to another disease, the cat will present the symptoms from its cause. ...
Can cats lose weight with hepatic lipidosis?
In addition, cats with feline hepatic lipidosis will lose weight and lose muscle mass. We can also observe vomiting, diarrhea, apathy, dehydration and symptoms derived from liver involvement, such as jaundice, which is the yellowing that their mucous membranes may present. Sometimes the malfunction of the liver, ...
Can cats have liver disease?
Obese cats that go through a prolonged period of fasting and cats suffering from stress are known to be prone to this liver disease. Secondary hepatic lipidosis: this is the most common type of feline hepatic lipidosis in cats. Cats with this type of lipidosis suffer from some disease that predisposes them to the accumulation of fat, that is, ...
