Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats
Excerpt : Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, is a common syndrome characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver of cats. It can occur in cats of any age or breed and may affect more females than males.
Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, is a common syndrome
characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver of cats.
It can occur in cats of any age or breed and may affect more
females than males. Hepatic lipidosis classically occurs after a
period of anorexia (loss of appetite) of at least 2 weeks
duration. When an additional disease state is found to be the
cause of the anorexia, the hepatic lipidosis is defined as
"secondary."
The term "primary" or "idiopathic" hepatic lipidosis is used
when an additional disease state cannot be identified. This is
the case in approximately 50 per cent of cats diagnosed with the
disorder. Obesity before the period of anorexia increases the
chances of a cat developing clinical hepatic lipidosis. The
decrease in appetite causing secondary hepatic lipidosis can
occur for a variety of reasons.
The more common of the predisposing disease states are diabetes
mellitus, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), cancer,
and other liver diseases. Behavioral or stress-related
Buy this Mini Poster at AllPosters.com
Also see :
CAT HEALTH PROBLEMS: YOUR CURIOSITY COULD SAVE YOUR CAT!
Cat health care is an issue that you can now take an active interest in. Use your own curiosity and your Internet skills to keep up to date with all the cat health information that is available to you at your very fingertips. There are many...read more
Serious Cat Urine Prevention Tips
Many times cat owners are at a loss as to why their cat doesn't use their litter box. Here are some great tips that can help you solve the problem.
The litter box is the first thing you should check. It should be in a quiet, private area of the...read more
|
causes of
anorexia are also common; they include the owners being away on
vacation, family members leaving or new people or pets being
introduced into the household, boarding, and dietary changes.
Unfortunately, once this disease develops, cats feel ill and may
not begin to eat again even if the, initial cause of their loss
of appetite has been eliminated. Without aggressive medical
intervention, this vicious circle can, lead to death in over 90
per cent of the cats.
Cats are unique in their tendency to develop this disorder.
Excessive amounts of fat are broken down from the cat's
peripheral fat storage tissue during fasting. This fat is then
transported to the liver. The liver should then process this fat
and export it to the rest of the body in a new form. In cats
that develop hepatic lipidosis this process is impaired and the
rate of fat export from the liver is much slower than the rate
of fat intake, resulting in liver fat accumulation. Damage to
the liver is caused by swelling of liver cells filled with
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Beware the Attack Cat
Cats have been a part of my household for over forty years: no,
not the same cats, but various ones over the years. Many have
been protective of their kittens or litter mates or even of
their human family members to some extent, but none have...read more
Cat Playing or Fighting
With multi, cats can play rough. Outdoor cats that stay outside
or can go outside will also play rough with other cats. Biting
your ankles or arms can be play for your cat. Cats that have
extra energy to play and have difficulty finding ways to...read more
|
fatty
deposits as well as additional processes. Symptoms commonly seen
with this syndrome are anorexia, weight loss, lethargy,
vomiting, jaundice (yellow tinge to the skin, inside of the
ears, and gums), and occasionally behavioral or neurologic signs
such as excessive drooling, blindness, semicoma or coma, and
seizures. The suspicion that a cat is suffering from liver
disease is confirmed by physical examination and appropriate
abnormalities in blood work.
Imaging techniques such as x-rays or ultrasound examination of
the abdomen are helpful in demonstrating the size and appearance
of the liver, as well as ruling out other disease states. The
definitive diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis requires visualization
of fat globules in liver cells obtained via liver biopsy or
needle aspiration.
The treatment of hepatic lipidosis varies depending on its
severity and the existence of other diseases. Prevention is
extremely important. Any anorexic cat, especially if obese,
should be seen by a veterinarian. Thus, the
Buy this Photographic Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Feline Leukemia Virus Vaccination in Cats
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a common agent in cats that is
usually transmitted through virus-infected saliva via cat fight
wounds, mutual grooming, or sharing food and water dishes. The
most hazardous situation for FeLV transmission is a...read more
Top Toys That Your Cat Will Have A Ball With
Cats need to play, no mater how young or how old they are, they
need to have some toys in order to stay entertained. Cats love
all kinds of different toys and just like people each cat with
have his or her own special preferences. Some of the...read more
|
development of
hepatic lipidosis can be caught in its early stages or prevented
entirely with appropriate therapy. Hospitalization, fluid
therapy, and supportive care may be required initially when the
disease develops. Additional therapy such as antibiotics,
vitamin K, and the treatment of other diseases may also be
necessary.
The cornerstone of therapy, the only way to reverse the process
of fat accumulation in the liver, is aggressive feeding to
supply your cat with his or her full caloric requirements.
Offering different diets and appetite-stimulating medications
may induce a cat to eat in the initial phases of anorexia but
will most likely not be of benefit once clinical signs of
hepatic lipidosis develop.
Force feeding is usually not a good idea. Even with the most
cooperative cat, it is virtually impossible to feed adequate
amounts in this fashion. Cats also seem to develop food
aversions rapidly, and the association between food and the
unpleasant experience of forcing may delay the cat's return
Buy this Poster at AllPosters.com
to
eating. Therefore, in the clinical phase of the disease the only
reliable treatment option is tube feeding.
The use of long-term tube feeding has changed the outcome in
this disease from over 90 per cent mortality to less than 30 per
cent. There are three types of feeding tubes commonly used for
this disease. A tube placed through the nose into the stomach or
esophagus can be used temporarily. Long-term feeding is achieved
with a tube surgically placed in the esophagus or, more
commonly, a tube surgically or endoscopically placed through the
body wall directly into the stomach.
A commercially available maintenance diet is used for most cats.
Your veterinarian will supply you with a feeding plan aimed at
meeting your cat's nutritional requirements. Additional
medications to control vomiting are sometimes necessary.
Frequent rechecks with your veterinarian will be required to
assess the tube location, possible infection, your cat's
clinical state, and blood work. Liver parameters usually improve
within 2 to 8
Buy this Mounted Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Cat Anxiety And Cat Litter Box Problems
Frazzled felines will sometimes relieve their anxiety by urinating, or marking (spraying) outside the cat litter box. Here are a few of the causes and the solutions to calm your kitty down. Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits....read more
Does Your Cat Need A Collar And Leash?
A leash can help you keep control of your cat when you don't
want her to stray too far away, but still get some exercise.
Even if you never plan to take your cat for regular walks like
you would a dog, you still need to insure that your cat...read more
|
weeks after initiating feeding. Oral food should
not be offered until that time.
Once your cat begins to eat, tube feedings can be gradually
reduced over a few weeks and eventually discontinued. Most cat's
tubes can be removed 3 to 4 months after placement. In cats with
idiopathic hepatic lipidosis recurrence is rare, and the cats
that recover go on to live normal lives.
The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.
About the author:
From the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Information: Client
Information Series. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
All rights reserved.
Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate,
Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in
Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more
about the vet clinic and our staff,
visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]
More Cats, felines, Kittens, cats for sale, help, cat scratches, kittens for sale, cat breeders, cat breeds,information,cat food, kitten food,cat training,training a cat,training a kitten, usa Articles
Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats
Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, is a common syndrome
characterized by excess fat accumulation...
Training the Cat to Scratch on a Scratching Post
Every wonder why a cat has to scratches everything in site. Your
cat is sharpening claws and...
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
For Cat Lovers Like You and Me
|
sitemap
copyright www.SPECIALCATS.COM 2006
|
Recently Added Cats, felines, Kittens, cats for sale, help, cat scratches, kittens for sale, cat breeders, cat breeds,information,cat food, kitten food,cat training,training a cat,training a kitten, usa Articles
Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats
Periodontal disease (problems in the area around the teeth) is
one of the most common health problems in companion animals. It
is estimated that 80 per cent of dogs and 70 per cent of cats
older than 3 years of age suffer from some level of...read more
How Long Will My Cat Live?
The answer to that depends upon several factors.
The care that you give your cat, the quality of the food that your cat eats, the kind of lifestyle that your cat lives. All these things play their part in the chances of your cat enjoying a...read more
Tips On How To Groom Your Cat
Before we begin to give you additional information on this topic, take a moment to think about what you already know.
Cats are basically very tidy creatures. They are in the habit of grooming themselves by licking every part of their body clean...read more
Training a Cat for the Litter Box
Did you know that you can control when a cat has to go to the
bathroom and when they don't have to go? It is called feeding
time. One of the first things in training a cat is do not feed
the cat anything unless you are going to be home for a...read more
Training a Cat not to Chew on Dangerous Objects
Cats chew, lick, or eat non-food objects for medical and
behavioral reasons. Out of curiosity, a cat will try to chew on
most things. Easy to swallow items will need to be put up out of
reach of your cat.
Cats chewing and eating items,...read more
Abused Cats
Abused cats can be terribly maimed and damaged on the outside.
They can even appear quite normal on the outside and all the
damage might be emotional.
The emotional damage is harder to repair. A physically damaged
cat will still...read more
Cat training with a clicker
Clicker training is a reinforcement or reward for a cat when
training them. Clickers are use most often for support when
training a cat for a reward. Cats associate the clicker with a
good behavior they will use for a long time. Clicker training...read more
Groom Your Cat To Avoid Hairballs - Kitty Will Love You For It
As loving cat owners we hate to think that our beloved pets are
feeling unwell. That can be the first impression when your cat
starts making hacking noises. Usually this is the first signs of
the cat trying to get rid of a hairball.
If you...read more
"How to Teach YOUR Cat to Use a Litter Box - Secrets to Litter Tray Success"
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with a cat that doesn't use its litter box. Yet, patience is the key to creating litter box success. A positive introduction when young, and simple housekeeping on your part will solve most...read more
Travelling With Your Cat
Whether it be by car, by train, by airplane or boat, it’s not always easy to travel with your cat. It is necessary to always arrange certain things in advance – the tickets, an adequate kennel, tranquilizers, and water – in order to assure him...read more
Some News About Cats, felines, Kittens, cats for sale, help, cat scratches, kittens for sale, cat breeders, cat breeds,information,cat food, kitten food,cat training,training a cat,training a kitten, usa
|