Symptoms and treatment of fatty liver in cats
Liver diseases are one of the most frequent problems that can be found in cats and whenever it is this organ you will have to worry. Since it is responsible for regenerating the energies that the body needs to perform its vital functions. In addition to filtering a large amount of both nutritive and toxic substances for the purpose of metabolization or detoxification. That is why it is an organ predisposed to suffer from diseases. Among these diseases is hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver and can be deadly if not treated in time. Therefore, in this article of Healthzigzag, we inform you of the symptoms and treatment of fatty liver in cats.
What is fatty liver in cats or hepatic lipidosis
Fatty liver, also called hepatic lipidosis, is a rare liver disease in cats. Although more common in those who are very homemade, and it is difficult to diagnose. It can appear regardless of whether the feline is female or male. This usually happens in felines for older than five years. It can occur in a cat of any age.
This problem happens when the cat stops eating, or eats very little, and begins to lose weight. When this happens, the body sends the fats it gets to the liver for processing. But as the cat loses weight, the liver receives more and more fat. Until it is impossible to synthesize them all that causes the liver to collapse due to the accumulation of so many fats.
Because of this liver problem, which ends up causing liver failure, it will be possible to observe that the cat is low of energies and every time it will lose the appetite more. The reason why you will have to take your pet to the veterinarian if you see that he is apathetic and does not eat. It is very important that you do not subject your cat to a strict diet. You can give him a good quality meal that is low in fat but contains all the necessary nutrients.
Causes of fatty liver in cats
It is very important to control your cat’s weight as well as provide a balanced diet. If the cat is obese and for some reason, either because the food does not like or has hated it because some of its environment stresses or for any other factor it loses its appetite and begins to lose weight. Anorexia will appear and as a consequence, there is liver failure. Which can lead to fatty liver?
There are other causes of fatty liver in cats, such as some diseases that produce fatty liver in cats on a secondary basis, because first there is a prolonged loss of appetite:
- Long-lasting gastroenteritis
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetes
In addition, if your cat has any problem that prevents him from eating like a blow to the jaw or infection and when he tries to take food to his mouth it becomes painful. He will refuse to eat and eventually if this basic problem is not treated, Hepatic lipidosis can occur in the cat.
Any eating disorder will cause your cat to stop eating. So it is important to have a fixed schedule of when you are going to feed the cat and always be the same.
Symptoms of fatty liver in cats
Normally, hepatic lipidosis happens in obese cats that begin to lose weight due to certain issues. Although it can occur in non-obese cats as well, it is very rare.
The symptoms of hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver in cats are:
- Anorexia due to a loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea or other types of bowel movements.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, the white part of the eyes or gums) because of an increase in bilirubin that occurs when the liver is failing or vomiting along with dehydration.
All these symptoms also cause the cat to be lacking in energy. If you observe these signs in your cat, you should quickly go to a veterinarian. So that he can perform the necessary tests, as well as palpation and an x-ray. Where he will check the size of the liver that tends to increase. When this disease is suffered in order to apply the best treatment as soon as possible since the cat’s life could be in danger.
Treatment of fatty liver in cats
Cats that have fatty liver usually have dehydration. So they will need fluid therapy and, for this, they will stay hospitalized for a few days for the veterinarian to administer fluids along with the appropriate medication and a liquid feeding supplied with a syringe. In this way, the cat will recover its strength and eat again on its own.
Most cats refuse to eat even after this. So the veterinarian will be responsible for putting a gastric tube through the nose or neck, the latter will go directly to the stomach. You may have to take the catheter for days or even months. So if you don’t want to stay hospitalized until your final recovery, your veterinarian will give you the necessary instructions to do it at home.
The treatment should be maintained until the veterinarian indicates and, in addition, follow up with this until the cat stops having accumulated fat in the liver. Published By Healthzigzag.com
Read Also:
