Liver disease is basically any condition which affects the liver’s ability to function properly.The liver executes some of the most complex functions in a cat’s body. It metabolizes fat, carbohydrates and protein. It also stores vitamins and minerals and aids in digestion and detoxification of wastes. The effects of liver disease are extremely variable. They include inappetence, depression, lethargy, weakness, weight loss, unkempt hair coat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Another common sign is abdominal
The clinical signs of liver disease (medically referred to as “hepatobiliary disease”) can be extremely variable due to the liver’s extensive interaction with other organs and its independent regenerative capacity. More than half (and maybe up to 70 or 80 percent) of functional liver tissue must be destroyed before actual liver failure occurs. Often, there are no clinical manifestations of liver disease, or the condition may present with only vague and nonspecific signs. Once symptoms
The most common liver disorders in cats are hepatic lipidosis, inflammatory hepatobiliary disease, neoplasia, extrahepatic bile duct obstruction, portosystemic shunt, acute toxic hepatopathy and secondary hepatobiliary disease.Hepatic lipidosis, also called fatty liver disease, has become the most common liver disease of companion cats in North America. Most affected cats are over 2 years of age, but there does not seem to be a particular breed or gender predisposition. Hepatic lipidosis occurs when a cat’s body
The liver is unique in that it has a large reserve capacity along with some regenerative capacity. Therefore, it is actually possible to successfully treat feline liver disease if the diagnosis is made early, depending upon the underlying cause of the problem. The goals of treatment are to eliminate any harmful agents or minimize their detrimental effects on the liver, promote healing and regeneration, prevent or control complications of liver dysfunction, treat the underlying cause