Because it is a serious and possibly fatal condition often associated with feline obesity, if your cat is overweight, you should take the time to learn all about cat fatty liver disease so that you can recognize the symptoms and get your cat the appropriate treatment.
What is cat fatty liver disease?
Feline hepatic lipidosis, also known as cat fatty liver disease, is a condition in which the liver ceases to function correctly after a large amount of fat accumulates on the liver. Most cases of cat fatty liver disease are associated with feline obesity.
According to About.com, the progression of fatty liver disease includes these stages:
- An overweight cat stops eating.
- Without food, the cat’s body sends fat cells to the liver to be processed into lipoproteins to be used as fuel.
- The cat’s liver doesn’t efficiently process the fat, much of which is stored in the liver.
- If left untreated, liver failure could result, causing the cat to die.
Signs of cat fatty liver disease
If your cat is at risk for feline hepatic lipidosis, you should learn all about the signs of cat fatty liver disease so that if your cat exhibits any of those symptoms, you can seek the appropriate treatment.
The first signs you should look for is your cat losing weight or not eating. Other signs include dehydration, muscle wasting, depression, vomiting, lethargy, drooling, or yellowing of the skin or mucous membranes (jaundice). If you notice any of these symptoms, seek immediate treatment for your cat.
Remedies
Treatment options for cat fatty liver disease
Treatment options are another aspect of what you need to know about cat fatty liver disease. If properly diagnosed and treated, fatty liver disease can be reversed in about 70 percent of the cases. Treatment will vary based on a number of factors, including your cat’s medical history, other underlying conditions and the severity of the disease. Treatment usually involves feeding your cat the proper nutrients, in sufficient quantities, to reverse the cause of the condition. Usually the veterinarian will insert a feeding tube into your cat's stomach or esophagus, which you will then use with a syringe to feed your cat several times a day. You may need to do this for six to eight weeks as your cat’s appetite returns to normal.
Fatty liver disease is a serious condition that, if left untreated, can be fatal. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, you should always have it thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. After the examination, the vet can inform you about cat fatty liver disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
