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FELINE LIVER FAILURE
WHEN DOES FELINE LIVER FAILURE OCCUR AND HOW TO AVOID IT
By Tess Thompson
There is a difference between liver disease and liver failure. Liver disease is a general term applied to any disorder that is affecting liver. The blood tests in this case show higher levels of liver enzymes.
Apart from fatty liver disease, which is a more common in cats, other types of feline liver diseases are caused by toxins from food and drugs, trauma, heatstroke and infections. A liver shunt, where the blood bypasses the liver instead of going through it, is a genetic defect in the portal vein but may be acquired in certain cases.
Liver disease is usually difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats normally have to be observed carefully as they often duplicate symptoms of other diseases. Till the definite results from blood tests, imaging procedures or histology are not available, even veterinarians are wary of confirming a diagnosis of liver disease. Before a definite diagnosis, the typical sequence of events occurs as follows.
Cat owners observe certain symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite and other symptoms associated with liver health.
The veterinarian advises blood tests. Liver enzymes like ALT and AST, which normally remain within the liver, show up freely in the blood. Bilirubin and bile acid levels in the blood are elevated.
Ultrasound tests show an abnormal activity in the liver and an aspirate or a liver tissue is sent for further examination to confirm the exact nature of liver disease.
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for liver disease in cats and dogs. If a particular toxin is identified, efforts should be made to remove it from the diet. If it is being caused by a drug, an alternative medicine should be sought.
Any change in type of stool passed by the cat, or inappropriate behavior in urination and defecation routines should be enough for cat owners to raise the alarm and consult a veterinarian. Jaundice observed as pale gums and yellowish mucous membrane, however, is a definite sign of some thing wrong with the liver.
One of the major causes of feline liver disease is the inefficiency of the feline liver to process fats. This leads to accumulation of fats and ultimately to obesity. A cat’s body should be shaped like an hourglass - the chest wider than the abdomen. Cats over 6.4 kilograms are considered to be obese. A veterinarian is the right person to suggest what type of weight loss program should be started.
Liver disease is dangerous and certain types of liver diseases are fatal and can only be managed. Despite the capacity of the organ function even in face of serious assaults, untreated liver disease almost always leads to liver failure and death. Early treatment and preventive measures like diet modification, keen observation and timely action often are able to halt further damage to one of the most important organs in the cat’s body.
References:
http://marvistavet.com/html/body_hepatic_lipidosis.html
http://ezinearticles.com/
http://cfa.org/articles/health/geriatric-cat.html
http://petcarenaturally.com/articles/liver-disease.php
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-treat-common-cat-diseases9.htm
http://hdw-inc.com/healthliver.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/fatty_liver.htm
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