Cat hepatic lipidosis

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Cat with hepatic lipidosis: yellowing of the auricles

The hepatic lipidosis is occurring in domestic cats form of acute fatty liver .

Occurrence

Hepatic lipidosis occurs mainly in overweight cats, but also in pregnant and lactating cats as well as in the growth phase of young animals after a phase with increased mobilization of fat reserves (hunger, reluctance to eat, stress) as a result of the change in metabolism in which the Liver plays an important role with its enzymes. Female animals get sick twice as often as males. Also, diabetes mellitus , toxic drugs and lack of arginine and to ornithine is ascribed a role in the pathogenesis.

Clinical manifestations

Affected animals are beaten off , no longer eat and show dehydration and jaundice . Continuous weight loss leads to a breakdown of muscle mass and anorexia . In the further course there are central nervous symptoms such as rigidity , coma and pressing with the head against the wall. In addition, vomiting and diarrhea occur in phases (intermittent). Also coagulation disorders ( hemorrhagic diathesis with tarry stools ).

Ultrasound image of a high degree of fatty liver in a Persian cat. Note the increased echogenicity, which is comparable to that of the surrounding fatty tissue.

Investigation methods

The blood count shows a slight, non-regenerative anemia . The activity of the liver enzymes ALT and GLDH increases in the blood . In some cases, the levels of bilirubin , albumin , bile acids and ammonia are also increased. The jaundice ( icterus ) can also be detected by means of a urine test.

When ultrasound diffuse hyperechoic compression seen in the liver.

An exact diagnosis can only be made by fine needle aspiration of the liver followed by a histopathological examination. The problem is the high risk of anesthesia in sick cats and the high tendency to bleed.

treatment

The main problem in the development of the disease, the lack of food intake, may have to be eliminated by force-feeding. About 80 kcal / kg body mass and 50–60 ml water / kg body mass should be administered daily. An appetite increase with diazepam can be tried. Vitamin K is usually administered because of the coagulation disorders . A supplementation with taurine and the amino acids arginine and methionine to support apolipoprotein synthesis and the urea cycle has also proven itself.

The prospect of recovery is strongly dependent on the degree of intensive treatment. Even with consistent therapy, the chances of recovery are only 60%.

literature

  • Ingo Nolte and Andrea Meyer-Lindenberg: Liver diseases in cats . In: Kleintierpraxis 40 (1995), pp. 131-142.
  • MC Horzinek, V. Schmidt, H. Lutz: Diseases of the cat . 4th, revised edition. Enke Verlag, 2005, ISBN 978-3-8304-1049-2 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Marian C. Horzinek , V. Schmidt, H. Lutz: Diseases of the cat . 4th, revised edition. Enke Verlag, 2005, ISBN 978-3-8304-1049-2 , pp. 373 .