HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS

HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS: This dangerous and challenging disorder is a somewhat mysterious malady in which the liver becomes infiltrated with fat deposits. Crowding out the normal liver cells, fatty infiltrations cause the liver to swell and take on a dark yellow color. Hepatic Lipidosis is the most common form of liver disease in cats in North America. Cats that are obese appear to develop this disease most frequently. If an obese cat stops eating for any reason, (stressful environment, boarding, lost in the woods, viral infections) the metabolism of body fat for energy begins. For unknown reasons, this “fasting” can trigger the abnormal fatty infiltration in the liver and a downward spiral of loss of appetite-fatty infiltration of the liver progresses. As liver dysfunction proceeds, the cat becomes less and less energetic, develops a jaundiced (yellow) color to the skin and mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes become yellow. Almost all cats with Hepatic Lipidosis will eventually die of malnutrition because they steadfastly refuse to eat … and the key to recovery is to eat a high quality diet. Veterinary treatment is required to save these cats and a stomach tube often will be needed in order to force the intake of high quality, easily digestible food
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