Liver Disease in Cats

Liver Disease In Cats

Liver disease in cats is a serious condition. All liver problems in cats are though not the same. There are number of liver conditions that cats can suffer from. Some are more serious than others but all have one thing in common. Early detection of any liver issue affects how easy it is to treat or manage it.

How Does the Liver In Cats Work?

The liver is one of the most important organs and it can have serious consequences if the liver is not working as it should.

The liver plays a vital role in digesting nutrients and detoxifying chemicals and is an essential part of the immune system. It is involved in building and breaking down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The liver also plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and is responsible for storing vitamins and minerals.

Basically…

Since the liver has so many important functions, it goes without saying that when the liver is not working properly, there can be serious health consequences. Canine liver disease is a broad term describing a number of liver diseases in dog. Chronic liver inflammation in dogs is also known as canine hepatitis or hepatitis in dogs.

Early diagnosis of canine liver disease is important, i.e. so the condition can be treated or at least managed.

It is involved with almost all of the biochemical pathways that allow growth, fight disease, supply nutrients, provide energy, and aid reproduction. Liver cells, which are called hepatocytes, go through thousands of complex biochemical reactions every second in order to perform these myriad functions

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What Causes Liver Failure In Cats?

The cause can be genetic
Age as liver diseases are more common in older cats
Trauma to the area, e.g. if the cat has been hit by a car
Infection, e.g. feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and feline toxoplasmosis
Diseases like diabetes and pancreatitis can cause secondary liver issues
Some prescribed medication can cause liver issues in cats, like use of painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The cat breed does not seem to matter, but obese cats are more likely to get feline fatty liver disease or feline hepatic lipidosis

The Symptoms Of Liver Disease In Cats

Symptoms of liver diseases can be like symptoms of many other diseases and therefore are often missed in the beginning. These are considered the most common symptoms of liver disease in cats:

If you at any time suspect your cat may have liver disease you should see your Vet as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can mean all the difference for your cat.

What To Expect If Your Cat Has Liver Disease

The prognosis depends on the severity and length of time of liver pathology. For formal diagnosis, your Vet will take blood tests and most likely do an X-ray or ultrasound to get a better picture of what is going on in your cat’s liver.

Feline Liver Disease Blood Tests

It is recommended to run a CBC (complete blood count) and hepatic function panel (liver panel) on all pets showing symptoms of liver disease:

CBC is useful to check if the number of red blood cells present in the blood is lower than normal and for indications of infection

Hepatic function panel is a group of tests used to screen for, detect, evaluate and monitor acute and chronic liver inflammation (feline hepatitis), liver disease and / or liver damage.

High liver enzymes in cats do not automatically mean your cat has liver disease. The first step is to try to rule out any non-liver related diseases that may have caused the abnormal values.

For definitive diagnosis, the Vet is likely to take a biopsy, i.e. remove small tissue sample for testing.

What Is The Life Expectancy For Cats With Liver Disease?

The liver has amazing healing capacities so most feline liver disease can be successfully treated.

Unfortunately, some types of liver disease in cats are incurable, but with supportive care, the patient may still be able to live a comfortable, though shortened, life.

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