Just like in humans, the liver is one of the most important organs for a cat. It performs multiple vital functions such as cleaning the blood and the production of bile. Once the cat develops liver disease, it can be life-threatening. The complaints are often vague and difficult to recognize. You can, however, watch out for certain symptoms. What types of liver diseases can the cat get, what can be the cause and what can you do about it?
The function of the liver
As with humans, the liver is also one of the most important organs for a cat. It performs several vital functions, such as production of blood proteins, conversion of the waste products of protein processing into substances that can be removed from the body by the kidneys, processing and storage of carbohydrates and fats, purification of the blood and the production of bile for the body. digestion.
Types of liver diseases
Here are the most common types of liver diseases that can occur in cats:
Liver lipidosis
Liver lipidosis is an accumulation of fat within the liver. It can be the result of illnesses such as diabetes mellitis, obesity or starvation. In most severe cases, the cause unfortunately remains unknown. This is especially common in older cats who no longer want to eat.
Cholangiohepatitis complex
This is a group of inflammatory diseases of the bile-producing parts of the liver. It is probably the most common liver disease in cats and can sometimes recur. The cause of this is unknown, but it is possible that a bacterial infection may play a role.
Liver poisoning
Due to the way the liver works, a cat cannot process some potentially toxic substances and is in danger of being poisoned. This can happen due to improper use of some medicines such as aspirin. This is very serious because the cat’s liver can suddenly stop functioning. An increase in thyroid hormone due to hyperthyroidism
(= too much thyroid hormone) can also poison the liver.
The symptoms
A cat with liver disease can be seriously ill and even endangered. The symptoms are sometimes vague. Be alert if the following symptoms apply:
- Lethargy
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Throwing up
- Diarrhea
- Fat belly
- Jaundice
What should you do?
Any disease of the liver should be considered serious. Some cats with certain liver diseases are cured by rapid treatment, but they can also die. If the cat is showing symptoms or appears ill, take it to the vet as soon as possible.
Diagnosis
There is no simple test to identify a particular liver disease. The vet will examine the cat, do blood and urine tests, take X-rays or ultrasounds. He can take fluid from the abdominal cavity and examine it and in an extreme case take a biopsy of the liver. In some cases, the vet will open the cat’s abdomen to view the liver directly. This only happens if there is nothing else to be found.
Therapy
In case of infection, the vet will prescribe antibiotics. Steroids are prescribed for inflammation of the liver. If the cat is seriously ill, it will have to go to intensive care where it will receive an IV and feed through a tube. In some cases, the cat’s diet must be adjusted. The cat’s diet should contain easily digestible carbohydrates and proteins. The cat needs to eat small portions regularly to avoid weight loss.
In addition, treatments may be prescribed for any underlying illnesses.