Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
IS YOUR CAT TURNING YELLOW?
The liver is a vital organ with many functions, including digestion, vita-
min and mineral storage, protein synthesis, general metabolism and
toxin neutralization. A cat can become very sick when his liver is
impaired.
Most of the signs of liver disease in cats are similar to those of other
gastrointestinal problems, but one different sign seen in many cases is
jaundice. Jaundice is a condition causing the eyes, skin and gums of an
animal to take on a yellow tint. The color change is due to bile pig-
ments in the blood that rise to abnormal levels in liver disease or gall
bladder obstruction.
What Is a Fatty Liver?
Cats who do not eat begin to break down their body fat for energy.
Even though many cats are overweight and have lots of energy stored,
the liver becomes overwhelmed by the amount of fat it must convert,
and a condition called hepatic lipidosis—fatty liver disease—can devel-
op. Cats who start off with other problems, such as viral infections, can
develop hepatic lipidosis if they stop eating. If the process continues,
hepatic lipidosis can become life threatening.
A diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis can only be confirmed by a liver
biopsy, but this disease should be suspected if a blood test shows elevat-
ed liver enzymes and a cat is not eating. Needle biopsies of the liver can
be obtained with the aid of ultrasound, and wedge biopsies can be
obtained through exploratory surgery.
If your cat is not eating for more than a day, it is crucial to get food
into him as soon as possible. If you are unable to entice the cat with
tuna, baby food or canned food, consult your veterinarian. Every day
makes a difference when trying to prevent hepatic lipidosis.
Treatment for hepatic lipidosis may include force-feeding, treat-
ment of an underlying medical condition, supplementation with essen-
tial amino acids such as taurine and carnitine, placement of a feeding
tube, and extended supportive care for weeks to months.
A feeding tube can be a lifeline for a sick cat. Owners are able to
easily feed their anorexic cats when tubes are in place. Tubes can be
placed through the nose or esophagus into the stomach, or they can be
placed directly into the stomach or intestine. Nasogastric tubes (nose to
stomach) can be irritating. They are very narrow and so limit feeding
Search WWH ::




Custom Search