Can young cats get liver disease?
Liver disease is quite common in cats and can occur at any age, from kittens to old age. Usually the signs of liver disease, like many diseases in cats, are a bit vague; affected cats are often just quiet, have reduced appetite and lose weight.
What are the symptoms of liver problems in cats?
Because the liver is involved in many crucial functions, a cat with liver disease may show a wide variety of symptoms. These may include lethargy, anorexia (loss of appetite), weight loss, weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes and gums), vomiting, diarrhea and behavioral changes.
What can cause liver problems in cats?
Other Causes of Liver Disease in Cats
- Cancer.
- Infection.
- Parasites.
- Injury to the liver including trauma or decreased blood supply.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Foreign body.
- Acute pancreatitis.
- Heatstroke.
What causes liver failure in young cats?
Hepatic lipidosis is the most common cause of liver disease in cats. Excessive accumulation of fat (triglycerides) within the liver leads to liver failure. The cause is unknown, but the disease is associated with a period of poor appetite (a few days to several weeks), especially in obese cats.
How long can a cat with liver disease live?
If untreated, this can lead to loss of function as healthy liver cells are replaced by scar tissue. Diseases elsewhere in the body can also affect the liver’s function. Fortunately, liver disease can be effectively managed and progression limited. Many cats go on to live happily years after their diagnosis.
How Long Can cats live with liver disease?
Can you reverse liver failure in cats?
The cat liver has a high regeneration rate and the disease will eventually reverse assuming that irreparable damage has not been done to the liver. The best method to combat feline hepatic lipidosis is prevention and early detection.
What can you do for a cat with liver failure?
Treatment of Acute Liver Failure in Cats Electrolytes and intravenous dextrose (sugar) will also be administered to correct any electrolyte imbalances and low blood sugar levels. The veterinarian will place the cat on a special diet that will be given to the cat through a feeding tube if they are not eating themselves.
What is the life expectancy of a cat with liver failure?
It has been found that about 35% of cats with fatty liver disease die. Most of the cats do recover within 4 to 6 weeks of treatments. However, the damage to the liver may prove to be permanent. The life expectancy depends on the animal’s overall health conditions and response to treatment.
Is liver really bad for cats?
Small amounts of liver are OK, but eating too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity . This is a serious condition that can affect your cat’s bones. Symptoms include deformed bones, bone growths on the elbows and spine, and osteoporosis. Vitamin A toxicity can also cause death.
What can cause high liver values in cats?
Here are the common ones: Hepatic lipidosis Cholangiohepatitis Biliary obstruction Inflammatory bowel disease (triaditis) Pancreatitis Lymphoma Endotoxin producing infections Hepatitis (there are different types of hepatitis) Biliary stasis Septicemia
How do you treat a cat with liver disease?
Supplemental Therapies. Vitamin K can help control bleeding disorders in your cat — something his body is less capable of doing once he has developed liver disease. Vitamin B12 can help your cat’s liver digest other vitamins, and vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect the liver from additional injury.