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Liver Disease in Cats
As your cat gets older, you will find that just like an elderly human, his health can fail, and one of the areas that is most vulnerable is going to be the cat's liver. The liver is the largest internal organ in your cat's body and given the functions that it performs, you will find that any damage to it can easily cause your pet discomfort and ill health. Your cat's liver will perform functions as varied as cleaning the blood of toxins, regulating the chemicals in your cat's blood and creating specific enzymes for the digestion of food. If liver disease in cats is something that you are worried about, take a moment to see what you need to know about this condition.
The first thing that you need to consider is that liver disease in cats is something that has a number of different causes. Because the causes are so different, the treatments are very diverse as well, and each treatment is meant to treat a different cause. For instance, you will find that one cause of liver disease in your cat might easily be hepatic lipidosis, which is a condition known as fatty liver disease. It occurs when your cat become anorexic and the body will start using the stored up fat as fuel. This can overwhelm the cat's liver, leading to the organ performing less effectively than it should. The liver may also become inflamed thanks to issues like bacterial infection, parasitic infection or pancreatitis, or an ingestion of toxins can cause these issues.
When you are thinking about liver disease in cats, you should take a moment to think about how you might notice that your cat has it. Jaundice, a yellowing of your cat's eye and skin tissues, is one sign that liver disease might be an issue, as is quick weight loss, abdominal effusion, and a loss of appetite. Your cat also might urinate more frequently, become more lethargic over time or even develop seizures. If you are concerned about your cat, take some time and make sure that you consider the fact that cats will often "hide" it when they are ill. This can make noticing that something is wrong much more tricky.
If you suspect that your cat is having issues, make sure that you take careful notes about what is going on and then take your cat to the veterinarian. There are several tests that your veterinarian might run if he or she suspects liver damage and in many cases, a complete biochemical profile might be essential to diagnosing the issue clearly. Some of the tests that your veterinarian might recommend include urinalysis, bile acids tolerance tests, thyroid testing and a complete blood count.
Liver disease in cats is something that you need to be concerned about, especially if you have adopted an older cat or if your cat is aging. This is more and more likely to become an issue and if you keep an eye on your cat's habits, you will likely be able to notice in time to for treatment to make a difference. Remember to observe your cat and to note any changes for the worse.
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