Fatty liver dystrophy

Fatty dystrophy is a common liver disease in pets. Its prevalence is explained by passive lifestyle, improper nutrition of cats and dogs. The situation can be stabilised if you contact a veterinarian in time, adjust the care of the pet.

What is fatty liver dystrophy, features and types

Fatty dystrophy (or lipidosis) of the liver is a disease of hepatocytes (functional cells of the organ) of a non-inflammatory nature. Pathology is provoked by metabolic disorders, namely, improper metabolism of fats.

These compounds, entering the body with food, are broken down in the intestine, through the bloodstream delivered to the liver, where they are converted into various substances, including triglycerides. When they accumulate in the tissues of the organ more than 50% of its total mass (with an allowable 5%), lipidosis is diagnosed.

According to the origin of the disease can be:

primary, developing against the background of obesity due to a large amount of fat in hepatocytes;

secondary - arising as a result of primary diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus). This form is not associated with excessive body weight of the animal.

Depending on the degree of pathology, experts distinguish three types of lipidosis:

steatosis - fats are accumulated, but the liver works normally;

steatohepatitis - lipids provoke the beginning of the inflammatory process (hepatitis), other complications appear;

fatty cirrhosis - replacement of the natural tissue of the organ with connective tissue. Functionality is lost, liver failure appears.

According to the structure of deposits, fatty dystrophy is divided into coarse and fine. The course of the disease is acute and chronic.

Causes of the disease in dogs, cats

Lipidosis often develops against the background of disorders in the work of other organs of the digestive system: cholelithiasis, pancreatitis.

Additional risk factors are:

regular overfeeding of the pet;

consumption of low-quality feed containing nitrates or nitrites, unbalanced in terms of protein, fat, carbohydrates;

low physical activity;

hormonal imbalance;

intoxication with hepatotropic poisons;

infections;

protein metabolism deficiency;

endocrine disorders;

prolonged intake of certain pharmaceuticals, destructively acting on hepatocytes.

Obese cats over two years of age who suddenly lose their appetite due to stress are most susceptible to the disease. This can be caused by moving house, a new pet or a child. For dogs, this pathology is less characteristic. There is no information about breed predisposition to fatty liver dystrophy.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

Manifestations of lipidosis depend on its course. The acute form develops rapidly. The dog shows such symptoms as:

depressed state;

nausea;

subfebrile body temperature;

jaundice of the skin, mucous membranes, sclerae of the eyes;

seizures;

refusal to eat;

severe vomiting;

muscle weakness.

Attention: acute lipidosis is dangerous with rapid onset of hepatic coma, which leads to the death of the pet!

Chronic fatty dystrophy develops slowly and is characterised by vague symptoms. The cat gradually loses interest in food, reduces motor activity, becomes thin. The animal's mouth smells of acetone. Characteristic for hepatic pathologies, jaundice is not always manifested. Sometimes there is abundant salivation, periodic vomiting.

Owners write off such signs to the consequences of mild poisoning or overeating, the pathology continues to progress. To prevent the onset of irreversible consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Clinical signs of lipidosis are not very specific. The veterinarian can suspect the disease by palpation of the right subcostal region by the enlargement of the liver. To confirm the diagnosis, it will be necessary to make an ultrasound, as well as a biopsy with subsequent histological studies of organ tissues. If possible, it is acceptable to conduct a CT scan or MRI. It will also be necessary to take a biochemical blood test to identify the factor that provoked the disease.

Treatment of the disease in pets

There is no standard therapeutic scheme for lipodystrophy. Each pet is treated individually.

The efforts of doctors are primarily aimed at eliminating the root cause of the deviation. The acute condition is relieved in the conditions of the hospital. It includes forced feeding through a probe, complex infusion therapy to prevent dehydration, relieve the main unpleasant symptoms.

After stabilisation of the pet, it is discharged for outpatient treatment. The cat or dog is prescribed a protein therapeutic diet with a reduced fat content. Perhaps at first the owner will have to feed the pet by force, through a syringe. In time, the appetite will return. An important point is to increase physical activity.

Also, the furry patient is shown the reception of drugs that support the functionality of the liver. Effective veterinary hepatoprotectors are produced by the company Apicenna.

The animal may be recommended Hepatovet Active oral suspension or Hepatoject solution for injection. These drugs accelerate the regeneration of the cells of the organ, normalise the level of ammonia in the bloodstream, reduce the degree of general intoxication.

The prognosis for lipidosis ranges from favourable to remotely unfavourable. The outcome depends on how quickly the owner turns to the veterinarian, how accurately he will fulfil all appointments. Fully restore the structure of the liver is most likely not possible. However, by organising the pet with proper nutrition and living conditions, it is quite possible to provide the cat or dog with a decent quality and length of life.