Oct 21, 2024
The liver is one of the most vital organs in your cat’s body, responsible for a wide range of critical functions. One of its most prominent functions is that it filters the toxins present in blood. It also contributes to a wide range of processes, such as aiding in digestion, storing essential nutrients, and regulating metabolism. When the liver becomes damaged or overwhelmed, it can lead to liver failure in cats and affect their overall health.
What is Liver Failure in Cats?
There are two types of liver failure in cats: acute and chronic.
Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure is liver failure that happens suddenly, often as a result of poisoning, infection, or physical trauma. During this short period of time, the liver is damaged and overwhelmed, which requires immediate veterinary care to help cats recover.
Chronic Liver Failure
Chronic liver failure is liver failure that develops as time goes by, which can be affected by underlying health conditions relating to a cat’s diet and lifestyle. Chronic liver failure progresses gradually and may not show early symptoms until significant damage has already occurred.
Symptoms of Liver Failure in Cats
The liver is part of lots of essential bodily functions, making the symptoms of liver failure hard to distinguish. To get a better grasp, here are the common signs and symptoms of liver failure in cats:
Jaundice
Jaundice is described to be the yellowing of the skin, gums, and eyes of a cat. The yellowing of the skin when it comes to liver failure is typically caused by the buildup of waste within the cat’s bloodstream.
Lethargy and Weakness
Cats with liver failure often become lethargic and less active. They may seem tired, weak, and reluctant to move or engage in normal activities. Because the liver is unable to continue with its essential functions, the cat’s body will lose a huge chunk of important functions that keep its body regulated, resulting in fatigue.
Appetite and Weight Loss
When cats experience liver failure, they might lose their appetite. Cats will be less responsive to meals and will show less interest in treats. As time passes by, this will result in weight loss and malnutrition due to the lack of nutrients.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
The liver plays a big role in digestion, and when it fails, cats can experience vomiting and diarrhea. You might also notice that your cat’s stool looks pale or has blood in it.
Neurological Changes
When liver failure progresses, the toxins present in the body may build up in the bloodstream and affect the nervous system. This will result in hepatic encephalopathy. In this condition, cats will experience seizures, tremors, and drooling. You’ll also notice some crying and vocalizations.
Increased Thirst and Urination
Some cats with liver failure will drink more water and urinate more frequently. This can happen as a result of toxins affecting the kidneys or due to the body’s attempt to flush out the excess waste that the liver can no longer handle.
What Causes Liver Failure in Cats?
Lots of liver diseases can cause liver failure in cats, from underlying health problems to infections and toxins causing mischief. Here are the common causes of liver failure in cats:
Hepatic Lipidosis
Otherwise known as fatty liver disease, hepatic lipidosis is one of the main causes of liver failure in cats. This condition happens when a cat, usually overweight, suddenly stops eating for a few days, making the body break down the stored fat present for energy. Because of this, the liver becomes overwhelmed, and the fat stays in the liver, affecting all of its essential bodily functions.
Cholangitis
Cholangitis is an inflammation of the liver’s bile ducts, usually caused by bacterial infections or immune-mediated diseases. Neutrophilic cholangitis is caused by bacterial infections that ascend from the intestines into the bile ducts. On the other hand, lymphocytic cholangitis is an immune-mediated disease that is less well-understood, often linked to long-term inflammation.
Cholangitis is a common cause of liver failure in cats. The disease can get in the way of the liver’s essential functions, as the swelling and inflammation created in the bile ducts can get in the way of bile flow, which is essential for digestion. Over time, untreated cholangitis can cause liver damage, leading to liver failure. Usually, the symptoms of cholangitis are difficult to diagnose.
Toxins
Toxins are a leading cause of liver damage in cats, especially since our feline friends love to explore the house and mess with everything inside. Toxic substances such as antifreeze, chemicals, lilies, and specific human medicines can cause severe liver damage to your cats, potentially leading to liver failure.
Usually, you’ll see your cat vomiting, drooling, and feeling disorientated. In extreme cases, your cat will have tremors, seizures, or a coma. In this case, it’s important to bring your cat to the vet for emergency care.
Infections
Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites can lead to liver inflammation and eventually liver failure if left untreated. These infections often cause widespread inflammation that can severely damage liver tissues.
Some of the common infectious diseases that could lead to liver failure include feline infectious peritonitis, feline calicivirus, and toxoplasmosis. As a result of these diseases, they can cause a series of symptoms such as jaundice, ascites, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, and, eventually, liver damage.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is when the liver becomes heavily scarred and loses its efficient ability to function properly. Long-term liver inflammation caused by infections, inflammation, or trauma can lead to the development of scar tissues, which disrupts liver function. Once cirrhosis sets in, the damage is typically irreversible.
Cats with cirrhosis of the liver will typically experience a variety of symptoms, such as lethargy, ascites, increased thirst, a lack of appetite, and weight loss.
Hepatic Neoplasia
Cats with liver cancer are usually those with significant age, about ten years or older. These liver condition, also known as hepatic neoplasia, can interfere with normal liver function. This makes it hard for the cat’s liver to do its essential processes, such as aiding in digestion, filtering blood, and storing nutrients.
As the cancer progresses, cats may develop loss of appetite, excessive thirst, and jaundice. Liver tumors are often difficult to detect until they are well-developed, making regular checkups important.
How to Diagnose Liver Failure in Cats?
Diagnosing liver failure in cats requires a thorough examination with the right tools to reach the correct diagnosis. With accurate findings, we can proceed with finding the right treatment plan for your cat’s liver problem. Here is how we diagnose liver failure in cats:
Blood and Urine Tests
Blood and urine tests help detect how the liver is functioning by measuring bilirubin levels in the urine, which can also indicate liver problems. Cats with liver disease may also have differences in liver enzyme levels.
Imaging
Ultrasound is commonly used to assess the structure of the liver. It can reveal abnormalities such as liver enlargement, tumors, cysts, or obstructions in the bile duct. X-rays can also be used to check the size of the liver and look for signs of fluid buildup in the abdomen. These diagnostic imaging techniques are crucial in diagnosing liver failure in cats.
Liver Biopsy
In some cases, a liver biopsy is used to accurately diagnose the cause of liver failure in cats. A small tissue sample is taken from the liver and analyzed to identify conditions such as cancer, inflammation, or cirrhosis. A biopsy provides a more accurate diagnosis, especially for chronic liver diseases like hepatic lipidosis or liver cancer.
How to Treat Liver Failure in Cats?
Once the liver disease has been identified, the right treatment steps will be determined. This is done after a thorough examination, so our team can provide the right treatment plan for your cats. Here is how we treat liver failure in cats:
Fluid Therapy
Cats who experience liver failure will most likely need hospitalization to ensure a speedy recovery. IV fluids will be the main supportive treatment provided to help them regain their hydration levels and regulate electrolyte balance.
Medications
Specific medicines will be selected to treat the corresponding liver condition your cat is experiencing. Cats experiencing neutrophilic cholangitis will need antibiotics to give relief to your cat by killing the bacterial infection. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs can also be used when dealing with lymphocytic cholangitis and other related conditions.
Diet Management
Special diets that can provide nutrition while your cat is experiencing liver troubles can help prevent malnutrition despite the condition. These prescription diets are important as your cat will need all the nutrients it can get to recover from liver diseases. Foods that are easily digested, with healthy fats and a limited amount of sodium, can help improve liver function.
Surgery
In cases where a tumor or obstruction is involved, surgery might be the best bet for treatment. Surgical intervention helps correct physical abnormalities and issues to help the flow of bile return to normal, helping liver function return to its optimal state.
Conclusion
Liver failure in cats is a very concerning issue that is caused by several factors, including infections, toxins, cancer, trauma, and conditions like hepatic lipidosis and cholangitis. However, with the right care and attention, we can get your cats the help they need. Bring your cat in for a visit, and we’ll get started.