Question: Hepatic Lipidosis?

Dr. Schaeberle,

I have a cat that is overweight, at my last visit the veterinarian mentioned Hepatic lipidosis could develop. Should I be concerned?

Beth

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Hi Beth,
Cats are sometimes prone to a serious illness called fatty liver disease or hepatic lipidosis. Overweight cats are at higher risk. Typically, stress or illness causes the cat to stop eating. When the cat stops eating, the body is tricked into thinking it is starving and fat starts to mobilize from the body, accumulating within the liver. This, in turn, affects liver function.

Most cats with fatty liver disease have experienced a recent, rapid weight loss, their skin and mucous membranes appear yellow or jaundiced, and they may be dehydrated, have nausea or vomiting and appear quiet or depressed.

Definitive diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis is by ultrasound of the liver or by liver biopsy, however, the disease is often suspected based on history, blood tests and clinical signs.

It is very important that cats with fatty liver disease start to receive enough calories to maintain their daily energy requirements. Force feeding may be attempted if the cat is not vomiting. If vomiting is present, medications are often used to control nausea, and many patients benefit from having a feeding tube placed. The feeding tube is usually placed either via the nose, or via a brief surgical procedure to place the tube in the esophagus. The cat is then fed a slurry through the tube. The feeding tubes can stay in for several weeks, and many cats can be fed at home by their owners. Once the cat starts eating on his own, the tube is removed. Other treatments might include intravenous fluids, antibiotics and vitamin
supplements and liver support drugs like SAMe.

Hepatic lipidosis can be a very serious illness and in some cases, may even be fatal so prompt treatment is necessary. If you notice that your cat is not eating for several days, or if her skin or gums look yellow, please seek immediate veterinary attention.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD

Part 4: Pet is scratching a lot?

Dr. Schaeberle,

My dog’s skin has been itchy and my veterinarian diagnosed a flea allergy. I am confused because I have only seen one or two fleas on my pet. Can this be true?

Terry

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Hi Terry,

Flea allergy dermatitis is a leading cause of scratching in dogs and cats. When fleas feed, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin. Proteins in saliva are the usual allergen or chemical which causes of this intense itchy response. Dogs and cats with flea bite dermatitis do not have to be infested with many fleas to be itchy. In fact, a single flea bites can cause itching for up to a week.

So how is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?

Clinical signs often give the first clue that your pet may suffer from flea allergies. Itching and hair loss in the region from the middle of the back to the tail base and the rear legs is mostly associated with a flea allergy.

The treatment for flea allergy certainly includes very strict flea control. Utilization of monthly topical treatments such as Frontline and Advantix can help to kill adult fleas, and use of Sentinel (for dogs) or Program injectable (for cats) can help to quickly reduce flea populations in your house by preventing the development of immature flea stages which account for over 90% of the total flea population! Treatment of the home will also be recommended to cut down on flea infestations. As with an inhaled allergy, antihistamines such as Benadryl work poorly. Rather, corticosteroids or cortisone is widely used to treat flea bite dermatitis. They often bring about rapid relief to the poor itchy patient.

For more information about allergies, visit our website at www.myshilohvet.com, go to Resources and then click Pet Health.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD