Cat 101: Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats

Hepatic lipidosis, defined as an excess of fat buildup in the liver, is a prevalent cause of possibly reversible liver failure in cats.

The liver is in charge of several critical activities, including glucose and fat metabolism, protein and vitamin synthesis, vitamin and iron storage, the creation of chemicals required for blood coagulation, and the removal or breakdown of toxins. The typical lipidosis cat is middle-aged, was formerly fat but has lost at least 25% of its original body weight, has a low appetite, and may have an evident unsettled stomach.

Cats with severe liver illness may also suffer from electrolyte imbalances or vitamin shortages. There is usually a bleeding propensity in lipidosis, which might make obtaining a biopsy sample relatively hazardous. A fat infiltration aspirate is typically diagnostic, particularly when ultrasonography reveals that the whole liver has a fatty texture.