Introduction
The liver is responsible for many vital bodily functions, and liver disease is any type of condition which affects the liver’s ability to work properly. Cats may develop liver disease through a number of conditions, and the treatments depend on what type of liver disease is occurring.
Liver disease in cats is usually diagnosed through blood tests and biopsies. In some cases the cat’s history may help to discover the cause of the disease, and in other cases more extensive examinations of the liver are needed. Liver disease can affect cats of all breeds and all ages, but cats with certain types of conditions are at a higher risk for developing types of liver disease including cats that are overweight, diabetic, feline leukemia positive, or who have hyperthyroid disease.
Depending on the type of liver disease, the condition may be chronic or acute. Chronic liver disease occurs over a long period of time and involves a gradual decline in liver function. Acute liver disease occurs suddenly and can often involve severe damage to the liver if it is not immediately treated. Chronic liver disease and acute liver disease are both associated with certain types of diseases or physiological conditions. Liver disease that occurs due to injury or ingesting poisons is more commonly associated with acute liver disease.
Outlook for Cats with Liver Disease
Liver disease is a serious, life threatening condition which requires immediate medical treatment. Different types of diets, medications, and surgery may be used to aggressively treat liver disease. The recovery time depends on how severely the cat’s liver was affected and what was causing the liver disease to occur.