Prognosis for Liver Disease in Cats

Liver disease in cats is caused by various factors, some of which are not well known. Even though liver disease is not the most common condition in cats, it can develop into a terminal disease. Liver conditions can vary from toxic damage, fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis), cholangiohepatitis complex or liver cancer. Given that the liver has high regenerative properties, liver diseases can usually be treated if diagnosed in time. Most liver diseases have similar symptoms, so it is important to take your cat to the veterinarian for tests and diagnosis as early as the very first symptoms appear.

Prognosis for Liver Disease in Cats

The liver disease symptoms appear only when the disease is in a very advanced stage, because the liver continues to function even when damaged. In some cases, more than half of the liver is affected before symptoms manifest.

Mortality among cats suffering from liver disease varies from 15 to 40 percent, depending on which type of liver disease they suffer from and whether or not they suffer from other conditions. Given the regenerative properties of the liver, most diseases are reversible. Recovery rate is usually between 65 and 75 percent if treatment starts at an early stage of the disease. It usually takes 3 to 6 weeks for a cat to recover from a liver disease, but the cat might need future special care for months or even longer. The cat will have multiple dietary restrictions during the recovery period.

Symptoms of Liver Disease in Cats

Even though each liver disease has its own particular symptoms, there are a series of symptoms common to most:

• Jaundice, which the most common and specific sign for liver disease. It manifests as yellowish eyes, mucous membranes, gums and ears
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Appetite loss
• Loss of weight and muscle mass
• Frequent urination
•  Increased thirst and water consumption due to dehydration
• Lethargy, fatigue, bad mood, depression
• Seizures and fever
• Unusual feces color
• Increased size of the abdominal cavity

If you spot any of these symptoms it is most likely that your pet suffers from a liver disease, and it is strongly recommended that you take him to the veterinarian for a checkup.

Diagnosis of Liver Disease in Cats

When your cat is suspected of suffering from a liver disease, the veterinarian will run a series of tests to come to a diagnosis:

• ALT: tests for the amount of an enzyme produced by the liver cells
• AST: tests for an enzyme found in other areas of the body (brain, skeleton, red blood cells, heart muscle) but which is also indicative of a liver disease
• Urine analysis
• Blood tests for glucose levels and other toxins which cannot be filtered in the liver any longer
• Tests for bilirubin levels
• Potassium and cholesterol tests
• Ultrasounds and X-rays to determine the shape and size of the liver
• Biopsies if there are tumors