Liver Disease in Canines and Felines-Case Sharing
发布时间：2023-07-11
The incidence of liver disease in pets has been on the rise in recent years, mainly due to eating too well. In the clinical diagnosis process, with the continuous development of animal imaging technology, many previous difficult to diagnose diseases can gradually be confirmed by imaging technology, providing the basis and key information for symptomatic treatment. This includes hepatobiliary diseases in canines and felines.
This article briefly introduces one of the most common hepatobiliary diseases: fatty liver.
Primary fatty liver occurs in obese cats with anorexia and stress triggered by some non-disease factors; secondary fatty liver is caused by anorexia and rapid weight loss triggered by disease factors and can occur in cats of any size. The rationale for the development of lipid deposits in the liver is not fully understood. However, due to the high nutritional requirements of the cat's diet, it is assumed that the disease may be caused by a deficiency of certain nutrients (methionine, carnitine, taurine) resulting in the liver being unable to use and transport fat properly. The triggers are anorexia and stress, and the risk factor is obesity.
Clinical signs in cats with fatty liver are mainly based on acute (reversible) hepatic insufficiency and secondary intrahepatic cholestasis. Cats usually present with jaundice, dehydration and intermittent vomiting, as well as diarrhoea or constipation. In severe cases, hepatic encephalopathy may develop, with coma and salivation.
In many cases of liver disease, specific therapies are ineffective. Treatment is mainly symptom relief and supportive therapies such as diet + medication and supportive therapy.
The following items are generally examined during the post-onset physical examination:
(1) Blood count
Microscopic examination of blood smear may show heterogeneous red blood cells as well as ruptured red blood cells, and red blood cell count shows mild non-regenerative anaemia.
(2) Blood biochemistry
The main signs are increased values of liver-related biological enzymes, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). In addition, bilirubin (Bilirubin) and bile acid tests performed before and after meals in cats are also elevated, all of which indicate damage and dysfunction of the hepatobiliary system.
(3) Urinalysis
Bilirubinuria may be present in the urine due to the persistence of hyperbilirubinemia.
(4) Other tests
Blood clotting test: As the liver is an important organ for the production of clotting factors, liver dysfunction can lead to abnormal blood clotting in cats and the result of the clotting test may show a "prolonged clotting time".
Pathological histology: Fatty vesicles can be observed in more than 80% of hepatocytes in liver tissue sampled by biopsy.
Radiographic examination
(1) X-ray examination
Hepatomegaly is seen on X-ray, but this is not present in all affected cats and is not specific.
(2) Ultrasound examination
Ultrasound reveals diffuse parenchymal echogenicity and hepatomegaly, which can be an important diagnostic method in cases where pathological histology is not available.
From Guangzhou Baisi Animal Hospital. The animal was a 13-year-old male cat, Si Si, suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis, fatty liver and pancreatitis. The owner described that he started to drink and urinate a few days ago, and had lost his appetite for two days.
Blood tests and biochemical tests on the first day of consultation
The red blood cells are high and dense, the white blood cells are increased and there is also anaemia, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high liver and biliary enzymes and high urea nitrogen.
High SAA values
Hospitalised with enrofloxacin, maropitant citrate injections and essential nutrients, diet switched to prescribed food with HepSame.
Day 5 of treatment
On the fifth day of treatment, the blood test was repeated and it was clear that the liver parameters were already at normal values and the inflammation was improving.
Day 9 of treatment
On the ninth day of infusion plus diet treatment, the cat is stable enough to be discharged home for treatment, where it will continue to recover mainly through diet planning.
It is recommended that cats go home with the following diet plan: cat food, goat milk powder 30g, nutrition cream 5ml and HepSame 2 capsules according to the daily amount.
It has been a month since the treatment and the cat is now stable and improving.
HepSame - Effective support for liver disease in canines and felines
Contains Siliphos®, SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), glutathione and other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients which also prevent cirrhosis, fatty liver and cholangitis. Specifically formulated for liver disease, it contains most of the nutrients needed.
Anti-infective activity, antioxidant activity
Anti-fibrotic activity
Antioxidant, anti-toxic and hepatoprotective activity
Antitoxic, antioxidant and metabolic activity
Antioxidant and antitoxic activity
Antioxidant and anti-toxic activity, metabolic activity
Anti-fatty liver
Liver dysfunction due to iron and/or copper accumulation
Inflammatory, toxic and immune-mediated liver dysfunction
Cholestasis
Cholangitis and biliary hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis
Hepatotoxic drugs (antifungals, barbiturates, chemotherapeutics)
Poisoning (post-acute treatment support)
Dyslipidaemia
Silymarin is an antioxidant extracted from the plant called milk thistle. Silymarin is its main active ingredient, which stabilizes the liver cell membrane, maintains the integrity of liver cells, prevents toxins from penetrating and damaging the liver, accelerates the synthesis of DNA in liver cells and prevents cirrhosis, fatty liver and cholangitis.
Extensive clinical data and literature show that the patented Siliphos® silymarin and phosphatidylcholine are far more effective than regular silymarin and have a higher safety profile and better results in the treatment of pets.
Reduced glutathione is used in various liver diseases, especially in alcoholic liver disease, drug-induced liver disease (including anti-cancer drugs, anti-tuberculosis drugs, psychotropic drugs, anti-depressants, acetaminophen and traditional Chinese medicine), and in infectious liver diseases - chronic active forms of viral hepatitis B and C - to improve symptoms, signs and restore liver function, and also has anti-inflammatory effects.
This is a compound derived from the essential amino acids methionine and ATP, a glutathione precursor substance and an important hepatic antioxidant enzyme. An adequate supply of SAMe is also essential for the synthesis and consumption of glutathione, which is one of the important protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the early stages of the cell, as well as having anti-inflammatory effects.
A phosphoric acid-containing complex lipid, an important component of cell and organelle membranes, and an important cofactor in fatty acid transport in hepatocytes. It can improve the integrity and functionality of cell membranes. Effectively protects the liver and favours dogs and cats with chronic liver disease in the presence of oxidative stress.
Can assist in reducing the accumulation of copper in the liver, a deficiency of which reduces the ability of cells to fight oxidant damage