Cats: Causes, Prevention of Liver Disease

Understanding the Causes of Feline Hepatitis

1. Nutritional and Endocrine Disorders, Metabolic Diseases

These conditions disrupt the synthesis, storage, and release of glycogen within the liver, leading to unstable blood sugar levels. The liver's ability to secrete bile is compromised, resulting in insufficient bile flow into the intestines. This makes fat digestion and absorption difficult, suppresses amino acid absorption, and reduces protein synthesis. Longterm consumption of large amounts of animal liver and imbalanced nutrition can all contribute to liver metabolic disorders.

2. Viral, Bacterial, and Parasitic Infections

Pathogens such as herpes viruses, tuberculosis bacteria, pyogenic bacteria, clostridia, fungi, spirochetes, and Babesia can invade the liver or their toxins can affect liver cells, causing disease.

3. Poisoning from Toxic Substances and Chemicals

Ingestion of substances like arsenic, mercury, chloroform, aflatoxins, and dicoumarol, as well as repeated administration of drugs like chlorpromazine, testosterone, halothane, and chlorothiazide, can lead to toxic hepatitis.

Feline Hepatitis Symptoms

Early symptoms typically involve the digestive system: changes in behavior, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, jaundice, and gray, malformed feces. Liver palpation may cause pain, and the abdominal wall may be tense. Liver dullness on percussion may increase.

Later symptoms include: muscle tremors, spasms, muscle weakness, sensory impairment, depression, and as liver ultrasound reveals, the liver may gradually shrink, harden, and develop nodules on its surface.

Treatment for Feline Hepatitis

1. Appropriate Energy Intake

Excessive energy intake can加重 the liver's burden and worsen digestive dysfunction, impacting liver function recovery and prolonging the course of the disease. Insufficient energy intake can increase protein loss in the body, hindering the repair and regeneration of liver cells.

2. Adequate Protein Intake

During liver disease, protein breakdown in the liver increases and physiological and biochemical metabolism becomes chaotic. Insufficient protein supply can lead to a decrease in plasma proteins. Providing highquality protein can enhance enzyme activity, improve immune function, increase liver glycogen storage, and improve liver cell fatty degeneration, which is beneficial for liver cell repair and functional recovery.

3. Moderate Fat Intake

The liver produces and secretes less bile during liver disease, and fat digestion and absorption are weak. Excessive fat intake can cause diarrhea, but too little fat can affect appetite and the absorption of fatsoluble vitamins.

4. Moderate Carbohydrate Intake

Moderate carbohydrate intake can protect proteins. However, excessive carbohydrate intake can be converted into fat and stored in the body, leading to complications and hindering recovery.

5. Sufficient Vitamin Intake

The liver stores various vitamins and directly participates in physiological and biochemical metabolism within the liver. Supplementing vitamins can aid in the repair of liver cells, enhance detoxification functions, and boost immune system capabilities.

6. Light and EasytoDigest Diet

Choose a light, easytodigest semiliquid diet, eat small meals more frequently; or feed specialized liver prescription food; and supplement with liver nutritional products.