Feeding cats with liver diseases: features and useful recommendations

What you need to know about liver disease in cats

The role of the liver is that it takes harmful substances from the blood and neutralizes them, removing them through bile. If the functioning of the gland is disrupted, then general intoxication of the body occurs, since toxins remain unresolved, which affects the functioning of all internal organs. Complicated liver pathologies are deadly.

The most common liver diseases in cats are:

• steatohepatosis - a disease accompanied by fatty liver, often occurs due to improper nutrition of the cat - an excess of fats and carbohydrates in the diet;
• hepatitis - inflammation of the liver, usually of viral origin;
• cirrhosis is a disease in which liver cells die and in their place fibrous tissue appears, unable to absorb toxins and excrete them with bile; occurs as a complication of other liver pathologies;

  Most often, liver pathologies are hereditary diseases or occur due to poor nutrition, poisoning or complicated infection.

• cholelithiasis - the occurrence of hard stones that block the bile ducts, the causes may be a hereditary metabolic disorder or poor nutrition;
• tumors in the liver - can be benign and malignant, the most dangerous type is hepatocellular carcinoma (rapidly progresses, difficult to treat even in the early stages).

How to tell if your cat has liver disease

Liver diseases can occur due to various reasons, but often the clinical picture is similar. A person should be alert to the following signs:

• frequent vomiting and diarrhea in cats;
• change in color of the mucous membranes of the mouth, whites of the eyes, tongue, ears (acquiring a yellowish tint);
• severe hair loss;
• lack of appetite, sudden weight loss;
• weakness in the cat, apathy;
• dark brown or scarlet color of urine;
• hard and swollen abdomen (upper part);
• signs of pain: the animal moves slowly on bent legs;
• when trying to touch the tummy, he starts screaming, runs away and hides;

If there are signs of deterioration in the cat’s well-being, the animal should be immediately taken to a veterinarian, who will perform a full examination.

Which breeds are most susceptible to liver disease?

There are some breeds, among whose representatives liver pathologies are quite common. First of all, these are animals with a predisposition to metabolic disorders. These include:

• Highland Folds;
• Persian cats;
• Australian mysts;
• Russian blue;
• Siamese;

  Siamese cats have a predisposition to metabolic disorders

• Carthusian cats;
• Maine Coons.

In addition to liver problems, these breeds may experience obesity and urolithiasis, as they are also associated with metabolic disorders.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a collective concept indicating an inflammatory process in the liver . Symptoms are varied and depend on the causes and strength of the cat’s body. The danger is that hepatitis is often asymptomatic until it reaches a severe stage.

The cause of hepatitis may be aggressive treatment or therapy that was not carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Liver parasites almost always lead to inflammation of the liver tissue. Almost always, after poisoning, a cat develops hepatitis, its severity depends on the nature of the poison. Disorders of the digestive system, such as colitis or gastritis, can put stress on the liver, leading to inflammation.

Note! The most common causes of hepatitis are always associated with intoxication. This may include infestation by worms, toxicosis of pregnant women, burns, contact poisons, inhalation of caustic fumes, etc.

The symptoms of the disease are quite varied and may vary. Almost always, the clinical picture is not completely clear, since the full range of symptoms does not appear.

Common signs of hepatitis include:

• Apathy and fatigue.
• Poor appetite and picky eating.
• Increased water consumption.
• Low-grade fever.
• Breathing problems.
• Vomiting and diarrhea with or without yellow foam.
• Jaundice.
• Sudden vascular bleeding.

Note! With hepatitis in cats, the urine often darkens and the color of the feces becomes orange.

Basic rules of nutrition for liver diseases in cats

Improper nutrition will aggravate liver disease and lead to the rapid death of the cat. To prevent this, you must trust your veterinarian to draw up recommendations for feeding the animal and follow them carefully. In each specific case, these recommendations will differ, since the diet is compiled based on the exact diagnosis, form and stage of the disease, the presence of concomitant diseases, the general well-being of the pet, its age, weight, and breed. Below are just general tips for feeding cats with unhealthy livers.

First of all, an animal with liver pathologies requires a lot of protein food. This is necessary to restore damaged cells of the diseased gland. It is also necessary to ensure that the cat receives the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals. For example, an adult animal requires daily:

• vitamin B - 23 IU per kilogram of animal weight;
• vitamin D - 2.3 IU/kg;
• potassium - 180 mg;
• phosphorus - 160 mg;
• magnesium - 25 mg;
• zinc - 0.15 mg.

You need to be extremely careful with fats and carbohydrates. On the one hand, an animal weakened by illness needs them for recovery. On the other hand, too dense, fatty food will be a factor in the development of complications, as it will put excessive stress on the diseased liver.

The diet of a sick cat should be such that the liver is not overloaded - food without preservatives and dyes is needed, all products must be the freshest

During exacerbations, veterinarians usually recommend a fasting diet for 1–2 days until the condition improves. Only clean water is allowed. After such a forced hunger strike, the animal is given low-fat fish and meat broths. From 3-4 days after an exacerbation, you can switch to a full diet, but in reduced dosages - 2 times less than necessary in accordance with the norm for the weight and age of the cat.

Reduced doses should be given all the time, since overeating in liver pathologies is dangerous - it is better to increase the number of feedings (4-5 times with breaks of 2-3 hours).

What is contraindicated to include in the diet

A diet for a cat with a problem liver involves excluding from the diet foods rich in nitrogenous extractives (carnosine, creatine, anserine, purine bases), cholesterol, oxalates, and oxalic acid. These substances are contained in:

• mushrooms;
• “heavy” meat (pork, lamb, horse meat);

  In case of a diseased liver, fat oxidation products that occur during frying in oil are strictly prohibited - sick cats can only be fed boiled and baked lean meat

• seafood;
• fatty dairy products;
• eggs;
• beans;
• cauliflower;
• lettuce leaves;
• parsley;
• celery, etc.

Many of these products are not recommended for completely healthy cats, but for pets with unhealthy livers they are strictly prohibited.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

In the acute phase of the disease, the pet experiences:

• lethargy;
• jaundice;
• fever;
• the animal refuses to eat, loses weight;
• attacks of thirst are observed;
• bloating;
• vomiting, diarrhea or, conversely, difficulty with bowel movements;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

Liver failure most often occurs in older animals who have crossed the 9-year mark. There are several reasons that provoke the occurrence of the disease:

1. These are cancerous tumors of the liver and other organs that metastasize to it.
2. Diseases of the endocrine system, animal poisoning with toxic substances from eating mice, drug overdose.
3. The animal could have fallen from a considerable height or been hit by a car, infectious diseases, heart problems.

One of the most common factors in the occurrence of the disease is considered to be improper feeding.

Symptoms that determine the occurrence of the disease:

• vomit;
• stools are light, liquid, with blood;
• the cat refuses food and water, is lethargic;
• yellowness of the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes appears;
• jumps in body temperature;
• itching;
• there is a noticeable increase or decrease in the weight of the animal.

Treatment of a cat is prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian. In addition, the animal’s nutrition is corrected. It must be dietary; fat and sugar are completely excluded from the diet.

What ready-made food can I use?

For cats with liver diseases, there are special medicinal foods - their names contain the terms Hepatic or Liver Care. They help slow down the progression of the disease, reduce the load on the organ, and help maintain and restore the functioning of the entire body.

There are also ready-made foods created for cats with liver disease.

What is included in medicinal feed for animals with liver diseases

Food for cats with liver pathologies can be either dry or wet (that is, in the form of pate or meat pieces in jelly). The main condition is that the composition should not contain any preservatives, thickeners, or flavor enhancers. They are always added to economy-class feeds, which are not suitable for sick animals. The Hepatic or Liver Care series are only available in the premium feed category.

The presence of starch and protein hydrolysate in the feed is beneficial in case of chronic liver failure

The nutritional value of medicinal feed should be approximately as follows:

• protein - 15–28%;
• fat - no more than 22%;
• fiber - at least 3%.

Corn gluten, dehydrated poultry or fish, beet pulp, and powdered eggs can be used as a source of protein. Vitamins and minerals are an essential component of medicinal feed. The composition should contain vitamins D3, A, E, B, PP, C, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, sodium, taurine. Copper should be no more than 4.2 mg (excessive consumption of this mineral puts too much stress on the liver).

An increased content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the food helps improve the well-being of a cat weakened by illness.

Is it possible to use medicated food without consulting a specialist?

Before using medicated food, you should consult your veterinarian. You should make sure that the cat really has liver problems. The symptoms of different diseases can be similar, and different diagnoses require their own diet. Medicinal foods marked Hepatic or Liver Care are only suitable for animals with liver pathologies - they are not used for other diseases or for prevention.

Consultation with a veterinarian before starting to use medicated food is also necessary to draw up an accurate nutrition program. There are tables with dosages on the packages of finished products, but they are very average. It is better if a specialist makes a more accurate calculation based on the diagnosis, stage and form of the disease and general data about the cat (weight, age, breed, etc.).

How long can you feed your pet medicated food?

The duration of diet therapy depends on the type of pathology. After an exacerbation, it is recommended to give medicinal food to cats with liver pathologies for at least 6 months. With chronic liver disease, there is a need for medicated food throughout the cat’s life (but the decision about this must be made by a veterinarian).

Is it possible to mix special food with regular food?

It is not recommended to mix regular food with medicinal food, since when mixing it is almost impossible to accurately calculate the daily content of all the substances necessary for a sick cat. You can switch completely to non-medicinal products only with stable remission and only with the permission of a doctor. And even in this case, the selection of food must be carried out carefully, taking into account the quality and composition - this is due to the fact that the threat of exacerbations will persist all the time, the liver cannot fully recover.

Video: how to switch a cat to medicated food

Table: comparison of ready-made food for cats with liver disease

Photo gallery: food for cats with liver disease

Royal Canin's highly palatable food stimulates feed intake and promotes healing High quality ingredients in Farmina Vet Life Cat Hepatic ensure a highly digestible diet Pro Plan Diet food is recommended for supporting liver function, containing a moderate amount of high quality proteins and high levels of essential fatty acids Clinically proven the effectiveness of Hill's food helps maintain the health of cats Hill's Prescription Diet l/d Liver Care contains highly digestible proteins, fats and carbohydrates

What natural foods can you feed a sick cat?

If the owners decide to feed their cat with a diseased liver not with ready-made food, but with “natural” food, then the diet will have to be compiled based on permitted and prohibited foods. Here are some examples of dishes that are suitable for furry patients:

• broth from lean chicken, turkey or fish with cereals;
• boiled and finely chopped poultry and fish (without fascia, tendons, bones and skin), it can be mixed with boiled carrots, beets, pumpkin, potatoes;
• meatballs made from minced chicken or beef and cereals (rice, pearl barley, buckwheat, etc.);
• low-fat milk and sour cream (if the cat tolerates them well).

It is important to ensure that your cat eats well (but does not overeat) and drinks enough water. With liquid, toxins are removed faster through the excretory system, which means that the diseased liver is less stressed, which is very important for recovery and prevention of exacerbations. But there is one caveat: with liver disease, the furry patient does not feel thirsty even with severe dehydration. If the owners notice that their cat practically does not approach the bowl of water, then they will have to forcefully pour it into the animal’s mouth every day (for this you can use a pipette or a syringe without a needle).

The rate of water consumption by a cat per day is 25–30 ml per 1 kg of weight.

Is it necessary to add vitamins, microelements and minerals to the diet?

When feeding ready-made food for cats with liver diseases, there is no need to give the animal additional vitamin and mineral complexes, since they are included in biscuits or canned food. With a “natural” diet, it will not be possible to get the required amount of nutrients, especially if the pet is mischievous and does not want to eat vegetables and grass (for example, sprouted oats). In this case, you should ask your veterinarian to select a suitable preparation with vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

It is better not to buy vitamin and mineral complexes yourself without consulting a doctor, as you may choose the wrong product (for a cat with an unhealthy liver, both a deficiency and an excess of micro- and macroelements is harmful)

Importance of Nutrition

If your cat has been diagnosed with liver disease, you're probably wondering, "How to care for her?" Treatment of any liver disease is aimed at giving the liver “rest” and minimizing its load, which is associated with the processing of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and medications. It is especially important to feed the cat correctly. Give her a diet with easily digestible carbohydrates, high-quality fats, and limited salt to control existing liver damage and improve liver function.

For an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, always consult your veterinarian and ask for recommendations on the best food for your pet's liver health.