What Is Fatty Liver (Hepatic Lipidosis)?

Question: What Is Fatty Liver (Hepatic Lipidosis)?

Hepatic Lipidosis is the medical term for Fatty Liver, seen most often in cats. Learn how this condition can occur and what cats are most at risk in this FAQ.

Answer: Hepatic Lipidosis is a condition seen in cats who stop eating, especially overweight cats.

The exact cause of Hepatic Lipidosis is not known, but can develop after a cat stops eating due to other illness, stress, concurrent liver disease, or injury. This can be potentially life-threatening, particularly for the overweight cats.

Fatty infiltrates fill the liver, block the bile ducts in the liver, and destroy liver tissue. Cats become jaundiced (yellow), lose weight, may experience vomiting and diarrhea, and fail to eat, even after the inciting injury or illness is over.

Treatment is supportive; taking care of hydration and nutritional needs and treating any other diseases present. If the patient cannot be coaxed to eat, a feeding tube is often necessary to provide nutrition and stop the cycle of Hepatic Lipidosis in the liver.

This condition is also seen in caged birds and mink.

For additional information about Hepatic Lipidosis:
Fatty Liver Disease in Cats
From Franny Syufy, Guide to Cats

This article © Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM