Hepatic lipidosis (HL) is the most common acquired and potentially lethal liver disease of cats. It follows a period of anorexia or food deprivation in an overconditioned cat, when mobilised body fat overwhelms the liver and fills hepatocytes with triglyceride. Most cases have an underlying illness driving the anorexia, so the exam wants you to treat both the lipidosis and its cause, and to refeed safely.
Key facts
Hepatic lipidosis at a glance- Species and system: cat, liver.
- Setting: overconditioned cat with inappetence from an underlying disease or a stressor (moving house, new pet, boarding, confinement).
- Classic presentation: marked weight loss (over 25%), jaundice, lethargy, vomiting, ptyalism, hepatomegaly.
- Lab pattern: hyperbilirubinaemia and a marked rise in ALP with normal or only modestly raised GGT.
- Key treatment: vitamin K1, correct fluids and electrolytes, then early enteral nutrition by tube.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Monitoring and follow-up
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 7 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.