Feline Liver Failure

Felines can be impacted by two types of genetic disease

In my last column, I wrote about genetic diseases and our increasing knowledge about them. This time I want to discuss two specific genetic diseases that can affect cats.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary disease of the muscle of the left ventricle of the heart. There is hypertrophy or thickening of the affected muscle. This thickening interferes with the contraction of the muscle and therefore the pumping of blood throughout the body. As a result, a chain of complications results. Because poor emptying leads to ineffective filling in the ventricle, the chamber that empties into it distends and enlarges. Blood pressure increases cause fluid to build up in the lungs. Blood that is pooling in the enlarged chamber that leads to the thickened ventricle is more likely to form clots that can be a major problem if they block blood vessels elsewhere in the body.

HCM is the most common heart disease of the cat, and may cause congestive heart failure and sudden death in some cats. The average age at diagnosis is 5-7 years. Diagnosis of HCM requires a combination of tools, including a physical examination, thoracic radiography and echocardiography.

HCM occurs in 1-in-500 people and is inherited in at least 60 per cent of cases. The mutations that cause HCM in humans are found in several genes. Some mutations create serious change leading to short survival; others lead to more benign disease with little effect on survival.

To date two genetic mutations have been identified in cats, one each in the Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds. Maine Coon cats are probably the best studied example of feline HCM. It is inherited as a dominant trait in this breed.

The form of HCM in Ragdoll seems to cause severe disease, often with an early age of onset. There are other breeds who have familial HCM.

A familial tendency means it is almost certainly an inherited disease, but the specific gene mutation has not yet been identified. Persians, British Shorthair, American Shorthair, Spyhnx, Norwegian Forest Cat and Bengal are some of those breeds. Genetic testing for HCM in Maine Coon cats and Ragdoll cats can be done by some diagnostic laboratories, usually with a simple cheek swab.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common genetic disorder of humans, occurring in one in 200 to one in 1,000 people. It accounts for more than 10 per cent of kidney dialysis patients. In the 1980s, PKD was identified as a genetic disease in cats and has become an important medical model for human PKD.

Articles 20VN | Other Common and Not So Common Diseases | cat ...

A cat is considered to be a senior when they are 10 years old. The diseases that are common for these older cats are diabetes, chronic kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and cancers. Early detection is essential to the survival of an older cat from any of these diseases. Routine veterinary care is vital for detection and for prevention. Yearly checkups are advised as these can pick up on a problem before it becomes something major and therefore possibly expensive.

Many of the diseases that are fatal for cats are preventable if cats have received proper vaccinations when needed. For cat vaccines to be effective, they must be given in a series of injections. This is typically started at around age 6 to 8 weeks, again at around 12 weeks of age and then at 16 weeks of age. After the first series of kitten shots the adult cat needs a yearly dose of vaccinations that are appropriate for your cat. If you have an outdoor cat your cat will need to include the leukemia vaccine and the feline aids vaccine.

Feline diabetes mellitus, like in the human form, has type 1 and type 2. Warning signs for this disease are excessive thirst or excessive urination, loss of weight, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, poor skin, poor coat condition, breathing problems, and dehydration.

Hepatic lipidosis, otherwise known as the fatty liver disease, is seen in older cats that are overweight or obese. Fats build up in the liver until it can no longer function. If left untreated, this can be fatal. It is also the most common liver disease in cats. Cats can also get this disease if they develop anorexia. Warning signs for this disease are loss of appetite, listlessness, rapid weight loss, a yellowing of the eyes or skin, vomiting, and an abdomen that swells.

Kidney disease is common to older cats. As the kidneys filter the blood and regulate water in the cat's body while creating waste products, kidney disease will allow a toxic build-up in the cat's body which will quickly kill it. The warning signs are weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and also a loss of appetite, which contributes to the weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism is also another disease that is common to older cats. This is caused by a hyperactive thyroid which produces too many thyroid hormones. Warning signs are again weight loss, increased thirst and increased urination, an increase in hyperactivity, appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Your vet may wish to remove the thyroid or perhaps treat the problem with medication. The treatment will depend on your cat's age and level of general health. If left untreated it can cause death.

WSAVA standards for clinical and histological diagnosis of canine and feline liver disease

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