FELINE IDIOPATHIC HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS

Feline idiopathic hepatic lipidosis (IHL) is a common hepatopathy that affects adult cats of any breed. This disorder may occur secondary to other systemic diseases that cause anorexia or disrupt normal hepatic metabolic processes, such as pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, or cholangiohepatitis. IHL occurs primarily in obese, indoor cats subjected to stress, inducing anorexia. Affected cats show clinical and laboratory evidence of progressive cholestasis and Liver failure. Treatment is aimed at providing adequate calories and protein by placement of a feeding tube. Some of the theories on the pathogenesis of IHL are presented.