I suspect the Tyson's is fine. Important to keep him eating his normal amount of food....
Here is the suggested group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/ info from the site: Feline Hepatic Lipidosis (FHL), Hepatic Lipidosis (HL), Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) or Syndrome (FLS)-regardless of the acronym, this is a serious and potentially deadly disease that every cat owner needs to be aware of. Any cat who isn't eating OR isn't eating enough is at risk. This is a case where an ounce of prevention is not only worth a pound of cure-it could be worth its weight in gold: your cat's life. This is not meant simply to alarm you. Anyone who has battled Hepatic Lipidosis wishes only one thing: to help others avoid it. If you suspect your cat may be at risk or may have FHL, please discuss the concern with your vet as soon as possible. The Basics: Unlike many other animals, cats are not able to efficiently break down fat stores in their bodies. When a cat is not consuming sufficient calories, the body begins to mobilize fat stores, sending them to the liver to be broken down. The cat's unfortunate inefficiency at this process causes the liver to essentially become "clogged" with fat and induces an acute form of liver failure: Hepatic Lipidosis. Overweight cats are more likely to develop HL, but not all fat cats get HL and not all cats who get HL are fat. Any cat not consuming sufficient calories is at risk FHL is acute, not chronic. It can be cured completely and is unlikely to reoccur. It could, but as anyone who has beaten the disease knows, you will forever after watch your cat like a hawk! The Cause: FHL is caused by not eating enough, but this can result from a vast number of medical conditions. It is also possible for cats to develop "idiopathic" HL, which means it doesn't have a specific medical cause, and could be a result of something as simple as stress. Inappetance for more than a day or two is a sign that something is very wrong, and it is best to seek vet care ASAP both to determine the cause of the inappetance and to assess the possibility of FHL. The Symptoms and Diagnosis: Cats with FHL often become jaundiced (yellowed) which can most readily be seen on the whites of the eyes, inside the ears, gums and roof of mouth. BUT because this is a sort of "after-effect" of the liver damage, the cat is already severely ill by the time it is visible. Simple blood tests can be used to determine the likelihood of HL (ALT/ALP/AST liver numbers are generally elevated) often before jaundice is apparent. Bilirubin will rise sharply also, and is what causes the jaundice. This is why it is critical to alert your vet that your cat has not been eating if it has been more than a day or two. If FHL is suspected from the blood test, tests such as x-rays, ultrasound, a biopsy or fine-needle aspirate (FNA) can be used to confirm and make the diagnosis. The most important thing is that a vet is able to diagnose HL *before* it becomes severe enough to cause jaundice. And the earlier it is caught, the better the odds of survival. The Cure: Food. Not three bites of Fancy Feast. Not two licks of gravy. Not a corner of cheese nor twelve kibbles. A cat with FHL must consume (and keep down) enough calories to reverse the process and allow the liver to heal. Because FHL makes a cat feel even LESS like eating, assisted- feeding is essential and usually involves a "recovery" diet such as a/d or Max Cal. IF you have a cooperative cat, syringe feeding *may* be an option. But with FHL, there is no time to lose. If you are unable to get those critical calories INTO the cat by handfeeding/spoonfeeding or syringe-feeding, a feeding tube should be discussed. BEFORE you rule this out, please be aware that they are neither painful nor uncomfortable for the cat, nor difficult to use. They reduce feeding stress, and many cats look forward to their tube-feedings. Plus, many medications can be given by tube. Complications are rare. There are a number of tube options, but an esophagostomy or "e-tube" is most commonly used for HL as they are inexpensive to place and are for comparatively short term use. PEG tubes or in certain instances J- tubes may be considered. Statistics vary, but the chances of survival are greatly increased by the use of a feeding tube. The time to recovery for FHL will vary depending on the cat and the severity of the disease, but it is usually a matter of weeks. There are no specific medications for FHL, although supplements to help support the liver and anti-nausea medications may be prescribed. Cats with feeding tubes are usually given antibiotics to avoid infections while the tube is in place. Consider the food to be the medication, and be just as diligent in giving it as you would any other. AVOIDING HL: A measure of caution and some simple steps can help you avoid ever needing to deal with this disease: Never put your cat "on a diet" without a vet's supervision - due to the danger of FHL, cats must lose weight slowly and should be closely monitored. Make food changes slowly and gradually and NEVER assume that if your cat gets hungry enough (s)he will eat. NO ONE can "wait out" a cat. They WILL starve themselves. Be alert for inappetance. If you aren't able to "tempt" your cat to eat, begin some form of assisted-feeding *as soon as possible* and contact your vet. Please remember, forewarned is forearmed. http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
