Maybe I am worried over nothing but I would like to think about the possibility of future problems and the fact that this month I am extremely tight with money. So avoidance is a good thing. So I would like to know if there are ways to prevent Hepatic Lipidosis. Yes I have been reading up on it. The cat I am talking about is in this thread. This cat is already overweight. Apparently just maybe 5-6 lbs. He is a big boned cat and has a very large body. After shaving his belly clumps off he really doesn't have a ton of chub hanging down there. It is mostly just hair!
The reason I am worried is that he isn't eating a ton (I have been having trouble with this, even tried feeding him tuna like he used to eat) and he threw up a couple times maybe from change in diet. I know he is stressed AND I also know that stress is a trigger factor of H.L. He is rather lazy and lounges around a lot, maybe he isn't feeling well or maybe he is just a lazy older chubby cat. Hard to say. I am going to call the old owners tomorrow and try to find out more about his personality and exactly what kind and brand of foods they fed him. I can at least start him out on the same thing and wean him off.
Also there is no jaundice that I see, which happens when the liver is damaged or there are liver problems, which is the basis of H.L., the liver builds up fat and doesn't function correctly.
So, I read multiple times that you can use nutritional suppliments to prevent H.L. in a cat who fits the criteria of it. I would like to take this approach first. Anyone have some suggestions? And I read that you can offer a high protein, calorie dense food (like what?) I am going to ask my teacher for help tomorrow too. She is great at this stuff since she worked many years in vet clinics as a tech and teaches and she is great with alternative medicines and solutions. I know this is a possibility in cats who stop eating and I want to help him before serious problems start.
Thanks!
The reason I am worried is that he isn't eating a ton (I have been having trouble with this, even tried feeding him tuna like he used to eat) and he threw up a couple times maybe from change in diet. I know he is stressed AND I also know that stress is a trigger factor of H.L. He is rather lazy and lounges around a lot, maybe he isn't feeling well or maybe he is just a lazy older chubby cat. Hard to say. I am going to call the old owners tomorrow and try to find out more about his personality and exactly what kind and brand of foods they fed him. I can at least start him out on the same thing and wean him off.
Also there is no jaundice that I see, which happens when the liver is damaged or there are liver problems, which is the basis of H.L., the liver builds up fat and doesn't function correctly.
So, I read multiple times that you can use nutritional suppliments to prevent H.L. in a cat who fits the criteria of it. I would like to take this approach first. Anyone have some suggestions? And I read that you can offer a high protein, calorie dense food (like what?) I am going to ask my teacher for help tomorrow too. She is great at this stuff since she worked many years in vet clinics as a tech and teaches and she is great with alternative medicines and solutions. I know this is a possibility in cats who stop eating and I want to help him before serious problems start.
Thanks!