Tyson has hepatic lipidosis

My 6 year old baby, Tyson, was diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis after going to the vet last Tuesday (11/26) because he was acting very ill. The vet was not very reassuring about his prognosis, and really could not give me any clear ideas on his chances. I started looking things up online and seeing how many other cats out there have been affected HL and made it through was so uplifting! I am not sure what advice I need.. I just wanted to share my story and maybe here more experiences like mine.

Tyson was severely jaundiced and had lost a lot of weight, but I am not sure how "severe" his is. His liver way at the failing point with his values very high- but his ultrasound looked more promising. I tried the force feeding route for the first few days, but it was overly stressful on us both. He just got his e-tube today and so far I think it is going to be a blessing! He has been fed Hills AD, an luckily for me has not thrown up since before he went to the vet in the first place. He is on vitamin B supplements and a liver disease med called Ursodiol. He just finished his antibiotic, Clavamox. They tried a medication for nausea to see if it would make him want to eat, because at first he would still lick food a little. But that didn't do anything.

After getting the tube, he is acting very blah right now and his breathing sounds kind of different. I am assuming it is from the procedure today? Also, he kind of freaks out when I take the plug out of the tube, and drools the whole time. Not sure if this is normal and will go away or what?

I really wanted somewhere to document this instead of talking about it to anyone around me who will listen-- my random coworkers probably don't care as much as my momma does

Welcome to the forum, MyTyson!

Cats get HL because they are unique insofar as they cannot efficiently metabolize body fat. If you were stranded on an island without food, your liver could use your body fat to sustain you.....sure, you'd be emaciated when (hopefully) eventually found.....but, your cat would not have survived. A cat's liver tries but, simply can't do it.and the liver absorbs "more than it can chew", becoming fatty itself....then necrosis sets in.

A cat cannot go without eating.

You'll get practical and emotional support from the people here: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/

(That's where I'd be IF I were in your position!)

Keep us updated!
 

Thank you! I will definitely check it out. The whole feeding tube thing is very different to me so that group sounds perfect for more learning

I'm glad he is keeping his food down now.  That, obviously is critical.  And even when he starts eating again on his own, you will probably still need to continue to feeding him thru his tube as well, at least for awhile. 

Please keep us posted on his progress, and feel free to ask any questions.  There are,unfortunately, many people here who currently have or have had cats with HL.  My own Bashful had it many years ago, and his feeding tube was installed directly into his stomach.  I don't think they do that much anymore, but I'm talking perhaps 15 years ago!  (which doesn't make me a very good resource either, as it's just been so long ago that my memory on certain details eludes me)

for your little guy!

He doesn't really like my right now with the whole tube thing.. But it's way less stressful than the syringe method was.

He threw up last night during a feeding Seeing the syringe made his drool start and he kept swallowing so I think that triggered it. I was so excited he hadn't had that happen yet.. So I hope it doesn't continue because I know he needs the calories. He was sleeping on my bed before that happened which I was so happy about! (He has been hiding out in a few other spots, but hasn't been up there since this started.) So hopefully we have more moments like that to keep me sane Thanks for the well wishes!

mrsgreenjeens said:

I...Bashful had it many years ago, and his feeding tube was installed directly into his stomach.  I don't think they do that much anymore...

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Oh, I think so...take a look at the assist-feed site, this page http://www.assistfeed.com/CatForceFeeding.htm I understand those three types are the current standards.

MyTyson said:

He doesn't really like my right now with the whole tube thing.. But it's way less stressful than the syringe method was.

He threw up last night during a feeding

Seeing the syringe made his drool start and he kept swallowing so I think that triggered it. I was so excited he hadn't had that happen yet.. So I hope it doesn't continue because I know he needs the calories. He was sleeping on my bed before that happened which I was so happy about! (He has been hiding out in a few other spots, but hasn't been up there since this started.) So hopefully we have more moments like that to keep me sane

Thanks for the well wishes!

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I think the tube is much less stressful for all parties concerned .

One reason he may have thrown up is if you feed him too fast, or too much at one time.  THAT much I DO remember.  Plus, are you warming his food?  And naturally it's a slurry, to get it into the syringe.  He's still on A/D, right?  And no longer taking the Clavamox?  (that makes lots of cats nauseated)

Once you get this down, Tyson shouldn't object too much.  Bashful used to purr while getting tube fed.  I think he really enjoyed our "alone time", plus he get a belly full of warm food

He's off the Clavamox now and I just picked up Cerenia for the nausea, so he will get that at his next feeding and I hope it helps. He threw up a little bit after this last feeding too, but my mother did it for me so I am not sure how much. I warm the food but I was flushing it with room temperature water, so now I am warming that too. I definitely feel like I learn more tips online then from my vet He only seems to try to get away from me when he is drooling a lot from the nausea, so hopefully the medication works for that. I know it takes a while to adjust and notice changes.. I'm trying to be patient