Lipidosis, Fatty Liver

Lipidosis is the deposition of fat in cells, and if carried to an extreme, can can kill the cell. Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) is a common disease in cats, when fat accumulates in the liver cells and the body becomes unable to transport the fat out of the liver. It is most often due to an underlying primary cause, such as kidney disease, starvation, obesity, diabetes, or pancreatitis. Idiopathic hepatic lipidosis refers to cases where no underlying cause can be identified. When fat accumulates in the liver, the organ becomes enlarged and turns yellow. As liver failure progresses, jaundice becomes visible. The risk of hepatic lipidosis is greatly increased in obese cats that do not eat for some periods of time. Illness, stress, or change of diet can trigger loss of appetite (anorexia), but also aggressive attempts to get the cat lose weight.

Corneal Lipidosis

Corneal lipidosis has been reported in the German shepherd resulting from hypothyroidism and thyroid gland cancer. This condition is characterized by destruction of the cornea and is associated with many inherited diseases of the cornea. The lipid deposits appear as white opacities on the surface of the eye.

Hepatic Lipidosis

Hepatic lipidosis occurs both in cats and dogs; the incidence is higher in cats. The end result is often generalized liver failure. Management of hepatic lipidosis mainly involves controlled diets. A severe form of lipidosis in dogs is associated with diabetes mellitus where a rapid buildup of fat will sometimes lead to rupture of the fat-laden cells, release of fat into the bloodstream and obstruction of the arteries.

Breeds at Risk

In dogs, globoid cell leukodystrophy disease characterized by deficiency of the galactosylcerebroside beta-galactocidase enzyme has been found in Cairn terrier, West Highland White terrier, Beagle, miniature poodles, domestic short-haired cats and some other animals. The deficiency of the galactosylcerebroside beta-galactocidase enzyme has been discovered in the brain, spleen, kidney, peripheral leukocytes (white blood cells) and fibroblasts (connective tissue cells).

Method of Inheritance

It is a rare, progressive, fatal disorder inherited by autosomal recessive mode with clinical signs pertaining mainly the nervous system, particularly to the white matter of the brain and peripheral nerves. The onset of the disease is usually between 3 and 6 months of age.

References

1. Pam Johnson-Bennett. Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss
2. Thomas Carlyle Jones, Ronald Duncan Hunt, Norval W. King. Veterinary Pathology
3. Antoni Horst. Molecular Pathology
4. Kirk N. Gelatt. Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology
5. Patrick Thomas Redig. Raptor Biomedicine
6. Martha Cannon, Myra Forster-van Hijfte. Feline Medicine