Liver Disease in Cats

Question:

Dear Dr. Smith,

My cat was diagnosed with a liver disease after we had bloodwork done, but we were unable to afford further tests to determine prognosis, so our vet recommended taking medications - Prednisone 5mg 2x/day and a antibiotic - Baytril.  I was hoping to take a holistic approach, but due to our cats quick weightloss we just started the dosages.  Is it possible to use the Liver Aid and Immunity and Liver Support by Pet Alive to take along with the allopathic medicine in order to build up his liver and help repair it?  If you would suggests these is there a group of products or one that would complement the current therapy? PLEASE would you give me a suggestion, I am so desperate, my cat is only 4 years old.. I am truly grateful for any suggestions.

Warmly, Melinda C.

Hello Melinda,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. There are several liver diseases that may be causing your cat’s liver dysfunction, hepatic lipidosis, general hepatitis or cholangiohepatitis. Was your cat previously overweight, is he vomiting, and is his appetite decreased? The liver serves as a storage reservoir for many vitamins and mineral, therefore malabsorption and alterations in blood flow will decrease their availability.

I highly recommend Nu-Cat by Vetri Science to supplement necessary nutrients such as taurine, Vit B12, Vit K and selenium. Secondly, liver support is crucial and I would recommend Hepagen by Thorne. The Hepagen feline formula is no longer manufactured but you may use half the dose of the canine formulation (Hepage-C), which is equivalent to the required dose.  Most importantly if your cat is not eating, aggressive nutritional support with a high percentage of protein, moderate fat and very low carbohydrates is necessary to minimize stress on the liver. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA