Hepatic lipidosis
Good afternoon friends!
Today I decided to write little about an interesting topic that has been popping up a lot lately.
I've actually been researching this topic for a while and gathered a little information on it. I think this is essential that every ferret owner is aware of this issue so we can avoid it from ever happening to our lovely ferrets! Let's begin!
Just like our feline friends, ferrets too can get this disease. It is known as Hepatic lipidosis, A.K.A fatty liver, and is one of the most common liver diseases our ferrets could get. Hepatic lipidosis can get out of hand and cause damage in very little time, so understanding this disease can help us to prevent it as best we can from ever happening to our little fuzzy companions, as well as help treat it.
What exactly is Hepatic lipidosis?
Hepatic Lipidosis is a common problem among many species of animals and even humans. It is more commonly known as Fatty Liver Disease. In ferrets (and cats), there is officially no known cause, hence why is most often left undiagnosed. Most ferrets are either obese or have experienced a sudden weight loss, or enforced fasting which then results in excessive mobilisation of fat stores, this then results in liberation of nonesterified fatty acids, which accumulate in the liver and result in hepatomegaly and hepatitis.
Why It Is Serious
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The liver on the top of the picture to
the left shows severe hepatic lipidosis.
This liver may float in water! The liver
on the bottom is normal in colour.
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If Hepatic lipidosis is left untreated or undiagnosed, can become life threatening due to the fast digestive tract of the ferret. There is a high mortality rate associated with this condition, but if caught and diagnosed in early stages then the ferret has a better chance of recovery. If the ferret is left without food for too long, the chances of Hepatic lipidosis is more likely to occur due to sudden fasting. Affected ferrets are debilitated and may suffer from malnutrition, hepatic lipidosis, and aspiration pneumonia.If not detected early, there is high chances of the ferret dying from either malnutrition or complications from liver failure.
Remember they have a fast digestive tract of roughly 3-4 hours. Left without food for a lengthy time can be risky especially for ferrets who have other diagnosed diseases. For the sake of the ferret's overall health, please always ensure that they have food readily available or within the 3-4 hour timeframe. Left without food for prolonged periods is very dangerous, very unhealthy and not good practice so please always ensure your ferret has food available. Ferret's especially those with other health conditions such as insulinoma may crash, have a seizure and die in very little time from being left without food for prolonged period.
How Does It Occur?
There is always an underlying cause and various risks or reasons as to why a ferret would get Hepatic lipidosis. Half of the cases are called 'idiopathic,' meaning we do not know what has caused the condition, although almost all cases are associated with obesity or enforced fasting. Hepatic lipidosis can be found in association with long-term anorexia / severely underweight ferrets. Chronic GI diseases (e.g., trichobezoar formation) can lead to
hepatic lipidosis. Foreign bodies in the proximal duodenum can obstruct the bile ducts as they enter the small intestine and cause increased liver enzyme and bilirubin levels.
Some risks that may result or increase chances of hepatic lipidosis are:
- Endocrine or Metabolic Diseases,
- Cancers,
- Hypoxia, Hepatotoxins,
- Pregnancy Toxemia,
- Diabetes,
- Adrenocortical Adenocarcinoma,
- Insulinoma,
- Anorexia,
- Obesity,
- Kidney Disease,
- Other Diseases,
- Loss of Appetite,
- Stress,
- Enforced Fasting,
- Etc.
Fasting And It's Inpact On The Liver
When a ferret goes into fasting, It's body forces the liver to convert body fat into usable energy. If this process continues for too long, fat builds up in the cells of the liver, and the disease has officially onset. Prognosis varies depending on the stage of the disease, with both a high recovery and mortality rate at different stages. The disease is may be reversible through intense feeding and there are higher chances of survival if caught in the early stages.
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Here is a good example.
This is Hepatomegaly in a cat.
Enlarged, yellow and friable
liver from a cat that died from
hepatic lipidosis.
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The liver's main functions include protein synthesis, the production of chemicals necessary for digestion, and the detoxification of the body.
The liver also plays an important role in metabolism, the emulsification of fats, the production of coagulation factors (necessary for blood clotting), and in the decomposition of red blood cells.
The liver is of such importance to the body, carrying out so many complex functions, that there is no way to compensate for the loss of the liver when it fails.
Symptoms of Hepatic Lipidosis
Clinically affected ferrets with Hepatic Lipidosis are present with any of the following:
- Lethargy / Depression,
- Tachypnea / abnormally rapid breathing,
- Icterus / Jaundice / Yellowing of the skin (Best seen around the nose, paws and ears),
- Dyspnea (difficult or laboured breathing.),
- A pendulous abdomen,
- Significant weakness / Ataxia: The loss of control of bodily movements in hind limbs.
- Prolonged skin tenting,
- and mild tail-tip alopecia / loss of hair around the tail tip.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on presenting clinical signs and haematological analysis (blood tests) of elevated triglycerides and metabolic acidosis. A liver biopsy may confirm the presence of the disease.
Treatment
Treatment requires forced feeding, esophagostomy tube placement and aggressive intravenous glucose supplementation. If the ferret is obese then a corrective diet is essential to correct obesity. A ferret on a species appropriate diet is rarely obese, unless there is an underlying condition which then may cause obesity due to medications. Correcting any underlying disease such as pregnancy toxemia, insulinoma or adrenocortical adenocarcinoma is critical for survival of the ferret.
If you suspect your ferret has this condition, get your ferret to a vet ASAP!!
References:
http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/vpat5215/digestive/week03/liverpath/fatty_change.htm
http://vetbook.org/wiki/ferret/index.php?title=Hepatic_lipidosis
http://www.zoopath.com/DiseasesofDomesticFerrets.pdf
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2135&aid=217
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver
http://vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php/Hepatic_lipidosis
Common Diseases of Companion Animals by Allelic Summers
Elsevier: Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents by James W Carpenter, Katherine Quesenberry
This article may be altered/edited/updated.
