Jaundice in Cats

Scientifically, cats belong to the family 'Felidae' but actually they are treated as if they are our family members. As you love them and take care of them, a slight change in the cat behavior can be immediately noticed. Cat health can be affected due to skin problems, eye problem, hormonal imbalance, digestive system disorders, mental stress, etc. Your unconditional love and care, along with proper medication can help cure cat illnesses. A healthy cat can live for about 15 years.

Jaundice Symptoms in Cats

• Skin appearing yellow, the yellow color can be more apparent in the skin at the base of the ears.
• Whites of the eyes appear yellow
• Yellow color to gums
• Difficulty in breathing
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite, loss of body condition
• Weight loss
• Excessive drinking and excessive urinating
• Abdominal distension

A changed or reduced cat appetite is the main symptom of any illness in cats.

Causes

Jaundice in cats is considered as an abnormal condition. It occurs when there are elevated levels of bilirubin in the body of the cat. The red blood cells are processed in the liver, spleen and bone marrow and bilirubin is the product of this process. Normally the liver absorbs, metabolizes and excretes this bilirubin. Elevated levels of bilirubin indicate that liver is not able to process the bilirubin properly or the bilirubin is not excreted adequately. The eyes and skin of the cat turn yellow due to elevated levels of bilirubin. Although the symptom is obvious, the underlying cause can be different every time. There exist several causes of blood disorders.

Prehepatic Causes: When the breakdown of red blood cells takes place before the blood passes through the liver, the causes are called prehepatic causes. They are as follow.

• Blood transfusion reactions
• Low phosphate levels in the blood
• Heartworm disease
• Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
• Drugs and medications

Hepatic Causes: The blood disorders associated with the liver are called hepatic causes of jaundice in cats.

• Viral, bacterial, protozoal infections
• Liver Cirrhosis
• Cancer
• Inflammation of liver or hepatitis
• Cholangitis or inflammation of the bile duct
• Cholangiohepatitis or inflammation of liver and bile duct
• Hepatic lipidosis or fatty infiltration of the liver
• Certain drugs, such as diazepam, acetaminophen, griseofulvin
• Toxins, such as heavy metals, certain chemical flea and tick dips and sprays

Posthepatic Causes: These are the disorders occurring after the blood passes through the liver. The following list includes such disorders which result in blockage of the bile flow from the liver.

• Gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones, cancer, or inflammation of the gallbladder and bile duct.
• Pancreatic diseases, such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
• Intestinal diseases that block the bile ducts

Treatment

• When the cat is diagnosed with jaundice, you should discontinue any therapy initiated before the onset of jaundice.
• Healthy nutritious and appropriate cat food should be provided, after consulting with your vet.
• Severely ill or dehydrated cats may require intravenous fluid and electrolyte therapy.
• Profoundly anemic cats need blood transfusion.
• Avoiding any kind of stress, allowing the cat to rest in a cage can help cure the cat fast.
• Medications to manage symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, excessive abdominal fluid, and neurological problems can be given to the cat.
• Pet care plays an important role in the treatment of jaundice in cats. It should be noted that jaundice itself is a symptom arising due to a wide range of cat diseases that result in high levels of bilirubin in the body.
• The veterinarian might recommend to treat the jaundiced patient after determining the exact cause of jaundice. He might prescribe medicines after finding out the exact cause of jaundice. Information about the cat disease and symptoms should be provided to him.

Early diagnosis of jaundice in cats helps improve the prognosis. Regular medical checkups, watching the change in weight and appetite help prevent most of the cat diseases.