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You will need to give a thorough history of your pet's health, including a history of its symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. DiagnosisĪ complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. However, it is suspected that those cats that are affected do not metabolize or excrete copper properly. The cause of copper storage hepatopathy in cats remains largely unknown. Nervous system dysfunction due to the liver being unable to break down ammonia in the body (hepatic encephalopathy).Spontaneous bleeding, black or tarry stools (melena).
Liver issues symptoms skin#
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Chronic progressive disease in which symptoms are observed in middle-aged and older cats with chronic hepatitis, with damage and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)Ĭonversely, secondary copper hepatopathies show symptoms of progressive signs of liver disease due to chronic hepatitis or progressive cirrhosis.
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Acute (sudden) disease which most frequently affects young cats associated with a condition that causes the death of liver tissue (hepatic necrosis).Subclinical disease: a condition where the disease is present in the organ or body, but not detectable by abnormal signs or changes in the animal.Primary copper liver diseases (medically referred to as hepatopathies) generally fall into one of three categories: This disease has been found in cats, but these cases are considered rare and isolated. This condition is believed to be secondary to a primary disease, usually the result of a genetically-based abnormal copper metabolism. Copper storage hepatopathy is a condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of copper in the liver, which can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver over the long term.
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