Holistic Approach to Feline Liver Disorders

Having a Feline rescue for more than 30 years, I have experienced a wide variety of problems with many different treatments over the years. Probably the most difficult has been liver failure. This is when, for many different reasons, a cat's liver fails to remove toxins from the body.

First, it is very difficult to recognize early symptoms of liver failure. I have noticed weight loss, vomiting, poor appetite, but without a veterinary diagnosis, these symptoms can copy any number of problems. In the latter stages, or progressed liver failure, you will notice a jaundice, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, inside the ears and mouth, you may even notice a blue-eyed cats' eyes turn green. Often this begins to show in older cats.

Recently, one of the cats in my care, a Ragdoll, disappeared for several days. I had noticed he was a bit lethargic and wasn't eating well for awhile, but still ate regularly, though less each day. When he returned I noticed his beautiful blue eyes were actually turning green, the whites of his eyes were yellowing and his weight loss was dramatic for such a short period of time. I gave him some canned cat food and took his temperature. It was elevated, shortly after eating he threw up the food that was given him. This cat, at only 11 years old (cats aren't old till they are at least 18-20 here) was experiencing advanced liver failure! Having found little success in the past, I approached a Veterinarian that also had a good knowledge of holistic care. She suggested I keep him caged or quarantined (for observation) , give him only a good canned food and twice daily give him 1/4 of a 200 mg. SamE tablet plus milk thistle with each meal.

First: check for hydration, pull up the skin on his shoulder, if it springs back quickly, he's hydrated, if it *crawls* back, he may be seriously dehydrated. You can try giving him some pedialyte, but if he isn't drinking sufficient amounts of water, further treatments are futile without re-hydration.

This particular cat was badly dehydrated, could not take in enough water orally, so had to have fluids IV or sub Q immediately to rehydrate him. I gave him 100+ cc of fluid 2 x/day subQ for 3 days before he began drinking well enough on his own. If your are experienced with subQ hydrating, you may ask your vet for proper needles, .09% sodium chloride injection and dosage for your cat according to his weight. Usually, this is done at least twice daily. If you are not well experienced with this procedure, it is far easier and wiser to have your cat left at your vet's for IV re hydrating. If you are going with a holistic treatment, also leave instructions for the SamE and milk thistle, with your choice of food.

Each day, for the first 3 days, I gave him 6 very small meals a day of a good canned or homemade food with which I added a little water, small amount of pro-biotic (1/4 or less adult dose), about 1/6 of a 600 mg. milk thistle powder capsule and 1/8 t. olive oil, and orally gave him his 1/4 tablet of SamE(I cut with a scissors) twice daily. I also, for the first two weeks gave him a baby's dose of tri-vi-sol baby liquid vitamins. On the 4th day he began drinking enough water on his own. By the 2nd week, I reduced his meals to 4 a day, continuing with the SamE orally and 1/4 milk thistle in his food. I could actually see he had gained weight by week 3. By week 4, finally, his eyes were returning to the clear blue color and the yellowing disappearing. He was stronger, looked and acted like his old self again! SUCCESS! I will probably have to keep him on the tablets for the rest of his life, but it is a small price to pay for good health and a happy kitty . He now eats an equal of 2 1/2 6 oz cans of food daily and plenty of fresh water.
extra Note: My daughter, a veterinary technician, had an 18 year old cat with liver failure that lived an extra year and a half on the SamE and milk thistle treatment.

Schedule:
See your vet!
1.) re-hydrate if needed
2.)1/4 200 mg. SamE 2 X daily
3.)1 milk thistle capsule divided into 4-6 meals daily
4.) lots of TLC and encouragement!

Here is the recipe for the homemade food I made for my Liver compromised cat:

2c. chicken livers (preferably organic) or 1 lb. venison
(or any organic organ meat-eg: heart, liver)
1 c. water
3 eggs
4T. cottage cheese or yogurt
1 T. olive oil
1 crushed complete cat vitamin/mineral supplement with taurine

Directions:
cook meat in water by bringing to boil , cover, simmer on low
about 15 minutes or until just done, add beaten eggs, stir, remove from heat,
cover tightly 10 minutes, cool. Add the cottage cheese or yogurt, olive oil and
crushed cat vitamin, put in a food processor or blender till smooth. Put what
cat will eat in 2 days into baggies in frig... Freeze the rest for future meals-take out
night before needed to thaw in refrigerator.