Feline Jaundice Treatments:

Jaundice, which is also known icterus, is the term to describe the yellow color that is taken on by the tissues that run throughout the body because of the high levels of bilirubin.



Bilirubin is that substance which is the result of a break down of the red blood cells. Jaundice in cats is considered to be abnormal no matter what the cause is. This disease is recognized by the yellow tinge that appears on the animal’s skin.



Jaundice is more visible in the whites of the patient’s eyes and also visible on the skin that is at the base of the ears. Some other symptoms of this disease are excessive urinating and drinking of water, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing, among others.

Cat jaundice causes can be classified into three primary categories. The first cause is known as the prehepatic cause.



These causes are the ones that occur before the blood passes down through the liver. It is also known as the hemolytic cause. They occur because of a breakdown of all the red blood cells. They include drugs; immune mediated hemolytic anemia, low phosphate quantities in the blood, reactions to blood transfusions, heartworm disease which is relatively rare in cats. Hepatic causes are those particular disorders that are associated with the cat’s liver. These include inflammatory diseases that are linked with the liver, fatty infiltrations of the liver, certain types of drugs that include griseofulvin, acetaminophen and diazepam also, certain types of toxins that include heavy metals and chemical fleas, tick and sprays. Cancer or any type of bacterial, viral or protozoal infections are also some of the hepatic causes. The posthepatic causes are those disorders that happen post the blood going through the liver. It also includes any disorders that end in a blockage of bile that flows from the liver. These causes include pancreatic diseases like pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, gall bladder diseases like cancer, inflammation of the gall bladder and also of the bile duct and also gall stones. Intestinal disease that leads to blockage in the bile duct is also a cause.

Cat jaundice treatments include discontinuing any other therapy that has been initiated prior to the jaundice starting, allowing the cat to rest and helping it to avoid any kind of stress and finally administering the intravenous fluids and electrolytes therapy in the case of those cats that are dehydrated or seriously ill. Blood products should be given to those that are severely anemic.