Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of liver problems. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!

Happy hunting :)

<12/11/99 from: Susan re: Liver Disease (Wiley--long)

Hi list, Sue:

I know you're already doing a ton of stuff for Wiley and that you have both a holistic & allo vet working on his case, but here is a "little" more info on the topic.  I also thought it might be of interest to others whose furries have liver problems.  Susan

From _The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care_

Begin Quote:

conventional veterinarians are beginning to realize that not every case of kidney or liver failure is untreatable.  Holistic healthcare has saved the lives of many dogs and cats given up for dead by allopathic veterinarians....The following are often recommended as part of the treatment of liver disease.

Nutritional Therapy:  Begin with a short fast to let the digestive system rest.  Give clean, pure water, not tap water that may contain impurities or toxins. Improve the diet and give large doses of vitamin C, 500-2,000 mg four times per day depending on the animal's size.  Glandular supplements are recommended as indicated by the animal's lab tests.  The thymus gland is essential to liver health, and a combination of thymus tissue extracts, beta carotene and a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement has cured hepatitis in humans....Cats derive usable vitamin A from animal sources such as liver
or cod liver oil.

Most veterinarians recommend reducing the amount of fat in the diet and, to some extent, protein.  The food's quality is more important than usual and should be organically grown because any chemical residue will stress the liver.  Feed only the highest quality fresh foods to an animal with liver disease.

Feed digestive enzymes with meals and give acidophilus supplements.  Cider vinegar can be added in small amounts to food and drinking water.  Brewer's yeast and nutritional yeast are good sources of B vitamins....

Herbal Therapies: Milk thistle seed and Minor Bupleurum Formula (page 304) are specifics for liver.  All of the alterative or blood-cleansing herbs, such as dandelion, burdock root, red clover, yellow dock, and nettles provide additional support.  Essiac tea is often prescribed by holistic veterinarians for dogs and cats with liver disease.   (p392)

SUGGESTED DOSE FOR THE FIRST TIME USE OF ANY HERB (p.136)
 

Animal's Weight	Tincture	Size 00 capsule	Tea
5-10 lbs.	2 drops	1/2 cap	1 tsp.
10-20lbs	4 drops	1 cap	2 tsp.

HSIAO CHAI HU TANG

In the June 1995 edition of _Alternatives_ newsletter, David G. Williams described the Chinese herbal formula Hsiao Chai Tang, also known as....Minor Bupleurum Formula.  The remedy is sold as a tea blend or herbal tablets.

According to Williams, the tea has been prescribed for a variety of conditions...."Where the tea really shines," he wrote, "is in the treatment of hepatitis and liver cancer.  It appears to be the best medicine available (natural or synthetic) in the treatment of primary liver cancer."  In laboratory tests, the formula showed no toxicity toward normal cells while inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by fragmenting cell walls and activating the body's natural defenses.  At the same time, it stimulated or increased the growth of normal cells.  Additional studies have shown that the formula promotes regeneration of liver and, at the University of Medicine in Japan, it inhibited the development of precancerous changes in the breast....

Williams instructed his patients and readers to use this tea as a preventive tonic as well as to treat all types of liver disease....A 10-pound dog or cat would receive between 1-2 tablespoons.  For pills or tablets, convert label directions to canine or feline proportions.

....Both milk thistle seed and Minor Bupleurum are appropriate support therapies in the treatment of all cancers, no just liver disease.  Many herbalists suggest alternating the courses of herbs, using one for several weeks, then replacing it with the other.  This strategy, which prevents the body from becoming so accustomed  to a remedy that its effectiveness declines, is easy to apply with these highly effective liver tonics. (pp 304- 305). End Quote

Sorry to hear that Wiley is still having so much trouble.  I'm a bit concerned to hear that you still have him on goldenseal.  Perhaps it's time for a break... that's pretty strong stuff and can kick back in a weak system.  I'd certainly consider a break between that and the milk thistle, and suggest not doing them both at once unless he begins to function better.  Each of these herbs has its own complex matrix, which the liver must detox along with all other substances, and that can work against you in a failing liver.

My best,
Leslie

Hi all

Sue, I'm sorry for Wiley's problems. We're praying for you both.

I did a net search for feline liver disease and came up pretty blank. I did find one file that may be useful for naturopathic treatment of people liver disease. I know they're different, but I thought maybe you could get some ideas to ask your vets about. It's at http://www.moreton.com.au/ana/handbook/liver.htm

Take care
Kathy, Kashmir and Annie
kashmir@

my vets have told me to feed wiley 5-6 small meals of high quality protein instead of one or two big meals. i use a modified pitcairn diet--a lot less grain--and i use rice or millet exclusively because rice is the most easily digested grain for cats (got this from several sources) and millet because it contains b17 which is an anti-cancer vitamin (found this info inseveral places as well).  apparently the smaller amount of food puts less strain on a liver that is already getting a work out. he gets gizzards separately as a special treat. he loves them, and they are snack-sized by nature.

the things i have used most successfully to help improve wiley's liver function have been milk thistle and dandelion tincture. both stimulate the liver, helping it to detox. there's also a raw liver shake recipe that susan posted a while ago; i'll send it along if you need it. mega doses of vitamin c, and normal doses of CoQ10 and thymus extract have also helped him live longer. i mix all the dry stuff together in a dose appropriate for a 150# human, and figure that's a 15 day supply for my (used to be) 10# cat. i  put the mix into 00 gel capsules (bought at HFS) and give the boy  his dosage daily, split over the course of the day.

wiley has a lot of bad things going on inside him, but considering he wasn't supposed to make it through labor day, i'd say it's helped him. above all, physical reassurance of his love and worth is absolutely necessary. she should set aside time for the cat every day.

 this is info i've gleaned both from this list and the felv list, as well as my own research.  i hope this helps your aunt.

sue and wiley

What kind of liver disease does your aunt's cat have?  Fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) can come on when a cat which was on the heavy side stops eating.  Other kinds of liver disease can be caused by bacteria spreading up from the intestines (pericholangitis) or cancer. The most important thing is to keep the kitty eating or get him to start eating again.  I had good luck with lamb baby food, but have also had to have a feeding tube (PEG) put in. I didn't like the idea of this at first, but it's worked well for me for 3 or 4 kitties that wouldn't have made it otherwise.  The cats didn't seem to mind the tube-Goldie would see me coming with his food-he couldn't wait for me to start feeding him-would purr and make kitty paws the whole time.   when he was eating well on his own, the tube was removed.  One of my kitties, Moses,  came down with liver disease after a reaction to his vaccines (don't know which one-he gets rabies, FeLV and the 3 in one, but no FIP).  He got a mild URI which affected his appetite.  He ate less and less over a period of about a week.  When I got him to the vet on Sat, we noticed he was beginning to jaundice.   My vet did a needle biopsy to determine what was going on. We used valium to stimulate his appetite and I literally fed him by hand until he was eating well again.  I know we had him on antibiotics, too, for the URI,( it might have been antirobe).  Now we split his vaccines, so he doesn't receive them all at once and I baby him and watch him like a hawk for at least a couple weeks after he's had his shots. One of my other cats developed fatty liver disease when I didn't catch the fact that she had a bladder infection right away.  (Now I keep test strips for occult blood in urine at home so I can test their urine myself)

I've had a number of cats with liver problems because about 15 years ago, when I didn't know any better, I exposed them to phenols. At that time, the ink used in newspapers was manufactured from coal tar which contains all kinds of phenolic compounds as well as lots of carcinogens.  I didn't know any better, so I started using only shredded newspaper  (only the B/W- no colors) for litter.  Over a period of about a year, I lost three formerly healthy, fairly young (6-8 yrs) cats to various liver problems.  My vet at the time felt it was just coincidence, but as I checked, I found out that phenols are extremely toxic to the liver.  I am an environmental chemist, so I was able to do some testing on my own at work and found that the newspaper I was using for litter did contain low levels (about .5 ppm) of phenol.  Even though the level was low, I was exposing my  kitties to it everyday, over a period of about a year.  After I switched back to plain clay litter, I haven't had any more unexplained liver
problems.  I think most inks used in newsprint now are soy based, which sounds safer, but I don't know anything about them or their chemistry.

The Cornell Book of Cats has been a great reference for me on lots of kitty health issues-I'd be interested in knowing what books other people recommend...

Good Luck
Linda M

-----Original Message-----

<<Another question from the peanut gallery:  I have heard some mention on this list about cats' livers being not as capable of processing toxins as say, human livers--One person said the cat's liver is basically worthless (I know you were exaggerating, but it stayed with me).  Can someone explain this to me --or even some basics about cat livers. Could you point me to a source which might discuss this topic?   I noticed on a site (allopathic) about cat liver disease that there was casual mention that overusage of antibiotics can bring this on (among other things).>>

<< would also be very interested in this info. My aunt's cat has liver disease and I'm looking for any and all info on the subject!
Take care all
Kathy and the cats>>

Livers are extremely important to any living being.

Here's a bit of what Cheryl Schwartz, DVM says in her book, Four Paw Five Directions. She comes at it from a Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view, so it's likely to be different from what most people in North America are used to.

wendy coomber, ch
taylor, bc
mdalsin@

"In Traditional Chinese Medicine the liver is a resident of the middle counterpart, or middle burner, of the body, along with its partner the gall bladder. It is large, dense and yin, and one of the few organs which can regenerate itself when damaged. This is a useful trait in our modern life where the liver sustains so many insults, such as sudden or chronic inflammation, environmental toxicity and autoimmune diseases.

Due to its central location, the liver connects the breathing and circulating operations of the chest with the digestive functions of the abdomen. It acts as a pumping station in cooperation with the heart to filter and recycle the blood. The liver acts with the spleen/pancreas and stomach to properly digest food so that qi and blood can be made from what we eat.

The liver and the gall bladder make and then release bile into the intestinal tract. Bile and bile acids are necessary for digesting fats and absorbing fat soluble vitamins. The liver is also intimately related to protein synthesis and metabolism, breaking down and rearranging amino acids into useable or storable forms. It is during this process that the liver also clears toxic ammonia build up in the body. It stores excessive carbohydrates and participates in the conversion of these materials into glucose and energy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver and the gall bladder form the wood element. In addition to its digestive functions, the liver is said to smooth the circulation of the blood and the qi, allowing the body to run smoothly without the stops and starts of a traffic jam. It is also said to store the blood, especially when the body is at rest. if you look closely at a piece of liver before it is cooked, you will see that it is bloody and has an intricate pattern of vessels through it. The liver is the picture of both storage and function.

Blood problems of all kinds, including high or low blood cell counts, abnormal blood cells, clearing old cells from the circulation, bleeding into the intestinal tract, bloody skin eruptions and eliminating toxins from the blood all fall under the guidance of the liver. In Western terms, this includes infections of the blood, anemia, blood cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases, skin and food allergies and autoimmune problems.

Blood is needed to bathe all the organs so that they stay moist, lubricated and functional. Since the liver stores the blood, it is responsible for moistening the sense and sex organs, the central nervous system, the skin and intestines, the joints and tendons. When the central nervous system is not properly bathed, seizures can occur. When our tendons and ligaments are dry, stiffness results. When the uterus or ovaries are undernourished, changes in reproductive cycles occur.

The liver is knows as the general of the blood, who keeps the troops in good spirits; moving when necessary and resting when possible.

The liver and gall bladder are said to be associated with the sinews and tendons of the body. A sinew is a tendon, but it is also defined as a source of strength, power and vigor. The general of the blood can be looked upon as the leader of the strength, power and vigor of the individual.

When the liver is out of balance it responds by becoming hot, dry or stagnant. Stagnation in the digestion is often the forerunner of most digestive upsets and pain. Because the liver is sensitive to the wind and  the springtime, any condition brought on by either is a clue to liver  imbalance. Additionally, the liver and gall bladder are most active from 11 pm to 3 am in the circadian clock. So problems occurring then may point to a liver imbalance."

<<Another question from the peanut gallery:  I have heard some mention on this list about cats' livers being not as capable of processing toxins as say, human livers--One person said the cat's liver is basically worthless (I know you were exaggerating, but it stayed with me).  Can someone explain this to me --or even some basics about cat livers. Could you point me to a source which might discuss this topic?   I noticed on a site (allopathic) about cat liver disease that there was casual mention that overusage of antibiotics can bring this on (among other things).>>

Hi all

Sorry, should've responded all in one post.

Linda M wrote:
<<Fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) can come on when a cat which was on the heavy side stops eating.>>

Yeah, Kashmir developed this. She used to be way overweight but lost a lot of it very quickly. She got pretty skinny, actually. Still, we were able to correct it with proper and regular eating.

<<The most important thing is to keep the kitty eating or get him to start eating again>>

As far as I know, my aunt's cat hasn't been on a hunger strike or anything, so that's half the battle I think!

<<I've had a number of cats with liver problems because about 15 years ago, when I didn't know any better, I exposed them to phenols. >>

I'm curious: I know the liver can regenerate, and is one of the few organs that can mend damage done to it. Does the regeneration begin as soon as the cause is removed (ie if it's an environmental toxin), or can it only begin to heal with treatment? Anyone know?

Take care all
Kathy and the cats

Hi listers,

A week or so ago I asked about how the cat liver functions and a few other people were interested in the answers I received,
so I thought I'd post a short excerpt from my research.  This comes from _The Cornell Book of Cats_ ( 1997) pp. 258-59, and this article was written by James R. Richards and Susan A. Morrison:

Begin Quote:

A major anatomical feature of the feline liver, distinct from that of the canine, is the joining of the major pancreatic duct (coming from the pancreas) to the common bile duct (originating in the liver) before emptying into the small intestine, the duodenum.  Because of this anatomical arrangement in the cat, occasional backward flow of enzyme- and bile-enriched juices from the intestine may produce inflammation of the liver or pancreas.

A unique and important feature of feline liver physiology is a deficiency in the enzyme glucuronyl transferase.  This enzyme is
required for a process known as glucuronic acid conjugation   Most waste substances excreted by the liver are excreted in a water-soluble form. This is done so that, once waste products are released from the liver cells, they cannot passively diffuse back across the fat-soluble cell membranes.  They are "trapped" in the extracellular spaces and excreted.  Glucoronic acid conjugation is an important process, by which fat-soluble compounds are transformed into water-soluble compounds.  The cat's
natural deficiency of this metabolic pathway explains the special feline sensitivity to certain drugs, such as aspirin and acetaminophen, which as a result, are only slowly and inefficiently excreted.

Another significant feature is the inability of cats to make arginine.  This amino acid is involved in the conversion of ammonia (a
waste product of protein metabolism) in the blood to urea for excretion through the kidneys.  When arginine is not provided in sufficient amounts in the diet, muscle tissue is broken down to release the trapped arginine within it.  Malnourished cats thus may be especially susceptible to increases in the level of ammonia in the blood, with resultant signs of neurologic dysfunction.

End Quote.

I wonder if this explains how L-Lysine (also an amino acid) is supposed to help muscle wasting in cats.  I also wonder if this is connected to how L-Lysine helps a cat suppress the herpes virus.

Susan
mailto:katseven@

Hi all

<<Hi, I'm new on this list and hope to get some good advice for my very sick little buddy. Mac developed colangelar (sp?) hepatitis in November. Apparently his case is considered rare and though he's on the required regiment of drugs (amoxi, pred, baytrail, actigall and two herbal remedies as well as acupuncture once a week his bilirubin count will not go down. The vet now
suspects primary liver disease. Mac is feeling a million times better..eating on his own and showing response, but he's still not over it. Any comments on the condition itself and suppliments which his system can handle (he doesn't handle fatty things well) would be greatly appreciated. thanks, anita>>

Welcome, Anita! I haven't had experience myself with cats and hepatitis, but there are those on the list who have, and I'm sure you'll hear from them. I do know that milk thistle is a specific herb for liver complaints. Here is some info I have on milk thistle for *humans*:

From the Global Herb Manual: Published 1992 by Global Health Ltd, Tofield, Alberta

"MILK THISTLE - Cholagogue, liver tonic. Milk thistle regenerates liver cells and protects them against the action of liver poison. It increases the flow of bile from the liver and gall bladder and helps rid the liver of fatty deposits. Milk Thistle aids the rehabilitation process after acute hepatitis, gall-bladder disease or exposure to alcohol, drug or chemical pollution abuse. The seed extract is used and may be sold under the name "Thisilyn." It is a recognized antidote against the toxicity of poisonous mushrooms."

From the same book - HERBS: Thisilyn - Milk thistle seed extract [contains 70% silymarin]

"Physiologic action: A specialized extract, Thisilyn helps to protect the liver and neutralize some poisons. Its antioxidant quality helps prevent free radical damage in the liver.

"In human studies, silymarin had significant positive effects in treating liver diseases including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. Among other thing, silymarin stimulates the production of new liver cells. Because it improves liver function, silymarin has been of great benefit to patients with psoriasis. It helps rebuild the liver after steroid or alcohol abuse.

"A number of poison control centers in West Germany use extract of milk thistle as an antidote following the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms.

"SUGGESTED USE: Take one capsule two or three times daily with water before mealtime."

Another little book called HEALING POWER OF HERBS written by Dr. John Heinerman in 1995 and published in Boca Raton Florida has this to say, as excerpts from a paper he presented in 1987 to the American Society of Pharmacognosy - I have taken excerpts from his excerpts.

"Silbyum marianum is a member of the compositae or daisy family.....A German pharmacologist, G. Vogel presents the most compelling evidence thus far of the definite efficacy of S marianum in treating certain liver toxicities. Vogel noted: "In my experience the only plant product which has an anti-hepatoxic action in the true sense of the word is the seed of the milk thistle." "The seeds containing the flavanolignans silybin, silydanin and silychristin are lumped together under the designation of silymarin....We  decided to test this substance.....against the most potent known liver poisons. These are the amatoxins, phalloidient and amanitine, from the death-cap toadstool." Dr Vogel pointed out that the silymarin from the seeds prevented these three deadly compounds from entering liver cells, and when silymarin managed to reach these cells before the other poisons it was able to effectively displace or fragment them before any real damage could be done.

"Milk thistle seed works best in capsules or fluid extracts. Since this is more of a therapeutic, rather than a preventive type of medicine, it should preferably be used when serious liver ailments prevail. Suggested intake is up to 6 capsules a day, given 3 at a time in the morning and again in the late afternoon on an empty stomach with some tomato or V-8 juice.

"A 1952 Japanese medical study showed that tomato juice was terrific for regenerating liver growth! That's why I advise that milk thistle be taken with this type of juice. If you prefer, 15 drops under the tongue twice daily of the fluid extract can be used instead."

These dosages are for *humans*, not for cats!

Headbutts and best wishes for Mac's speedy improvement.

--Jean, Saski Basket & Amber Sweet T'ing
  wordlady@

Hi everyone,

Hi Anita, Welcome to the list.  There is a short article on Cholangitis/Cholangiohepatitis Complex in my copy of The Cornell Book of Cats, 1997 (traditional medicine).  If you would like me to type it up for you, please let me know privately as my server doesn't post the original sender's address :( (There is also a short discussion about bilirubin as it relates to liver disease, which I could also pass along.)

The following is some herbal info for chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis from _Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs_ by Cheryl Schwartz, pp.261-62.  I hope some of the info is useful for your little guy Max.

Milk Thistle.  This Western herb clears dampness and promotes bile flow.  It is especially useful in the stages of jaundice where there is a light yellow color.  The herb helps protect the cell walls of the liver to avoid toxic substances from entering and is also useful in chronic situations.  It can be found in natural food stores as the nutritional supplement silymarin.  Both the fruit and seeds of the plant are used.

• As a tincture, dilute 20 drops in one ounce distilled water. Boil off the excess alcohol by heating the dilution without its cover for 3 minutes over boiling water.
• Dosage: cats/small dogs: 1 dropperful, twice daily

• As a tincture, dilute 15 drops to one ounce distilled water.
• Dosage: cats/ small dogs: 1 dropperful, once daily

• As a tincture, dilute 15 drops to 1 ounce of distilled water.
• Dosage: cats/small dogs: 1 dropperful, once or twice daily.

• As tinctures, dilute 10 drops each of dandelion and burdock plus 1 drop agrimony in one ounce distilled water.
• Dosage: cats/small dogs: 1 dropperful per day

Susan
mailto:katseven@

Hi everyone, Anita,

I typed up both articles--no problem! -- but the last one sounds grim. I include it only because others might be able to give feedback. Don't be discouraged by this--Cornell didn't investigate holistic therapies, I'll bet. You're lucky to be able to work with Dr. Schwartz!  Take Care, Susan

mailto:katseven@

This comes from _The Cornell Book of Cats_, 2nd ed., 1997 by the faculty, staff, and associates, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University.

Begin quote:

Bilirubin.  Bilirubin is a breakdown product of red blood cells. Unconjugated water-soluble bilirubin is transported in the blood to the liver, where it is taken up and conjugated (joined with glucuronic acid) to form water-soluble bilirubin glucuronide.  This conjugated  form of bilirubin may then be stored in the liver cells or passed out into the bile.  In the small intestine, bilirubin is degraded to urobilinogen, the majority of which is excreted in the feces.  A small amount is retained and eliminated in the urine or recirculated through the liver. The detection of urobilinogen in the urine indicates that the entero-hepatic circulation--the circulation of compounds between the digestive tract and the liver--is intact.  However, the presence of even trace amounts of bilirubin in feline urine is considered abnormal and an indication of disease involving the liver, bile ducts, or excessive destruction of red blood cells.  Jaundice usually develops when bilirubin levels in the blood serum rise above 1.5 to 2.0 milligrams per on hundred milliliters. (p. 260)

Cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis Complex.  The term cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis complex is used to describe a number of
related inflammatory disorders of the liver and biliary tract.  These disorders are categorized into at least three forms, according to the predominant inflammatory cell type identified within liver biopsy samples.  Although the cause of this complex of disease is not known, it is believed by some that each of the three forms represents a different stage in the progression of a single disease entity.  Clinical signs seen are on-specific and can include intermittent inappetence, fever, lethargy, vomiting, soft stools, liver enlargement, and jaundice. Biochemical testing usually reveals variable increases in serum bilirubin, ALT, AST, SAP and GGT.  Definitve diagnoses rests on microscopic examination and bacterial culture of liver tissue because bacteria often are associated with the disorder.

Prolonged treatment with specific antimicrobial medication may be indicated for the suppurative (pus-forming) form of the disease, in which the neutrophil is the primary inflammatory cell infiltrating the liver lesions.  The more commonly diagnosed non-suppurative form, in which the lymphocytes and plasma cells predominate, requires immunosuppressive drug therapy with steroids in addition to anitmicrobials.  The aim of therapy is to control the disease; a cure is rarely obtained.  With either of these forms of disease, treatment with a type of drug called "choleretic" appears appears to be beneficial. Additionally, surgical removal of gallstones or correction of bile duct obstruction is necessary in some cases.

The biliary cirrhosis form, in which bile duct tissue is replaced by tough connective tissue, is believed to be the final stage in the progression of the disease.  It is not observed very often because cats with cholangiohepatitis rarely survive long enough for it to develop.  At this stage, serum GGT may be the only liver enzyme that is elevated; the others may all have been depleted by the chronic inflammatory disease process.  The prognosis is veru poor.  Medical management at the final stage is primarily supportive and aims to maintain adequate hydration and nutrition.  I deally, the nutrient  requirements should be provided by a primarily carbohydrate diet in  which the minimum protein requirement is supplied by protein of high biologic value (severe protein restriction is not recommended, however).  A multiple-viatmin supplement should also be included.  (p. 261)
End Quote

<<Hi Susan, thanks for responding to my question regarding hepatitis. Believe or not..Dr. Cheryl Schwartz is Mac's homeopathic doctor ! She's really wonderful. We saw her once and her associate once. We are lucky to be in SF where she practices, so I know that Mac is in really good hands, but the bilirubin thing..his is NOT going down..has everyone including Dr. Swartz scratching their head. I'd love to get that article, but don't want to troub you. Maybe you could refer me to where it is printed. Thnks again !, Anita>>