High Cholesterol in Cats

Hyperlipidemia in Cats

Hyperlipidemia is characterized by abnormally excessive amounts of fat, and/or fatty substances in the blood. Chylomicrons are micro particles of liquid fat, in the class of lipids, which include both triglycerides and cholesterol, and which are formed during the digestion of fats from food. After eating a meal, the nutrients in an animal’s body pass into the small intestine, from which chylomicrons are absorbed 30-60 minutes later. Normally, the absorption of chylomicrons increases serum triglycerides for 3-10 hours, but some animals will have high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels for more than twelve hours after a meal - one of the main indications of hyperlipidemia. The clear part of the blood, the serum, is referred to as being lipemic when it has levels of triglycerides measuring over 200 mg/dL. Sometimes, levels of triglycerides in an animal’s serum can be even greater than 1000 mg/dL, giving the serum a milky, opaque appearance. This is medically referred to as lactescence (literally, being milky).

Certain diseases like diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism can decrease the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is responsible for dissolving lipids. Diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hyperadrenocorticism can affect the liver in such a way that the liver produces more very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), resulting in increased lipid levels in the blood. Other diseases, like nephrotic syndrome, cause the liver to increase production of cholesterol. Conversely, if the liver itself is diseased, it may not be able to excrete cholesterol at all. Hyperlipidemia can also be the result of an inherited disease in certain breeds of cats.

Symptoms and Types

Symptoms of hyperlipidemia include seizures, abdominal pain, nervous system dysfunctions, patches on the skin, and cutaneous xanthomata, which are yellowish-orange lipid-filled bumps (i.e., bumps filled with a fatty, greasy liquid).

Causes

• Increased absorption of triglycerides/cholesterol:
  • After eating, especially after fatty meal

• Increased production of triglycerides/cholesterol:
  • Nephrotic syndrome (degenerative kidney disease)

• Decreased clearance of triglycerides/cholesterol:
  • Under-functioning thyroid gland
  • Over-functioning adrenal gland
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Obstruction of the bile ducts (cholestasis)

• Pregnancy
• Defects in lipid clearance enzymes, or lipid carrier proteins
• Inherited

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your cat, taking into account the background history of symptoms, diet, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. You will need to give a thorough history of your cat's health. Your pet will most probably need to be hospitalized so that it can be put on a strict fast for twelve hours. After twelve hours or more, your veterinarian will order a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a serum sample for biochemical analysis, and a urinalysis. If triglycerides are greater than 100 mg/dL, and/or if cholesterol is greater than 200 mg/dL, your cat will be diagnosed hyperlipidemic.

The results of the blood work and urinalysis will allow your veterinarian to rule out the various underlying diseases that cause hyperlipidemia. Your veterinarian may also perform further testing for hyperadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism, depending on the blood work results. It may also be relevant to check your pet’s lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity.

Treatment

Initially, treatment will begin with changing your cat's existing diet to one which contains less than ten percent fat. If this is not effective, alternative medical treatments may be prescribed at your veterinarian’s discretion.

Living and Management

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments so that your cat's serum triglyceride levels can be monitored. This will be for the prevention of possibly fatal bouts of acute pancreatitis as the result of abnormally high levels of fat in the blood.

Image: Mr. Nikon via Shutterstock

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