PetCaseFinder

Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Refeeding syndrome in a cat with hepatic lipidosis.

Journal:
Journal of feline medicine and surgery
Year:
2011
Authors:
Brenner, Karen et al.
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

This report discusses a domestic shorthair cat that developed a serious condition called hepatic lipidosis, which is a liver problem that can happen when a cat doesn't eat enough for a while. The cat had been eating less than usual and losing weight for about four weeks. After the cat started receiving nutrition through a feeding tube, it experienced refeeding syndrome, a condition where low phosphate levels can occur after reintroducing food. The report details the cat's symptoms, blood test results, and how the situation progressed from diagnosis to recovery. Overall, the treatment was successful, and the cat recovered.

Abstract

Refeeding syndrome is characterized by severe hypophosphatemia occurring in patients given enteral or parenteral nutrition after severe weight loss. There are few veterinary reports that describe this syndrome but it is well documented in human medicine. This report describes a case of a domestic shorthair cat diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis following a 4-week history of decreased appetite and weight loss and in whom refeeding syndrome was documented after initiation of enteral nutrition. Clinical findings, blood work abnormalities and disease progression in this patient are described from the time of diagnosis through to recovery. A review of the current literature pertinent to this clinical syndrome is included.

Find similar cases for your pet

PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.

Search related cases →

Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21719333/