Expert: Jessica - 1/25/2010

Question
My cat had feline biliary and was treated for it - she was on a drip etc and given medication - she seemed to have recovered but the next week had the same symptoms and was put back on the medication. It now seems to be a weekly thing and has since had the same symptoms twice - we gave her the medication and after a day or two she recovers. The vet said there is not a lot of research and they don't understand why it keeps coming back and we cant afford to keep taking her on so we treating her ourselves - i want to know if you have any ideas? I also would like to know what kind of diet she should be on to help her? She is on very good pellets (Royal Canine for Siamese) but then we just give her ordinary tinned food as treats every evening? Thanks Tamsyn

Answer
Hi Tamsyn.  Do you know exactly which biliary condition she had?  And which treatments were prescribed?  As a general rule with liver diseases, it's a good idea to give the cat an antioxidant called silymarin, which supports liver health and function.  This is found in the supplement Milk Thistle and also a product formulated specifically for pets, called Marin.  Marin has the added benefit of Vitamin E, the ability to dose easily, and palatability.  However, I'm not sure if it's available in your area.  If you have to use Milk Thistle, it can be difficult because cats need so little of it.  Formulations for humans can usually be purchased at any pharmacy.  But even if you can find the 140mg capsules, cats will only need about 1/4 of this twice a day.  Additionally, the powder is very bitter tasting, so you will need to mix it into a very tasty food, and most likely you will need to syringe feed it.  I recommend using a meat baby food for humans.

Also, if your vet carries it, you might consider placing her on some prescription food for liver patients.  Products like Hill's l/d are appropriate for most liver patients.  These are moderate fat and protein diets, and because the liver is responsible for metabolizing fat, these are easier on the liver than most foods are.  You could also try feeding your kitty a senior or weight loss cat food, but be sure to compare the label to what you're feeding now.  Some of these foods can be higher in protein or fat than regular cat foods are.  Also, you should run any diet changes by your vet, since causing any dramatic weight loss can do great damage to the liver.

Best of luck!

Jessica