Page 340 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

332 PART 6 CAT WITH WEIGHT LOSS OR CHRONIC ILLNESS

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● Cryptococcosis (p 360)
Chronic mucopurulent or hemorrhagic nasal discharge, sneezing and distortion of the dorsum of
the nose are typical. Central nervous system signs including seizures are less common.

● Systemic mycoses (p 361)
Blastomycosis and histoplasmosis may cause depression, anorexia and weight loss in endemic
areas. The most common clinical sign is dyspnea, but signs vary with the organ systems affected.
INFLAMMATION
● Oral inflammatory disease* (p 353)
Usually lymphocytic-plasmacytic in nature. Causes reluctance to eat, dysphagia and drooling of
saliva with associated weight loss.
● Inflammatory bowel disease* (p 349)
Chronic weight loss, intermittent vomiting and/or diarrhea. Cats may have minimal clinical signs
other than weight loss.

● Protein-losing nephropathy (p 358)
Results from glomerulonephritis (rare) and amyloidosis (familial disease in Abyssinian). Marked
weight loss occurs initially, followed by decreased appetite, polyuria and polydipsia associated
with the development of renal failure. Ascites and peripheral edema occur if protein loss is severe.
IDIOPATHIC
● Chylothorax (p 357)
Respiratory distress. Decreased appetite may occur late in the disease.

● Increased loss of nutrients (e.g. protein-losing
INTRODUCTION
enteropathy or nephropathy).
Maintenance energy requirements in the adult cat are
MECHANISM?
approximately 50–70 kcal/kg body weight/day. Intakes
below maintenance will result in weight loss.
Weight loss of greater than 10% of body weight is
significant and should be investigated. Anorexia has a diverse etiology including stress,
pain, fear, trauma, disease or neoplasia.
Any cause of weight loss may present as failure to
grow or stunting if affecting an immature cat. Causes of anorexia may broadly be categorized as:
● Pseudoanorexia (e.g. oral cavity disease, dental pain).
Weight loss occurs when there are one or more of the
● Primary anorexia (e.g. central nervous system dis-
following:
orders affecting appetite center).
● Inappetence (inadequate caloric intake).
● Secondary anorexia (e.g. metabolic diseases such as
● Inability to digest or absorb nutrients (e.g. pancre-
renal failure).
atic exocrine insufficiency, inflammatory bowel
disease). It is important to note that many diseases leading to
● Inability to utilize absorbed nutrients (e.g. diabetes a thin inappetent cat involve more that just loss of
mellitus). appetite. When weight loss appears to exceed that which
● Increased utilization of absorbed nutrients (e.g. can be accounted for by decreased intake, other mecha-
hyperthyroidism, fever). nisms need to be considered.