Fatty Liver Syndrome

Intended to refer to cattle. See Hyperlipaemia - Horse, Hyperlipaemia - Donkey, White Liver Disease - Sheep, Pregnancy Toxaemia and Hepatic Lipidosis(cat and dog) for similar syndromes in other species.

All of this text is moved from Hepatic Lipidosis:

Bovine

• fat cow syndrome (extreme form of fatty liver)
• occurs in well-fed dairy cows a few days postpartum
• an excessive accumulation of liver fat without being able to export it from the liver (during late dry period and early lactation)
• amount of fat deposited influenced by:
  • Body Condition Score (how fat the cow is)
  • Milk Yield (energy requirement)
  • Appetite (low in fat cows)
• triggered by various conditions:
  • abomasal displacement
  • mastitis
  • metritis
  • retained placenta
• can be fatal due to liver failure (up to 25% has been reported)

Clinical

• cow is sick
• poor appetite
• excessive weight loss
• downer
• high incidence of post parturient disease

Gross

• fat infiltration of liver
• enlarged
• rounded edges
• pale yellow colour
• friable

NB: will also get fat infiltration of liver in cows which have not been eating for several days so interpret carefully

Prevention

• dry off cows at correct BCS (up to 3.5)
• do not adjust BCS during dry period
• do not starve fat dry cows
• maintain appetite over late dry and calving period to prevent excessive weight loss and fat mobilisation
• use transistion diet