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This article is still under construction. |
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