Steatitis
Also Known As: Yellow Fat Disease
Introduction
Steatitis is also known as 'yellow fat disease'. It occurs in many species including cats, reptiles and mink. It is not seen in ruminants.
The condition occurs in animals fed on a fat-laden diet, high in polyunsaturated fat and low in tocopherols. This causes an inflammatory response of adipose tissue due to oxidative damage. Vitamin E deficiency is thought to contribute to the condition.
Clinical Signs
The animal normally presents with firm nodules in subcutaneous tissue that are yellow or orange in colour. Mink may also present with abnormal locomotion and sudden death.
Treatment & Prevention
The condition is vitamin E responsive, therefore affected animals should be treated with oral or injectable vitamin E supplementation and fed on a low fat diet.
The condition is prevented by feeding an appropriate diet (low in polyunsaturated fat) and supplementing the diet with vitamin E.
Prognosis
If the condition is recognised when the signs are mild, then prognosis is good - with complete reversal of signs. More chronic lesions are harder to treat as they may be walled off by a dense capsule of fibrocollagenous connective tissue.
| Steatitis Learning Resources | |
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 Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions |
Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A 05 |
External Links
References
Frye, FL & Williams, DL (1995) Self-Assessment Colour Review - Reptiles & Amphibians Manson
Merck & Co (2009) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Ninth Edition), Merial