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Overview:
Steatitis is a
painful condition resulting from a diet high in unsaturated
fatty acids & deficient in Vitamin E. Tuna is the most
comonly known cause of this problem.
Can I
feed my cat human grade tuna?
The short answer
is yes, but feeding tuna should be restricted to special treats
only, and only fed extremely infrequently.
Tuna is quite
addictive to cats & they can quickly develop a taste for
tuna & refuse any other foods. The term "tuna
junkie" has been used to describe such cats.
Feeding too much
tuna can result in a condition known as Steatitis.
Raw fish also
contains the enzyme
thiaminase which destroys thiamine (Vitamin B1), resulting in
thiamine deficiency. Cooking destroys thiaminase,
thus protecting thiamine.
What is
Steatitis?
Also known as Yellow Fat Disease or Pansteatitis,
steatitis is caused by
feeding a diet high in unsaturated fatty acids and deficient in
vitamin E.
Oily fish, especially red tuna are the cause of this
condition.
Vitamin
E acts as an antioxidant, & unfortunately tuna is an
inadequate source of Vitamin E. Therefore the overabundance of
unsaturated fatty acids (which also oxidize & destroy
Vitamin E), combined with the deficiency of Vitamin E causes
damage to body fat, which results in a painful inflammatory
response. [1]
What's
the difference between human grade tuna & tuna flavoured cat
food?
Human grade tuna
is just that, tuna whereas tuna flavoured cat food is not 100%
tuna, and usually contains other meats & nutrients which are
necessary in the cat's diet.
What are the
symptoms of steatitis?
-
Greasy, dull coat
& flaky skin.
-
Severe pain when
touched.
-
Anorexia (loss of
appetite).
-
Fever.
-
Reluctance to
move.
How is steatitis
diagnosed?
Diagnosis is usually based on the feeding history of the cat
& a biopsy of the fat.
How is steatitis
treated?
If left untreated steatitis can result in death. So it
is important to seek veterinary attention immediately so they
can begin the cat on the following treatments:
-
Elimination of fish from the diet immediately.
-
Supplementation with Vitamin E.
-
Force feeding if necessary.
-
Some veterinarians recommend the use of corticosteroids.
References: *1
The Cornell Book of Cats.
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