How does high cholesterol happen
Hyperlipidemia refers to increased fat content in the blood, which is quite common in dogs.
Under normal circumstances. After the dog has a meal, the blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels increase, and then fall to normal levels again within 3-10 hours.
However, in hyperlipidemia, the fat level remains high for more than 12 hours. Several metabolic diseases exhibit hyperlipidemia, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, and Cushing syndrome.
Most dog breeds are genetically susceptible to hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia usually does not cause heart disease, but it can shorten life span and cause obesity and metabolic problems. Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which the amount of fat in the blood increases. The most important lipids are cholesterol and triglycerides.
Symptoms of high cholesterol in dogs
The symptoms may not be present. Alternatively, symptoms of hyperlipidemia may include:
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
diarrhea
Bloating
Subcutaneous fat accumulation
Hair loss
Itching
Causes of high cholesterol in dogs
Possible causes of hyperlipidemia include:
High fat diet
Steroid drugs-progesterone and corticosteroids
diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Cushing syndrome
pancreatitis
Gallbladder disease-gallbladder is an important organ for breaking down fat
Nephrotic syndrome-kidney disease can lead to increased hormone-sensitive lipase activity
Genetic susceptibility-Miniature Schnauzers and terriers are genetically prone to hyperlipidemia.
A high-fat diet is a common cause of hyperlipidemia. However, it may take 6 to 8 weeks to see the improvement brought about by dietary changes. If you find symptoms related to hyperlipidemia in your pet, you need to visit a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.
diagnosis
Laboratory tests used to help diagnose hyperlipidemia and find any underlying causes can include a complete blood count to detect blood abnormalities, biochemical tests for kidney and liver function, urine tests to check urinary tract function, and thyroid tests to measure thyroid For hormone production, CPL assay is used to measure lipase levels.
It should also detect possible pancreatitis, perform a lipid test to check the levels of various lipoproteins to help locate the location of metabolic problems, and perform a cortisol test to measure the function of the adrenal glands. Pets must not eat any food or treatment for 12 hours before the cortisol test.
Treatment of high cholesterol in dogs
- Adjust the dog’s diet
If your dog always eats with his owner, table scraps may be the biggest problem. But for some pets, the fat content of many commercial dog foods may also be too high. A low-fat, high-fiber diet can help reduce blood lipids. Proper daily exercise can prevent obesity, which is also a contributing factor to hyperlipidemia.
- medical treatement
You can choose to give your dog medication to lower blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
warning：The statins taken by humans are not safe to use in animals (gefibesol)
