Feline Pancreatitis is one of the most common diseases in cats and one that most often goes unnoticed. This is because, unlike what happens in dogs, it does not usually develop acutely, but chronically, so its clinical manifestations do not appear suddenly and are more difficult to detect.
On the other hand, its most representative symptoms, such as thinness and lack of appetite, are common in many cat diseases, making diagnosis difficult. If you want to know more about this process, in this article on our site we talk about pancreatitis in cats, its symptoms and treatment
What is pancreatitis in cats?
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a gland that sits near the small intestine (it's actually partly attached to him) and that fulfills several functions in the organism of animals and human beings.
On the one hand, it has endocrine work, producing hormones such as insulin. On the other, it has an exocrine function, for which it is responsible for manufacturing substances that help digest food.
Causes of pancreatitis in cats
Unfortunately, the cause of feline pancreatitis is often not irrefutably known, although certain toxic substances present in many insecticides, and infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses such as feline infectious peritonitis, or parasites, for example Toxoplasma.
It can also be favored by a high-fat diet or by allergic phenomena, not forgetting trauma to the area.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis in cats?
In cats, pancreatitis most commonly leads to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, that is, the gland does not reach be able to correctly carry out its work of producing digestive hormones. In these cases we will see weight loss, loss of appetite and, less frequently, diarrhea and vomiting.
Although there may be an acute form, pancreatitis in cats is generally a chronic process, and these symptoms may not be very serious and may go unnoticed. Occasionally, recurrent vomiting can be confused with that caused by the ingestion of hairballs, something very common in these friendly cats. In addition, in cats pancreatitis can be accompanied by inflammation in the small intestine and in the liver, detecting in these cases jaundice
Diagnosis
To diagnose pancreatitis in cats, the aforementioned symptoms should be studied, inquiring about their duration and trying to guess the possible causes, by asking the owner of the animal. Then, it is advisable to subject the animal to a physical examination emphasizing the cat's state of hydration, its body condition, the presence of abdominal pain and the color of the mucous membranes, which will be yellowish in cases of jaundice.
To confirm the diagnosis, a blood testincluding specific markers for pancreatitis is performed. Blood tests are also of great help to know the general state of he alth of the cat and other organs that may be affected in cases of pancreatitis, such as the liver.
The ultrasound is considerably more useful than the X-ray in these cases, and can reveal the cat's inflamed pancreas, confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment for pancreatitis in cats
In acute cases, as well as in the most serious, the first thing is to stabilize the patient. Since one of the tasks of the pancreas is to collaborate in the digestion of food, it might be thought that fasting could be indicated in these early stages so as not to overload the pancreas with work, but this is not the case. In cats, a prolonged fast can cause serious liver problems and, in addition, patients with this condition often have poor body condition, so restriction of food carries a serious risk of malnutrition. Although it is true that in cases of acute pancreatitis, which is much more common in dogs than in cats, fasting from solids is necessary, this is accompanied by the intravenous fluid administration
On the other hand, depriving cats with pancreatitis of water is an unforgivable mistake that could end the life of the animal. If the cat vomits while drinking, antiemetics should be provided to prevent this or an intravenous fluid should be used.
In any case, the diet for cats with pancreatitis must be easily digestible, with specifically indicated wet foods that can be administered, even through a tube. Opioid analgesics may also be given to reduce the animal's pain.
After these first moments, or in cats with chronic pancreatitis where symptoms do not cause fear for the cat's life in the short term, treatment for feline pancreatitis it is based on the diet This must be easily digestible and low in fat, there are commercial diets specially formulated for cats with this pathology. Vitamin supplements are also recommended, with products rich in vitamin B12 being especially useful.
