Pancreatitis in cats
What does the pancreas do?
The pancreas is a small organ found between the stomach and intestines in your cat. This organ is critical in producing hormones such as insulin. Insulin regulates your cat’s blood sugar. The pancreas makes digestive enzymes that help to break down fat, protein, and carbohydrates. The pancreas is a part of the endocrine and the digestive system. When the pancreas is inflamed, the movement of enzymes into the digestive tract can stop. This forces enzymes out of the pancreas and into the abdomen.
When this occurs, digestive enzymes will break down fat and proteins in other organs and the pancreas. This causes the body to digest itself. The kidney and liver can be affected when this takes place because they are very close to the pancreas. The abdomen will also become inflamed and infected. If the pancreas starts bleeding, shock and death can happen.
Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. This often progresses quickly in cats but can be treated without any permanent damage to the pancreas. But, if pancreatitis is not treated, severe organ damage can occur.
Common Signs of Pancreatitis
Some common signs of pancreatitis include:
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Increased thirst and urination
• Not eating
• Losing weight
• Fever
• Depression
• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
Vomiting and abdominal pain are some of the first signs of pancreatitis. These signs are more common in dogs with pancreatitis than in cats. Cats who have fatty liver disease at the same time as pancreatitis can also be jaundice and have yellowing of the gums and eyes. Symptoms such as lethargy and decreased appetite should be a clear indication that you need to see your veterinarian. The earlier the signs are detected and treated, the better your cat’s prognosis.
Why did my Cat Get Pancreatitis?
The exact cause of pancreatitis in your cat is usually unknown. This condition has been associated when cats are exposed to toxins, get parasites or experience a traumatic event such as a car accident. Cats can develop pancreatitis along with inflammatory bowel disease or cholangiohepatitis.
There are many causes of inflammation in the pancreas. These are:
• Inflammatory bowel disease or liver disease. This combination of an inflammatory disease of the liver, pancreas, and intestines is very common in cats named triaditis. Most cats that have been diagnosed with one of these conditions have some degree of the other conditions as well.
• Diabetes
• Certain infections such as toxoplasmosis or feline distemper
• Trauma
• Organophosphate insecticides exposure
Inflammation of the pancreas is not related to nutritional factors in cats like it is in dogs. In most cases of feline pancreatitis, no underlying cause can be found.
While pancreatitis can occur in any breed of cat, it occurs more commonly in Siamese cats. The inflammation of the pancreas is more commonly seen in females than in males, and more commonly in older cats.
Diagnosing Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis in cats can be divided into two categories: acute or chronic and mild or severe. Cats with very mild cases may show very few signs of the disease and may not be treated. Symptoms that are not specific may not prompt an owner to visit the vet. Feline pancreatitis is not easy to definitively diagnose without a biopsy of the pancreas or abdominal ultrasound. Some owners will forgo these tests since they can be very expensive.
There is a simple blood test that can look for markers specifically for pancreatitis called serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI). It can help diagnose exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, a disease that some cats with chronic feline pancreatitis can develop.Full blood workup will be performed to see if there are any signs of infection or inflammation. This also rules out other diseases such as liver or kidney disease.
Sometimes, an abdominal ultrasound will be done to look for growths, cysts, or abscesses on the pancreas or other organs. A fine needle aspirate may also be taken during the ultrasound.
The results of these tests can easily diagnose feline pancreatitis in many cases, but sometimes exploratory surgery and biopsy are needed.
How is feline pancreatitis treated?
Acute feline pancreatitis is more serious and usually always requires hospitalization. Chronic pancreatitis may require a few hospital trips but can be managed at home in many cases. A vet can treat your cat with intravenous fluids to help with dehydration. Fluids are also needed to detoxify the pancreas from inflammatory compounds.
Your cat may be given antibiotics to decrease her risk of infectious pancreatitis. Vets will provide your cat with painkillers and anti-nausea medicine. Keeping your kitty comfortable will help her want to eat again.
Feline Pancreatitis Diet
Once your cat gets home, your vet will recommend you to feed your cat as soon as possible. Make sure to feed your cat a food that they like and easily digestible while recovering. Your vet might recommend food that helps with inflammatory bowel disease. For cats who have trouble eating, vets often rely on medications to decrease nausea, stop vomiting, and allow your cat to regain their appetite.
If a cat with pancreatitis cannot eat on their own, it will need a feeding tube. There are many kinds of feeding tubes. Your vet can teach you about feeding tubes and teach you how to give your cat food, water and medications through the tube. These tubes may seem daunting and painful; they are very easy to use and very important in giving your cat critical calories and nutrients.
In severe cases of feline pancreatitis, your cat will have to stay in the hospital but, many types of pancreatitis are mild and non-threatening. Be vigilant so that early symptoms are noticed and seek vet assistance early. Cats who are treated promptly go on to lead normal a life.