Pancreatitis in Cats, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Life Expectancy, Treatment, Recovery Time, Nutrition (2023)

Pancreatitis in cats is a common gastrointestinal disease. It's an inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is the sudden onset of pancreatitis. Learn more about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment here.

What is pancreatitis in cats?

Like humans, cats have a pancreas. It is a pale pink V-shaped feline organ located behind the duodenum. The "first section of the small intestine" and the stomach.

Produces pancreatic enzymes that favor the absorption and digestion of fats; the pancreas also produces insulin, which aids in the metabolism of sugar in the cat's body; Therefore, when it starts to fail, it causes many problems for the "health" of our cats and can even be fatal.

Pancreatitis, also known as inflammation of the pancreas, is a common gastrointestinal condition in cats in which inflammation of the pancreas causes the transfer of digestive enzymes to the abdominal cavity; this can damage neighboring organs, e.g. bile duct, intestine, liver or gallbladder.

Swindleracute pancreatitis,Digestive enzymes are prematurely activated in the pancreas, prompting the pancreas to digest itself. Enzymes are designed or intended to remain dormant until they reach the small intestine.

Few cats that recover from this episode of acute pancreatitis go on to have recurrent episodes of pancreatitis known asChronic pancreatitis.

Causes of feline pancreatitis

The exact cause of feline pancreatitis is unknown, making diagnosing pancreatitis difficult. Pancreatitis has baffled many veterinarians.

However, there are characteristic features of pancreatitis such as B. an increased number of white blood cells if your cat has acute pancreatitis or other illnesses that may accompany the disease, for example liver disease or inflammatory bowel disease(EII),

Possible causes of feline pancreatitis are:

• trauma abdominal
• Metabolic disorders, i.e. high levels of calcium in the blood
• inflammatory bowel disease(EII)
• liver disease
• Bauchchirurgie
• Infectious diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis, herpes virus and toxoplasmosis.
• Allergic reaction to medications such as anticancer drugs, catabolic steroids, or antibiotics.
• ascending small bowel infection
• moquillo felino

Symptoms of pancreatitis in cats

Both chronic and acute pancreatitis can lead to scarring of the pancreas, which can affect the organs' ability to function. Scarring also impairs the production of insulin and digestive enzymes, leading to diseases such as liver disease,(EII)e diabetes

These are the signs that your cat has pancreatitis:

• Lethargic: This is an episode of acute pancreatitis where the cat sits upright with its paws under it while staring into space and is reluctant to eat.
• Reluctance to eat and drink - loss of appetite
• Lose weight
• Dehydrated
• Anorexia
• Less than 50% two cats vomit
• Less than 50% of cats have "difficult to feel" abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass
• Increases heart rate
• Change in breathing pattern that later leads to shortness of breath in severe cases
• jaundice
• few have a fever
• The cat may show signs of pain.
• few have diarrhea

If you notice the following symptoms, take your cat to the vet for a diagnosis, this will go a long way in keeping your cat at risk of developing severe pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis can develop into life-threatening conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)as well as cardiac arrhythmia and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats

Since the exact cause of feline pancreatitis is unknown, one of the reasons many cats go undiagnosed is the lack of a specific diagnostic test and vague, nonspecific clinical symptoms.

However, recent research tests have improved the ability to diagnose and help better understand pancreatitis, showing that it is a common disease in cats; much more widespread than previously thought.

Therefore, diagnosis requires multiple combinations of diagnostic tests and a high level of clinical suspicion. The vet will run these tests in hopes of getting a definitive idea or results that show what your cat's condition is.

These are the tests the veterinarian will perform:

• A complete history of your cat's life will be taken, which should include your cat's parents whenever possible.
• Blood test; There are only two that can completely tell your cat has pancreatitis. They are:

Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity

It is primarily used as a screening test and cannot be used to definitively diagnose pancreatitis in cats. This is because other parts of the cat's body produce lipase. However, the test is performed because cats with pancreatic scars show up on the test.

Trypsin-like immunoreactivity in cat serum

The vet will measure the enzyme trypsin, which enters the blood, and if the level is higher than normal, the cat may have an inflamed pancreas, which is causing the protein to leak.

When the enzyme in the blood is below normal, it can cause EPI, or pancreatic insufficiency, which is not caused by pancreatitis.

Veterinarians have different opinions on this.feline serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity,Some claim it's inaccurate, while others say it's an accurate way to detect pancreatitis.

Other tests include:

• complete blood testYour veterinarian will check for anemia, increased or decreased white blood cell counts, as cats with pancreatitis tend to have elevated white blood cells.
• bone scanan x-ray of the abdomen showing only that there is a special opening in the abdomen; examines the shape, size, and position of the organ. And while it's not as useful in diagnosing feline pancreatitis, it can still be used to rule out other issues that cause abdominal pain and to detect masses and foreign bodies.
• ultrasonicAn abdominal ultrasound helps show images of major abdominal organs, including the pancreas, helping to identify current problems with the cat's gastric glands such as: B. Abnormal gas patterns, troublesome foreign bodies, liver or intestinal problems, etc.
• If things persist, a veterinarian can take action.Biopsythis is the cat's opening to see the pancreas directly through the surgery; Finding the underlying issue of your cat's problems is a little more precise. However, this type of test is rarely performed.

Treatment of pancreatitis in cats

There is no cure for pancreatitis, but it can still be managed and allow your cat to live a healthier life. A question many ask is, "What if the underlying cause is known?"

Well, about 10% of the time, vets can figure out what's causing the pancreatitis, which can include things like inflammatory bowel disease.(EII),Liver disease, abdominal surgery, medication or distemper, etc. The vet will treat the underlying cause and eventually cure your cat's pancreatitis.

Hospitalization for at least two to four days is recommended for almost all cases of feline pancreatitis, depending on the severity of the illness. Treating feline pancreatitis also includes treating the symptoms caused by the disease, including: dehydration, abdominal pain, etc.

Here are some ways to treat pancreatitis in cats:

medicine

Depending on the symptoms of pancreatitis, drug therapy is introduced into the cat's life. Those who are in pain are given painkillers such asButorfanol, Meperidina, ÖAnalgesicsThey are given anti-inflammatories for chronic cases and antibiotics for secondary infections.

And although most cats with pancreatitis don't vomit or have diarrhea, they are also given some medications to reduce the vomiting or nausea caused by the condition, including antidiuretics.antiemeticÖAntazida

additions

As pancreatitis can destroy the cells responsible for producing digestive enzymes, it leads to digestive problems as a result; Therefore, special dietary supplements containing digestive enzymes, which are vitamin products, are needed.

if suspectEIIhe/she will be given vitamin B-12 injections, "best for cats with chronic pancreatitis as they are often vitamin B-12 deficient." And even cats with this condition, "chronic pancreatitis", often develop diabetes, so they need insulin shots, which are handled by the veterinarian.

fluid therapy

It is the most important form of therapy for acute pancreatitis. When in-hospital rehydration therapy is used in cats with pancreatitis, including monitoring their electrolyte levels; A catheter is inserted into your cat's vein, and then fluids are slowly dripped into it.

This fluid, known as IV fluids, helps cats with dehydration, which is common to most cats with pancreatitis, and corrects the dehydration; It also corrects abnormalities in potassium and blood sugar levels and removes toxins from the cat's body. Nutritional supplements and medications can also be added to the fluid in the IV line, which can be very helpful in acute pancreatitis as it requires frequent monitoring.

plasma transfusion

This type of transfusion corrects coagulation deficiencies which, if left untreated, can lead to kidney failure, respiratory failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation, fatal for the cat.

oxygen or oxygen tank

If your cat has an infection in the pancreas that has caused a change in breathing pattern or difficulty breathing, your veterinarian will help provide oxygen; This occurs in acute stages and requires frequent monitoring and care.

Nutrition and Nutritional Support

It is essential for acute or chronic pancreatitis, as cats need solid nutritional support. Cats benefit from having the right nutrients in their small intestines. Therefore, the veterinarian will place a feeding tube in the upper part of the cat's intestines or stomach for a day or two, which is possible if the cat is not vomiting and is reasonably stable. Good nutrition in cat nutrition also helps with loss of appetite.

If there is a problem, the vet will use IV lines. If the cat vomits, the veterinarian will not feed the cat for up to 48 hours, during which time water will be introduced slowly, followed by small amounts of food, or simply use the IV lines.

prevention

Preventive measures are taken to ensure that your cat is not affected by pancreatitis.

• Avoid taking over-the-counter medications
• Avoid giving cats medications that increase inflammation.
• Regular cat check-ups regularly

A very critical condition, pancreatitis can be fatal for your cat if left untreated; The severity of the disease depends on early detection. And while there is no cure, if caught early enough, the disease can be aggressively treated, giving your cat the chance to live for many years if properly controlled. Therefore, for best results, take your cat in for regular check-ups.