Understanding Feline Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms, an

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Symptoms: Loss of appetite, lack of energy, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.

Risk Level: High, with potential for death; it is recommended to be hospitalized.

Category: Digestive Organ Disease

Incidence: Cats: Common; Dogs: Very High

Keywords: Lack of energy/Loss of appetite/Abdominal pain/Vomiting

About Feline Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is caused by inflammation of the pancreas, which secretes digestive enzymes and hormones. Normally, digestive enzymes that are active within the digestive organs also become active outside of them, leading to inflammatory symptoms associated with selfdigestion. This condition can be lifethreatening for elderly or weak individuals, and even if the treatment is stable, there is often a high risk of recurrence or chronic inflammation, so it should not be taken lightly.

The cause of this condition is difficult to determine, with representative causes including infection from intestinal bacteria through the pancreatic duct, the influence of inflammation in nearby bile ducts or liver, and hemodynamic infection from oral bacteria.

Therefore, stress, obesity, other digestive organ diseases, the use of immunosuppressants such as steroids, and general anesthesia can increase the risk of developing the disease. Additionally, the pancreas also secretes insulin that controls blood sugar levels, so pancreatitis can also cause dysfunction in insulin secretion, leading to insufficient insulin and the development of diabetes.

Diagnosis: A comprehensive judgment is made based on the results of blood tests, ultrasound, and other external referrals. Typically, blood tests conducted in hospitals will measure amylase and lipase, but both enzymes have low accuracy and specificity for diagnosing pancreatitis and can only be used as a reference.

In the case of ultrasound, if it is severe pancreatitis, a decisive image change can be detected, but in most cases, only suspected changes can be observed, and it is not uncommon to see normal images even if pancreatitis is present.

External referral blood tests (dogs: Spec cPL, cats: Spec fPL) have high accuracy and specificity, and these results are often used as a basis for diagnosis. Xrays may also be performed to rule out the presence of foreign bodies or other diseases, but Xrays themselves are not directly related to the diagnosis of pancreatitis.

Treatment: Intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and antiemetics are the main treatment drugs. Generally, intravenous therapy is administered after hospitalization, and in cases where the disease is discovered early and the condition is relatively stable, regular hospital visits may be required.

The duration of hospitalization varies by hospital, but it is usually about 57 days. If it is a simple case of pancreatitis and the treatment response is good, there is still a risk of death due to decreased recovery ability in the elderly or if there are concurrent inflammatory conditions in nearby organs such as cholangitis or duodenitis.

Prognosis: The prognosis is generally good. In cases of chronic pancreatitis, it is recommended to have regular hospital checkups and treatment.