Feline Acute Pancreatitis: Symptoms and Care
📝 Summary
Feline acute pancreatitis happens when pancreatic enzymes activate inside the gland and digest the organ itself, causing swelling, bleeding, or necrosis. Cats show vomiting, anorexia, dehydration, and abdominal pain, and are managed with fasting, antiemetics, pain control, fluids, and a low-fat diet.
1 What Acute Pancreatitis Is
The pancreas is a modest-sized but vital digestive organ. Acute pancreatitis is a severe reaction in which various triggers cause pancreatic enzymes to activate inside the gland, digesting the pancreatic tissue itself and leading to edema, bleeding, and even necrosis.
2 Recognizing the Symptoms
Because many factors can trigger acute pancreatitis, the clinical signs vary. A cat may show vomiting, anorexia, dehydration, pain when the abdomen is touched, diarrhea, black tarry stool (melena), jaundice, and difficulty breathing.
3 Diagnostic Tests
Blood work: at the hospital, PCV and plasma protein rise, leukocytes show inflammation, and toxic neutrophils may contain viral inclusions. Urinalysis: usually normal but may show bilirubin, proteinuria, or casts. Serum biochemistry: albumin and globulin rise, and BUN, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and ALT may all rise. Ancillary tests: X-rays or a serum lipase test can help in the assessment.
4 Treatment and Management
Treatment generally begins with withholding food and water. For persistent vomiting, give an antiemetic (metoclopramide). Pain control is an important part of pancreatitis care; buprenorphine is typically given subcutaneously at 0.005 to 0.01 mg/kg. Rehydration is usually done with lactated Ringer’s solution. For feeding, a low-fat prescription diet is recommended, and it is best to have the cat treated at a veterinary hospital. Note that a snap fPL test is not 100% definitive and can yield a misdiagnosis.
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