The pancreas produces, stores, and releases digestive enzymes. However, these enzymes can sometimes attack the organ itself, leading to severe pancreatitis in cats. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about this condition.
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Cats usually display only non-specific symptoms when they have pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis in cats can be either acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Both forms can have fatal consequences. This makes swift diagnosis and intensive therapy crucial.
Pancreatitis in cats often presents with very unspecific symptoms. Additionally, cats are experts at hiding their pain. However, the following symptoms could indicate pancreatitis:
Read more: How You Can Recognise Pain in Cats
Due to its unspecific symptoms, pancreatitis in cats can be challenging to diagnose. After a thorough general examination, the veterinarian will conduct further tests:
A blood test to measure the concentration of feline pancreas-specific lipase (fPLI) can help diagnose pancreatitis. There are now even rapid tests available, conducted by the veterinarian directly in the practice. If the rapid test indicates pancreatitis, the diagnosis should still be confirmed by a laboratory.
Additionally, the veterinarian may use ultrasound to examine the pancreas. Enlargements and fluid accumulations are further signs of pancreatitis.
Firstly, the bad news: cats with acute pancreatitis often need hospitalisation.
The veterinarian will try to identify the cause or risk factors for the condition. If the cat regularly takes medications that could be the trigger, these should ideally be discontinued.
Many cats with chronic pancreatitis also suffer from inflammation of other abdominal organs. Conditions like bowel diseases (e.g., IBD) or biliary tract infections (cholangitis) must also be treated.
For cats with severe pancreatitis, the main approach is symptomatic therapy to alleviate the effects of the condition. This includes:
Note: Choosing the right diet cat food can support the natural bodily functions of your cat. However, diet food cannot cure or prevent diseases. Always discuss your cat’s diet with your veterinarian. Find special diet foods for cats on zooplus.
The prognosis for a cat with pancreatitis depends on the course and severity of the disease. If mild pancreatitis is quickly diagnosed and treated, the chances are very good.
However, if the cat develops a severe form and other organs are affected, pancreatitis can be potentially fatal.
Chronic pancreatitis can also have serious consequences. Long-term inflammation may lead to other conditions like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or diabetes mellitus.
In 90% of cases, no clear cause for pancreatitis in cats is found. This is referred to as idiopathic pancreatitis.
However, there are several risk factors:
Given that most cases have no clear trigger, preventive measures are challenging. Nonetheless, you should avoid risk factors like high-fat food and obesity.
For more information on feeding your cat, visit our section on cat nutrition in the zooplus magazine.
The pancreas is a long, thin organ located in the front abdominal cavity of the cat. It has an endocrine and exocrine part, each with different functions:
The exocrine part produces essential digestive juices (enzymes) that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
In contrast, the endocrine part produces vital hormones that travel through the bloodstream to the rest of the body. These include:
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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