Pancreatitis - Cat

Introduction

See Pancreatitis for general overview of the disease.

Cats mainly suffer from mild chronic interstitial pancreatitis.

Signalment

Increased risk of disease occurs with obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticalism, prior gastrointestinal disease or recurrent seizures.

Acute Pancreatitis in Cats

Introduction

Cats occasionally get the acute necrotizing form seen in dogs, but acute interstitial pancreatitis in seen mainly with systemic toxoplasmosis. Cats mainly get chronic pancreatitis, rather than the acute form. Pyogranulomatous pancreatitis occurs in FIP. Serum amylase and lipase are unreliable (extrahepatic sources and both are excreted by the kidneys). There is usually a high serum glucose and cholesterol, with low serum potassium and calcium present on blood tests. Serum feline tryspin-like immunoreactivity is poorly associated with histopathological diagnosis.

Clinical Signs

Signs are very vaue and may include vomiting, diarrhoea and anorexia.

Diagnosis

In cats it is a much less common disease and so therefore more difficult to diagnose, especially as the clinical signs are so vague. In cats lipase, amylase and Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) have little value. Serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) is usually raised and cPLI & fPLI look promising as sensitive and specific markers for pancreatic inflammation.

Treatment

Do not starve cats. Intravenous fluid therapy is required and a feeding tube may be placed (risk of hepatic lipidosis if do not eat).

Chronic Pancreatitis in Cats

Image of chronic pancreatitis and fibrosis in a cat from Cornell Veterinary Medicine

This chronic, relapsing condition is more common than the acute condition in cats. Fibrosis, ductular ectasia with cyst formation and inflammation will be present on the pancreas. The condition has been associated with hepatic lipidosis, cholangiohepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Clinical Signs

Clinical signs are vague and may include vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, lethargy and icterus.

Diagnosis

Blood tests for lipase may be normal or elevated in cats and therfore may or may not be any use. Amylase and Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) are not useful in cats. Serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) will be raised and cPLI & fPLI look promising as sensitive and specific markers for pancreatic inflammation.

Treatment

Treat the underlying cause if there is one. Treatment may include placing the animal on a low fat diet and giving supportive care such as fluids and analgesia. If the cat is not eating, place a feeding tube as starvation may cause hepatic lipidosis in cats.

References

Blood, D.C. and Studdert, V. P. (1999) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (2nd Edition) Elsevier Science
Cowart, R.P. and Casteel, S.W. (2001) An Outline of Swine diseases: a handbook Wiley-Blackwell
Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company
Ettinger, S.J, Feldman, E.C. (2005) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (6th edition, volume 2)W.B. Saunders Company
Fossum, T. W. et. al. (2007) Small Animal Surgery (Third Edition) Mosby Elsevier
Jackson, G.G. and Cockcroft, P.D. (2007) Handbook of Pig Medicine Saunders Elsevier
Knottenbelt, D.C. A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students University of Liverpool
Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial
Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.
Sturgess, K. (2003) Notes on Feline Internal Medicine Blackwell Publishing.