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).