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Feline pancreatitis

The pancreas is a small gland located near the stomach. It makes enzymes that digest food and insulin that regulates blood sugar. When it becomes inflamed, these enzymes activate in the wrong place and attack the pancreas itself as well as...

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Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

The pancreas is a small gland located near the stomach. It makes enzymes that digest food and insulin that regulates blood sugar.

When it becomes inflamed, these enzymes activate in the wrong place and attack the pancreas itself as well as nearby organs.

In cats, pancreatitis is often discreet and misleading: no spectacular vomiting like in dogs, but a cat that no longer eats and remains prostrate. This is why it easily goes unnoticed.

Key point

In cats, pancreatitis often manifests itself with vague signs. A cat that is no longer eating and remains prostrate should be examined, even without vomiting.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Loss of appetite Reduction Vomiting Dehydration Weight loss Pain Diarrhea Jaundice

Loss of appetite: this is the most constant sign, sometimes the only one.

Despondency, cat that hides, sleeps no more, no longer demands.

Dehydration.

Vomiting, present in only some cats.

Stomach pain, difficult to spot: the cat remains huddled, refuses to be carried or touched under the stomach, adopts an unusual ball position.

Diarrhea or loose stools in some.

Progressive weight loss in the chronic form.

Jaundice when the liver and nearby bile ducts are affected.

Inconstant fever, and sometimes on the contrary a lower temperature than normal in severe forms.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

In the vast majority of cases, the precise cause is not found in the cat.

Inflammation of the liver and bile ducts or intestine may extend to the pancreas, the three organs being closely related in this species.

Certain infections, including toxoplasmosis and viral infections, are sometimes involved.

Abdominal trauma, a fall or surgery in the region can trigger it.

Certain medications and certain toxins are incriminated in rare cases.

Unlike dogs, a fatty meal is not a recognized trigger in cats.

Cats already suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or bile duct damage.

Cats with diabetes or a previous episode of pancreatitis.

Middle-aged to older cats, although young ones are not spared.

No race is clearly more exposed than another.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

The diagnosis is a combination of arguments: the veterinarian relies on the clinical examination, a specific blood test of the pancreas, and an ultrasound of the abdomen.

No examination taken in isolation is sufficient: a normal result does not completely rule out the disease, which explains why the veterinarian sometimes suggests repeating the examinations.

The complete blood test simultaneously looks for liver damage, kidney damage, diabetes and assesses dehydration.

Ultrasound is also used to rule out other abdominal emergencies: foreign body, occlusion, mass.

A search for inflammatory bowel disease or cholangitis is often carried out in parallel, as these diseases go together in cats.

Treatment

There is no medication that “repairs” the pancreas: treatment supports the cat while the inflammation subsides.

Infusion is the basis of treatment for acute forms: it corrects dehydration and supports circulation in the pancreas.

Pain management is essential and often underestimated: a cat in pain does not eat and becomes weak.

Medicines for vomiting and nausea are used, as well as appetite stimulants.

The resumption of food must be early. Cats are no longer fasted: fasting aggravates the situation and exposes them to hepatic lipidosis. If the cat refuses to eat, a feeding tube is inserted.

Anti-inflammatories or other treatments modulating immunity are sometimes prescribed in chronic forms, upon veterinary decision.

Antibiotics are only given if an infection is suspected: pancreatitis is not an infectious disease in itself.

Associated diseases, liver and intestine in particular, are treated at the same time.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

There is no specific prevention, the cause being most often unknown.

Maintaining regular veterinary follow-up allows early identification and treatment of chronic digestive diseases that promote flare-ups.

Never leave a cat without eating for several days in the hope that it will pass.

Do not give any human medication to a cat without veterinary advice.

In a cat that has already had pancreatitis, a suitable diet and regular monitoring reduce the frequency of relapses.

Possible complications

Hepatic lipidosis, frequent consequence of prolonged food cessation.

Diabetes mellitus, if insulin-producing cells are destroyed by repeated inflammation.

Insufficiency of the digestive pancreas, with abundant stools and weight loss despite a good appetite.

Bile duct damage and jaundice.

In severe forms, coagulation disorders and multiple organ failure.

When to see a veterinarian

Your cat has not eaten or much less for twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

He is depressed, hiding, no longer moving around as usual.

He vomits repeatedly or refuses to drink.

It whines or stiffens when you pick it up, or stays unusually tight.

His gums or the whites of his eyes turn yellow.

He is diabetic and his general condition is deteriorating without explanation.

Prognosis

Mild forms recover well with supportive treatment for a few days.

Chronic forms develop in flare-ups: they can be managed over the long term, with often good comfort of life between attacks.

Serious acute forms, with jaundice, damage to several organs or severe dehydration, remain worrying and require hospitalization.

The speed of treatment, particularly pain and nutrition, has a significant impact on the outcome.

Frequently asked questions

My cat is not vomiting, does this rule out pancreatitis?

No. Many affected cats do not vomit at all. Loss of appetite and depression are the most common signs, and they are enough to justify a consultation.

Was it a fatty meal that triggered it?

In dogs, a fatty diet is a known factor. In cats, this link is not established. In most feline cases, no specific cause is identified.

Should I put my cat on a diet to rest the pancreas?

No, and it's even dangerous. Fasting exposes you to hepatic lipidosis. On the contrary, the objective is to get the cat to eat again as soon as possible, if necessary with the help of the veterinarian.

Can the disease come back?

Yes, the chronic form progresses in flare-ups. Regular monitoring, a suitable diet and treatment of associated digestive diseases help to space out attacks.