May 07, 2019
An integral part of the endocrine and digestive system, the pancreas is responsible for the production of enzymes that digest food and also for the production of insulin. The inflammation in pancreas inhibits the flow of enzymes to the digestive tract, as a result, the enzymes move towards the abdominal area.
In such cases enzymes then start digesting fat and proteins of the organs of the body; the body begins to digest itself. Since liver and kidney are also located close to pancreas there is a chance of them getting affected along with the inflammation in the abdomen. In worst cases, bleeding in the pancreas can put the body in shock and the consequences can be life taking.
This inflammation of the pancreas is called Pancreatitis. The condition should be treated in the early stages to avoid any permanent damages to any body parts. In later stages the treatment becomes difficult and the inflammation can damage body organs including the brain can occur.
Owing to the time dependency of the treatment of pancreatitis you need to have knowledge about the symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Causes Of Feline Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is becoming common in cats especially in Siamese cat. Although there are several possible causes of inflammation to the pancreas, we have mentioned a few of them below.
Symptoms Of Feline Pancreatitis
There are various symptoms
Diagnosis Of Feline Pancreatitis
Vets may carry out various tests to check for the inflammation.
Ultrasound With Needle Biopsy to check for the tissue growth or cysts formation.
Tests to determine the presence of gallstone and reflux will be carried out by the vets.
Blood tests to check the nutrient imbalances and X-ray to look for damages to the pancreas.
Also, the level of pancreatic and liver enzymes will be measured in the bloodstream.
Your vet may also check the level of insulin because the insulin level may be affected because of the damages caused to insulin-producing cells that may lead to diabetes.
Pancreatic tests like fPLI or SPEC-FPL can diagnose many cases of feline pancreatitis.
Treatment Of Feline Pancreatitis
The treatment is mainly symptomatic and supportive. Fluid therapy to prevent dehydration, pain relief treatments to relieve pain, treating nausea and vomiting, giving antibiotics and plasma transfusion are some of the ways to treat Inflammation of the pancreas.
Corticosteroids may also be suggested by your vet before the final diagnosis. Make sure that your cat doesn’t move around much during the treatment to let the organs heal.
In critical conditions you vet may recommend surgery to remove the blockages that are causing the inflammation, accumulations of fluid, severely damaged tissue. Your cat will be kept under observation in serious cases.
A tip from Vet- To avoid pancreatitis you should manage your cat’s weight and make sure that she doesn’t go overweight. And refrain from treatment that may cause inflammation in pancreatitis.
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