Pancreatitis in a cat: a description, causes, symptoms and features of treatment

The disease of your beloved cat can not but grieve. Especially if you take into account the fact that the animal, unfortunately, does not tell you exactly where it hurts and what symptoms accompany the ailment. It remains only to carefully monitor your pet, to give the vet as much information as possible to establish the correct diagnosis.

Consider such a widespread phenomenon as pancreatitis in cats. Symptoms and treatment, causes and predisposing factors to the development of the disease are described below.

What is pancreatitis

Just like in humans, pancreatitis in a cat is nothing more than an inflammation of the pancreas . It is sometimes very difficult to determine the disease, and only an expert can do this after a thorough examination of the animal and obtaining the results of all the necessary tests. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor the health status of your pet and, if the slightest suspicion arises, immediately contact the veterinary clinic for an accurate diagnosis. This will help to notice the problem in time and eliminate it.

Causes of the disease

Causes that can cause pancreatitis in a cat may be several. The main ones are the following:

• Improper use of certain medications;
• Poisoning with phosphorus-containing organic compounds;
• The presence of liver diseases, the small intestine and bile ducts;
• diabetes;
• Traumas of the pancreas;
• Pathology at birth;
• The presence of an animal worm, a viral or fungal infection.

There are factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

Predisposing factors

No disease arises from scratch. Each of them is accompanied by certain provoking factors.

Pancreatitis in a cat can develop as a result of:

• Eating fatty foods. Which leads to the appearance of excess weight;
• Improperly selected diet;
• Too small weight of the animal;
• Increasing the level of cholesterol in the blood of the animal;
• Elevated levels of calcium in the blood.

In this case, as statistics show, the disease is most susceptible to Siamese cats and other eastern breeds. It is also possible to exacerbate it under stressful situations, during pregnancy, after changing the usual food. Most often pancreatitis affects old cats, except when it was provoked by external factors.

Acute pancreatitis

There are two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Each of them is accompanied by its symptoms.

Acute pancreatitis in cats develops very rapidly. Most often this occurs against the background of untreated pancreas diseases or any other organs. This type of pancreatitis differs markedly symptomatic. At the same time signs of the disease begin to manifest completely suddenly.

Chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis of cats is characterized by slow development and gradual appearance of symptoms. This process can take even years, while the owners of the animal will not even suspect about the disease. However, the process is usually accompanied by changes in the behavior of the pet and its appearance. The animal becomes drowsy, it often rumbles in the stomach, and the stool becomes yellowish. In this case, the wool loses its elasticity and shine.

Over time, the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced, but this means that it has already taken a more severe form.

Symptoms of the disease

What signs are accompanied by pancreatitis in cats? Symptoms can be varied.

Since during the disease affects the gastrointestinal tract of the animal, there may be loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, for a cat are very painful touching its abdominal cavity.

The animal becomes sluggish, sedentary and sleepy. There may also be an increase in temperature and shortness of breath.

During a mild form of the disease, the symptomatology can be very poorly expressed, while the severe form is accompanied by severe pain, which can cause an animal a shock state. In the event of complications, arrhythmia and sepsis may occur, and the breathing of the animal becomes difficult.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats

Pancreatitis in a cat is a disease that is difficult to diagnose even if there are obvious symptoms. Therefore, to identify it, it is necessary to conduct a series of studies and to pass certain types of analyzes.

The most accurate method of diagnosis is the computer tomography of the abdominal cavity of the animal. Although it is worth noting that this procedure is not cheap. That's why it is not very popular.

The second method of research, which is quite common, is an ultrasound study. With it, you can check the pancreas for puffiness, and see the displacement of the duodenum and stomach toward the liver. Further biopsy of the pancreas and the delivery of urine and blood tests.

Treatment of pancreatitis in cats

For successful treatment of the disease it is important to adhere to a number of recommendations. First of all, it is important to eliminate the dehydration of the animal's body, which was caused by vomiting and diarrhea. For this intravenous or subcutaneous injection of saline is done. In addition, pain is removed.

Further it is necessary to sustain at least a 24-hour hunger strike. In this period of time, the animal should not be given medicines. It is only possible to use antiemetics.

If after a day the pet becomes lighter, he can give low-fat soft food. In case of refusal from food, veterinarians recommend trying to feed the animal forcibly. At this time, it is necessary to start taking medications that will stimulate the appetite, enzymes to improve the digestive process, and vitamin B ₁₂ .

It is possible to use other medication. It can include the use of anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs and antibiotics, as well as means to normalize the pancreas (for example, "Contrikal"). Necessarily carrying out infusion therapy. If complications arise, surgical intervention is recommended.

In addition, it is necessary to establish the cause of pancreatitis and eliminate it. If the disease was caused by taking medications, they should be immediately canceled. In the case of infectious diseases, all necessary measures are taken to eliminate them.

During treatment, the animal's diet should be dietary. In this case, the pet should be fed in small portions. This will help to avoid unnecessary strain on the gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas in particular. Food for cats in pancreatitis should contain high concentrations of carbohydrates.

In addition, the type of therapy required depends on the form of the disease.

1. If pancreatitis in a cat is of an easy form, treatment can be carried out at home, provided that the veterinarian regularly visits for examinations and tests, and in a hospital. The second option is preferable, since the animal will undergo intravenous therapy, which promotes a speedy recovery.
2. The average form of the disease provides for mandatory hospitalization, since therapy at this stage includes the use of painkillers and antibiotics. In some cases, the need for transfusion of blood plasma.
3. Severe form of pancreatitis in a cat provides intensive therapy, since there is a high risk of death. In this case it is better to go to a specialized clinic.

Forecast for the future

After the successful treatment of pet owners, it is important to continue to closely monitor the health and behavior of their pet. The fact is that pancreatitis in cats can not be fully cured, so there is a high probability of relapse. As a preventive measure, the animal should always be on a specially developed diet.

In the absence of complications in the form of, for example, diabetes mellitus or kidney and intestinal problems, there is a high probability of successful recovery.

If there is an acute form of pancreatitis, the animal will be treated throughout life. This does not relieve the disease, but it helps to avoid the occurrence of its exacerbations.