The disease of a beloved cat cannot but upset. Especially when you consider the fact that the animal, unfortunately, will not tell you exactly where it hurts and what symptoms the illness is accompanied by. It remains only to carefully monitor your pet to give the veterinarian as much information as possible to establish the correct diagnosis.
Consider such a common phenomenon today as pancreatitis in cats. Symptoms and treatment, causes and predisposing factors for the development of the disease are described below.
What is pancreatitis?
Just like in humans, pancreatitis in a cat is nothing more than inflammation of the pancreas . It is sometimes very difficult to determine the disease, and only a specialist 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 of your pet and, if there is the slightest suspicion, immediately contact a veterinary clinic for an accurate diagnosis. This will help to notice the problem in time and fix it.
Causes of the disease
There may be several reasons that a cat can cause pancreatitis. The main ones include the following:
- improper use of certain medications;
- poisoning with phosphorus-containing organic compounds;
- the presence of diseases of the liver, small intestine and biliary tract;
- diabetes;
- pancreas injuries;
- pathology at birth;
- the presence of animal worms, viral or fungal infections.
However, there are factors that contribute to the development of the disease.
Predisposing factors
Not a single disease occurs 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 an animal’s weight;
- increase cholesterol in the blood of an animal;
- elevated levels of calcium in the blood.
Moreover, according to statistics, Siamese cats and other eastern breeds are most susceptible to the disease. It is also possible to exacerbate it in stressful situations, during pregnancy, after changing the usual food. Most often, old cats suffer from pancreatitis, 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 own symptoms.
Acute pancreatitis in cats develops very rapidly. Most often this happens against the background of untreated diseases of the pancreas or any other organs. This type of pancreatitis is characterized by pronounced symptoms. In this case, the signs of the disease begin to appear completely suddenly.
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis in cats is characterized by slow development and the gradual onset 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 luster.
Over time, the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced, but this means that it has already passed into a more severe form.
Signs of the disease
What are the signs of pancreatitis in cats? Symptoms can be varied.
Since the animal’s gastrointestinal tract is affected during the disease, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur. In addition, for the cat are very painful touching her abdominal cavity.
The animal becomes lethargic, inactive, and drowsy. An increase in temperature and shortness of breath may also be observed.
During the mild form of the disease, the symptoms can be very mild, while the severe form is accompanied by severe pain, which can cause a shock state in the animal. In the event of complications, arrhythmias and sepsis may occur, and the animal’s breathing 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 pass some types of analyzes.
The most accurate diagnostic method is computed tomography of the abdominal cavity of the animal. Although it is worth noting that this procedure is not cheap. That is why it is not very popular.
The second research method, which is quite common, is an ultrasound scan. With it, you can check the pancreas for swelling, as well as see the displacement of the duodenum and stomach towards the liver. Next, a biopsy of the pancreas and taking tests of urine and blood are performed.
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, saline is injected intravenously or subcutaneously. In addition, pain is removed.
Next, you must endure at least a 24-hour hunger strike. During this period of time, the animal should not be given medications. Only the use of antiemetics is possible.
If after a day the pet has become easier, he can be given non-fat soft food. In case of refusal of food, veterinarians recommend trying to feed the animal forcibly. At this time, it is necessary to start taking medications that will stimulate appetite, enzymes to improve the digestion process, as well as vitamin B 12 .
Perhaps the use of other drug therapy. It may include the use of anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs and antibiotics, as well as means to normalize the activity of the pancreas (for example, "Contrical"). Be sure to carry out infusion therapy. If complications occur, 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 must 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. At the same time, you need to feed your pet in small portions. This will help to avoid unnecessary strain on the gastrointestinal tract, and in particular the pancreas. Pancreatitis cat foods should be high in carbohydrates.
In addition, the type of therapy needed depends on the form of the disease.
- If the cat has pancreatitis of mild form, treatment can be carried out at home, subject to regular visits to the veterinarian for examinations and tests, and in a hospital. The second option is preferable, since the animal will receive intravenous therapy, which contributes to a speedy recovery.
- The middle form of the disease involves mandatory hospitalization, since therapy at this stage includes the use of painkillers and antibiotics. In some cases, it may be necessary to transfuse blood plasma.
- A severe form of pancreatitis in a cat involves intensive care, as there is a high risk of death. In this case, it is better to contact a specialized clinic.
Forecast for the future
After a successful treatment, it is important for pet owners to continue to closely monitor the health status and behavior of their pet. The fact is that pancreatitis in cats cannot be completely cured, so there is a high probability of relapse. As a preventive measure, the animal should always be on a specially designed diet.
In the absence of complications such as diabetes mellitus or problems with the kidneys and intestines, there is a high probability of a successful recovery.
In the presence of an acute form of pancreatitis, the animal will be treated for life. This will not relieve the disease, but will help avoid the occurrence of its exacerbations.