Inflammation of the pancreas in cats: causes and methods of treatment. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes

Exocrine functions - the production of enzymes necessary for the digestion of complex food components such as proteins, triglycerides and complex carbohydrates, and large quantity bicarbonates, which protect the mucous membranes of organs from the effects of stomach acid.

The article briefly highlights disorders of the exocrine function of the pancreas, as they relate to diseases digestive system. Endocrine functions are discussed in the article on hormonal diseases.

Pancreatitis in cats.

Pancreatitis (or inflammation of the pancreas) is the most common disease of this organ in cats. The illness may be short-term (acute pancreatitis) or long-term (chronic), depending on whether the disease has caused irreversible damage to pancreatic cells. Both forms of pancreatitis can be very severe. The cause of pancreatitis, in most cases, remains unclear.

The symptoms of pancreatitis are similar to those of many other diseases of the digestive system. This may include lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, low fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. To confirm the diagnosis, the results of a blood test, ultrasound and, if necessary, diagnostic operations are used.

Treatment of pancreatitis involves careful monitoring of the cat's condition and supportive care. Sometimes hospitalization is necessary for treatment. Early start treatment helps prevent complications. If the cause of the disease can be determined, it is prescribed special treatment. Rest for the pancreas (do not feed the cat by mouth for 3-4 days) is recommended only in cases where the cat is vomiting - intravenous fluids may be prescribed. To relieve pain in the stomach area, painkillers are usually prescribed.

For mild pancreatitis, your cat may be placed on a low-fat diet. Pancreatic enzyme supplements may help in cases where abdominal pain or poor appetite (which is often the only sign of pain) is present. With chronic long-term pancreatitis, it is necessary to monitor the cat's condition to prevent complications such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

With mild and moderate pancreatitis, the treatment prognosis is good, in severe cases it is poor. About half of cats die from severe pancreatitis.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a syndrome caused by insufficient production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas. Most often in cats, it is caused by long-term pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Less commonly, the cause may be a tumor causing obstruction of the pancreatic ducts.

Middle-aged and older cats usually suffer from exocrine insufficiency. The incidence of the disease does not depend on the breed of cat. Common symptoms is too good an appetite, weight loss, lack of stool or diarrhea. Some cats may experience nausea and loss of appetite, as well as symptoms of other illnesses. Exocrine insufficiency is often accompanied by diabetes mellitus, which is caused by the destruction of the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. Feces most often become pale, loose and bulky, and may smell foul. In rare cases, watery diarrhea occurs. High fat content in the stool can lead to a greasy appearance in the area around the anus and on the tail. Diagnosis is based on the results of a blood test indicating a decrease in exocrine functions cat pancreas.

In most cases, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats can be cured with a maintenance diet supplemented with pancreatic enzymes. Follow your veterinarian's recommendations carefully when using such supplements, and be sure to report any bleeding in the mouth - this can often be corrected by reducing the dose of the enzyme. When the symptoms of the disease go away, the amount of enzyme supplementation may be gradually reduced.

If a maintenance diet alone is not sufficient for treatment, the cat may be lacking vitamin B12 (cobalamin). In such cases, the cat is prescribed vitamin injections. There may be a deficiency of other vitamins.

Most cases of exocrine insufficiency in cats are caused by irreversible loss of pancreatic tissue, so complete recovery is rare. However, with appropriate supportive diet and care, cats usually quickly regain normal weight, bowel movements return to normal, and the animal continues to live a normal life.

Pancreatic cancer in cats.

Pancreatic tumors in cats can be either benign or malignant (cancerous). Pancreatic adenoma is considered benign. Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor that is fortunately rare in cats. Signs of a pancreatic tumor in cats are quite common, and often there are no signs at all until the disease is very advanced. Symptoms may include refusal to eat, nausea, and abdominal pain. If the tumor spreads to other organs, symptoms may include lameness, bone pain, shortness of breath, jaundice, lack of appetite and hair loss.

Pancreatic adenoma in cats usually does not require treatment unless symptoms are visible. However, because they resemble the symptoms of adenocarcinoma, the affected tissue is often removed. The prognosis for treatment is very good.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma in cats is usually detected only on late stages illness when the cancer has already spread. In the few cases where propagation has not yet occurred, it is possible surgical removal tumors. However, since it is very difficult to completely remove the tumor, surgery is rarely successful. The prognosis for treatment is very poor.

Pancreatic abscess in cats.

A pancreatic abscess is a collection of pus, usually near the pancreas, that may contain dead tissue from the pancreas itself. Possible symptoms include nausea, depression, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhea and dehydration. Some cats may have lumps in their abdomen. Surgical drainage of the abscess is successfully used for treatment. However, the risk of surgery may be too great unless there is clear evidence of increasing abscess mass or bacterial infection Therefore, surgical methods are used taking into account the characteristics of the cat’s condition.

Pancreatic pseudocyst in cats.

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a collection of sterile pancreatic fluid embedded in fibrous tissue. The symptoms are similar to those that accompany pancreatitis - poor appetite, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain. Vomiting is the main sign of disease in cats. Pancreatic pseudocyst is treated both with and without surgical methods. Surgery is necessary if the symptoms of the disease persist and the pseudocyst does not decrease in size.

Inflammation of the pancreas in cats: causes and methods of treatment

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract occupy almost the leading place among all pathological processes encountered in veterinary practice. This is often due to the fact that many owners do not monitor the “correctness” of their pets’ diet. Cats often get scraps from a person's table. In principle, there is nothing “criminal” about this, but “human” food contains a lot of salt, it is often too fatty and peppery.

All these products are extremely contraindicated for cats. We should also not forget that a significant role in the development of any disease is played by environment: V last decades The environment has become significantly worse, and this affects not only people. Often, inflammation of the pancreas in a cat develops under the influence of all of the above reasons.

General information about the disease

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory-dystrophic process that triggers changes in the pancreas. Simply put, this is the name for inflammation of this organ, even if such a definition does not reflect the essence of all the processes that occur in the tissues of the organ. It happens that inflammation develops due to the impossibility of outflow of pancreatic secretions, sometimes other predisposing factors intervene.

Veterinary gastroenterologists divide pancreatitis into acute and chronic. It is believed that chronic inflammation of the pancreas is much more common, but there is a reason for this. In fact, in almost 70% of sick animals, the acute form of the pathology occurs under the guise of intoxication or cholelithiasis. A pet can even be treated for a long time and persistently, but all therapeutic methods do not bring any effect. At this time, pancreatitis successfully enters the chronic stage. And, frankly speaking, it is very difficult to cure.

How dangerous is this disease? To answer this question, you need to understand at least a little biology and physiology. The pancreas is one of the most important secretory organs in the human and animal body. It is responsible for the production of digestive enzymes, which are subsequently transported into the lumen through ducts duodenum, as well as for the synthesis of the hormone insulin.

The latter ensures the absorption of glucose. In cases where synthesis and isolation are vital important hormone violated, the consequences are catastrophic. For example, a cat develops diabetes mellitus... But you shouldn’t forget about “ordinary” digestive problems. If, as a result of pancreatitis, the secretion of digestive enzymes completely or partially stops, the digestion process can no longer proceed normally. As a natural result, the animal suffers from constant diarrhea, constipation, and intoxication. The latter develops because food components that the body is unable to digest simply begin to decompose in the intestinal lumen.

Predisposing factors

Most often, pancreatitis is a consequence of progressive gallstone disease. It sounds, of course, somewhat strange, but there is a simple explanation for this. The fact is that with this pathology, due to developing inflammation and other factors block the excretory ducts of the pancreas in the duodenum. As a result, not only the liver suffers. It is interesting that in approximately 80% of cases cats suffer from pancreatitis, while cats suffer from this pathology much less often. There are a number of factors that provoke inflammation of the pancreas, these include:

• Diseases of the duodenum.

• Poor quality food. In particular, pancreatitis is not uncommon in cats whose owners liked to feed them spoiled and moldy food that they had forgotten in the refrigerator. This, by the way, can lead to oncological diseases liver.

• Deficiency of proteins and fats. This is not only due to poor feeding. If the animal already has some inflammatory disease intestines, these are vital important elements simply cannot be absorbed by its digestive system.

• Increased levels of fats in the blood plasma.

• Long-term use of some medicines.

A few words need to be said about the pathogenesis of the disease, that is, about the mechanism of its development. We have already talked about the danger of blockage of the pancreatic ducts. What happens if this does happen? Nothing good - the thick, rich “syrup” of digestive enzymes simply begins to dissolve the pancreas itself.

A more common scenario is that when an animal is suffering from some kind of infectious disease, the pathogen can enter the bloodstream, causing a phenomenon known as bacteremia or viremia (that is, the presence of bacteria or viruses in the blood). Sooner or later these infectious agents can end up in any organ, including the pancreas. If the immune system pet is greatly weakened, there they “take root”, begin to develop and grow. All this can lead not only to inflammation: the development of an abscess is quite likely. If it bursts (and such cases are far from uncommon), your pet will most likely die from purulent diffuse peritonitis.

What are the symptoms? The pain syndrome is most pronounced in patients with pancreatitis, which is characterized by pronounced intensity and duration. From the behavior of the animals, one can understand that they are suffering from pain, localized somewhere in the depths of the abdomen and spreading upward. The pain often intensifies while eating. If your cat, who has a nasty habit of begging for a piece of sausage, suddenly tenses up after eating it, arches his back and starts meowing hoarsely, then he most likely has pancreatitis.

In addition to pain, your pet may suffer from frequent attacks nausea, which, however, rarely ends in vomiting. The cat has a decrease or complete absence loss of appetite, flatulence, belching, and heartburn may develop. If the process has already entered the chronic stage, the cat will experience intermittent cases of constipation and profuse diarrhea. Slowly but inevitably, severe exhaustion develops due to the inability of the animal’s body to absorb essential nutrients.

Quite often, during an external examination, a pronounced yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes is noted, associated with blockage of the bile ducts (we have already said that with pancreatitis this is a common occurrence). In particularly advanced cases of pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus may be added, which is associated with severe disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. Unfortunately, it is not immediately possible to find out about this “surprise”. Only after some time does the disease manifest itself in the form of sugar in the urine and blood.

Important! It is precisely because of the possibility of developing diabetes that a cat who has suffered from pancreatitis in any form must be shown to a veterinarian at least once a quarter! He will take blood and urine samples and compare the results with the norm. If something happens, the specialist will be able to immediately prescribe a new therapeutic course.

Diagnostics and therapeutic techniques

Diagnosing pancreatitis is quite a difficult task for any veterinarian. This is due to the deep location of the pancreas in the retroperitoneal space, as well as small in size the organ itself. Therefore, to make a diagnosis, specialists, in addition to collecting a history of the disease, always conduct a number of specific laboratory tests:

• Taking an anamnesis, including determining the presence of pain in the abdominal area, an important sign is the appearance of vomiting that occurs after eating fatty foods, and upset stool.

• Blood analysis. Pancreatitis is indicated by significant increase in ESR, lipase, amylase levels, decreased glucose absorption.

• Plain radiography of the abdominal cavity.

• Ultrasound scanning (ultrasound) of the abdominal organs, carried out strictly on an empty stomach, the cat should not even drink two hours before the examination.

The course of pancreatitis is most often protracted, with periods of remission and exacerbations, which must be stopped in time to avoid the development of complications. How is the treatment carried out? Depends on the root cause. The cat is prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, painkillers, and in severe cases, surgery is performed.

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Pancreatitis in cats and cats

Pancreatitis in cats is an inflammation of the pancreas. It is no secret that this gland is necessary for normal digestion. It has a special area responsible for the production of the hormone insulin, which is required to “feed” the cells with glucose. If there is not enough hormone or the cells become immune to it, then the amount of sugar in the blood goes off scale, and the pet itself develops diabetes. How to treat pancreatitis in cats?

Like any other inflamed organ, the pancreas with pancreatitis is not able to fully perform its functions. And this is very dangerous, because not only the digestion process itself is disrupted. Metabolism suffers greatly. The risk of diabetes increases.

Some cat breeds are predisposed to pancreatitis. For example, Thai, Siamese, Oriental, Balinese and their closest relatives). Stress, pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations can also increase the risk. Therefore, females (usually unsterilized) or mustaches, which often experience stress, are more susceptible to the disease. With age, diseases like pancreatitis make themselves felt, so the pancreas often becomes inflamed in older animals (over 8 years old).

Causes of pancreatitis in cats and kittens

Let's start with the root cause first. Why and how does pancreatitis appear in cats?

Pancreatitis in cats can be acute or chronic. The chronic course is more insidious in that it constantly slowly “destroys” the body. It seems that the symptoms are not particularly noticeable, but the animal is getting worse and worse.

In addition, the disease can be divided into primary (the disease developed as an independent disease) and secondary (the disease as a consequence of another, that is, inflammation of the pancreas is a symptom).

Symptoms of pancreatitis in cats

As a rule, it is quite difficult to determine the symptoms of pancreatitis in a cat by eye. This is a person or a dog almost climbing the walls from wild pain, but our little mustache is silent, only now he begins to sleep more. Therefore, the owner often does not notice signs of inflammation of the pancreas in a cat, even if the course of the disease is acute. Chronic inflammation proceeds almost unnoticed, only occasionally exacerbating. For this reason, we will talk specifically about the symptoms of acute pancreatitis in a cat.

Naturally, a cat may have only some of the symptoms of pancreatitis listed - not necessarily all at once.

Possible complications

If the cat did not have it before the inflammation of the pancreas, then diabetes may develop after it! Therefore, you should not delay treatment of a cat with pancreatitis. In very severe cases (I’m glad that this doesn’t happen very often in animals), the cat develops sepsis - blood poisoning.

How to make a diagnosis?

Just clinical signs are not enough. The veterinarian must conduct a number of studies: ultrasound, x-ray, gastroscopy, urine and blood tests. Only on the basis of all additional examinations will the doctor be able to make a final diagnosis. Assess the degree of damage to the pancreas, make sure that other organs are not damaged (does the cat have urolithiasis, hepatitis, gastritis, stones in bile ducts and bubble, etc.).

Treatment of pancreatitis in cats

How to treat pancreatitis in a cat? Treatment must begin as soon as the diagnosis is made. If the animal vomits immediately after drinking or eating, then feeding is stopped.

The veterinarian will have to find the cause that led to the inflammation. Without eliminating it, treatment is useless; pancreatitis will return immediately. Therefore, the cat can be given anthelmintics, antibiotics, and antiviral drugs. If the symptoms are mild (weak), then most often they resort to symptomatic therapy(antiemetics, heart medications, glucose drips to combat dehydration). However, if the cat has diabetes mellitus, then glucose for intravenous administration must be replaced with another saline solution (there is already a lot of sugar in the blood in diabetes, if it is administered again, the animal may fall into a coma).

Feeding cats with pancreatitis

What to feed a cat with pancreatitis? Feeding a cat with pancreatitis should be fractional. Don't strain your pancreas. Better often, but in small portions. In addition, this will not lead to a large release of glucose into the blood; after all, the inflamed pancreas secretes less insulin. Here are some simple rules:

1. Food (if it is natural) needs to be slightly heated (slightly above room temperature, so as not to irritate the digestive tract again). Do not feed it too hot or just taken out of the refrigerator.
2. Do not “overload” the animal’s menu. You don't need to give a bunch of everything a day. It’s better to eat one product at a time, gradually introducing more and more new types of food. At first, it is better to give low-fat broths and easily digestible porridges (oatmeal, rice).
3. There should be a lot of water. It needs to be filtered in advance, but it should be warm (room temperature).
4. If the animal gets worse, switch to light food again, and immediately call or visit a veterinarian!

There is a list of prohibited foods for a cat with pancreatitis. It is strictly forbidden to give them, even if the pet feels better. It is worth understanding what else for a long time after recovery (or visible improvement), the animal is at risk. Therefore, you should not risk feeding something that can bring back the disease.

Prohibited Products

List of prohibited foods for a cat with pancreatitis:

• Cabbage. It is not recommended to be given to healthy animals either.
• Corn. If you feed dry food, carefully study the composition. Manufacturers often save money by adding corn and its “derivatives” to feed.
• Boiled eggs. Protein is absorbed much better than yolk, but with pancreatitis you should not give protein either, the food is too heavy.
• Raw vegetables, fruits. The gastrointestinal tract is not yet ready to digest fiber.
• Do not give whole grain porridge to a sick cat.
• Refrain from feeding fatty foods(meat, dairy, fish).

Forget about “human treats.” No sweets (especially chocolate). Sausages and sausages are not suitable for feeding at all pet! You can’t even add simple table salt to a cat, and what can we say about sausages and sausages? How much “useful” stuff is there? The digestive tract will not cope, its irritation will only become even more pronounced.

• Roast? This is contraindicated even for feeding a healthy animal!
• Avoid fermented milk products! And save anything that has a sour taste until “better” times.

Prevention of pancreatitis in cats

Preventing pancreatitis in cats is not that difficult. Start by following all the deadlines for veterinary treatments (vaccination, deworming), and also visit a veterinarian just for an examination.

Monitor calcium in your diet

Do not overfeed your animal with foods containing calcium. Do not feed hard-to-digest foods. Make sure there are no prohibited foods in your cat's diet. Carefully study the composition of the dry food you buy. Don't hesitate to ask for quality certificates.

If a mustache has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then the pet is at risk. It should not be launched under any circumstances. Monitor the animal's weight.

Don't self-medicate

If your veterinarian has prescribed any medications, do not replace them with analogues yourself (some owners try to find similar medications in human pharmacies). Do not exceed the dosage, do not give the mustache medication more often than recommended by the doctor.

Houseplants

Large webinar for professionals about pancreatitis (and other pancreatic diseases) in cats and dogs:

We hope you found our material on pancreatitis in cats useful. Still have questions? Ask them in the comments.

Good evening. my Maine Coon cat is 4.5 years old. After blood biochemistry, the veterinarian diagnosed incipient pancreatitis (without ultrasound). The treatment was entirely homeopathic, 5 injections a day at the withers: pancrealex, verokol, covertal, kantaren and gamavit for a week to 10 days. transition and special feed An ultrasound after treatment was also not prescribed.

My question is the following: is it possible to make a diagnosis only based on blood biochemistry without ultrasound? Is the treatment prescribed correctly? Is there a need for an ultrasound?

Good evening! If the clinic does not have an ultrasound machine, the veterinarian makes a preliminary diagnosis based on examination and biochemical analysis. Most likely, the veterinarian saw changes in the blood characteristic of pancreatitis, and therefore made this diagnosis. If in doubt, ask for an ultrasound.

The treatment regimen was selected based on the severity of the disease. At the end of treatment, biochemistry tests will probably be taken again. And the dynamics will already be assessed. If there is a noticeable improvement, the therapy will be adjusted or canceled (however, you will still have to “sit” on the food). It is very important to completely cure your pet! Pancreatitis can lead to the development of diabetes. Therefore, follow the prescribed treatment regimen strictly. And don't forget about proper feeding.

Tatyana 14:13 | 18 Sep. 2017

Hello! After undergoing tests, my cat was diagnosed with changes in the liver, kidneys and chronic pancreatitis. They prescribed me to take the drugs phosphogliv, canephron, cantaren, and linex (for children). And take dietary food. Was she given the right treatment?

Dasha is a veterinarian 14:16 | 20 Sep. 2017

Hello! The drugs you listed are suitable for treating affected organs. Follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your veterinarian and visit him to monitor how the disease progresses. If there are improvements, the drugs will not be replaced. If the veterinarian does not notice any positive dynamics, he will replace the medications. But you should understand that chronic diseases are difficult to eliminate. They must first be aggravated, and only then can the pet be treated. And such systemic lesions (pancreas, liver, kidneys): the course of treatment does not last for one month. In general, the drugs are suitable. Get well soon cat!

Tatyana 16:10 | 22 Sep. 2017

Olga 18:44 | 03 Sep. 2017

I have a Persian cat, she is 17 years old. He often screams, his fur falls out in clumps, mats, he drinks a lot of water, his urine is as light as water. Could this be diabetes?

Dasha is a veterinarian 17:27 | 05 Sep. 2017

Good afternoon To confirm or refute the diagnosis, an in-person examination of the animal is necessary with mandatory additional tests(donate blood and urine to see if there is glucose in them). It is impossible to make a virtual diagnosis, because the symptoms of many diseases are similar. In addition to diabetes mellitus, there may also be diabetes insipidus and kidney problems. The fur may fall out and mat because the food is not suitable. Don't delay your visit veterinarian. Without treatment, the animal may die

Interestingly, milk, fermented milk, fish, meat, whole grains are not allowed. What then does the cat eat? Death by starvation will have to die. And then, what if the cat only eats meat and fish products and categorically refuses other products? I think we should leave him to starve to death.

Ekaterina 01:08 | 19 Feb. 2017

We feed our cat Royal Canin Gasto Moderate Color (reduced in calories), it is suitable for pancreatitis. She got sick a year ago. During an exacerbation, they gave canned food, also from the therapeutic series, and carried it for three days for injections. When the exacerbation passed, they started feeding her medicinal dry food, and only on it she feels good. Just like I gave other food when this RK gastro moderate calorie was not available, symptoms immediately appeared - a strong smell from the tray... Again they returned to the treatment and everything went away. But she doesn’t eat everything naturally, and if you give her porridge, she’ll generally sit there hungry and not eat anything.

Why not feed? Feed, special feeds, and if natural food, then boiled fillet. Avoid fish altogether, and any fatty foods, you will only make things worse for your pet.

Methods for treating pancreatitis in cats

Pancreatitis is quite common in cats. Inflammation of the pancreas can be caused by many factors. The danger of pancreatitis is that it is difficult to diagnose, and the symptoms may be similar to other diseases. It is important to notice the signs of this disease in time, because its consequences can be very serious: pancreatic necrosis, sepsis, and sometimes death.

Forms of pancreatitis

Pancreas in cats - most important organ responsible for the digestion process. Its main tasks are the production of enzymes that digest nutritional components and insulin, which is responsible for controlling sugar metabolism. During normal functioning of the organ, enzymes are sent to the duodenum, and when pancreatitis develops, they digest own fabrics glands.

Insufficient production of insulin by the gland leads to the fact that the amount of sugar increases sharply.

Pancreatitis in cats has two forms - acute and chronic. Second type the more dangerous that it lasts for a long time hidden form, slowly destroying the animal's body. Unfortunately, when owners go to a veterinary clinic, irreversible phenomena occur in the tissues and insulin-dependent diabetes develops.

Acute pancreatitis in cats with timely application The patient is successfully treated by a specialist, the prognosis in this case is favorable. After adequate therapy pancreatic tissue is completely restored.

Primary and secondary pancreatitis are also distinguished. The first type is an independent disease, the second is a symptom of another disease.

Why do cats develop pancreatitis?

There are many reasons that cause inflammation of the pancreas in cats. Here are the main ones:

• hormonal imbalance in the body, accompanied by an increase in free fats;
• stress;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• congenital anomalies of the gland;
• obesity or dystrophy due to impaired metabolism;
• change in feeding;
• abuse of fatty foods;
• increased calcium content;
• intoxication caused by poisons, alcohol or drugs;
• fungal diseases, helminthiases;
• abdominal trauma;
• consequences of an unsuccessful operation;
• inflammation of the liver, gall bladder, stomach.

It is believed that some representatives of the cat family (Siamese, Orientals, Thais) have genetic predisposition to pancreatitis. In older animals over the age of 8 years, the risk of inflammation of the gland increases. It has been proven that females get sick more often than males.

Clinical picture of pancreatitis

Signs of pancreatitis in cats manifest themselves in different ways. In the acute form, the four-legged pet’s well-being deteriorates sharply. Severe vomiting may occur, usually leading to dehydration, sour-smelling diarrhea, or constipation. The cat experiences severe painful spasms in the abdomen, so any attempt to stroke it in this area causes a violent reaction and even aggression.

With acute pancreatitis in cats, the following is observed:

• tight stomach;
• hyperthermia;
• decreased activity, lethargy, the animal sleeps longer than usual;
• yellowing skin and whites of the eyes.

The chronic pancreatic form goes unnoticed, sometimes shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat can be noticed in the cat.

If you do not provide the animal with the necessary medical treatment in time, the following may happen: toxins will be released from the pancreas into the blood, which may lead to infection.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats

Before prescribing appropriate therapy, the doctor, after a visual examination of the animal, carries out diagnostic measures. The most the right way Ultrasound examination is used to diagnose pancreatitis. Ultrasound allows you to detect enlargement and swelling of the gland, and track changes in the tissues.

TO necessary methods diagnostics include:

1. General analysis of urine and blood. During inflammation, the content of glucose and leukocytes will be increased.
2. Blood chemistry. With pancreatitis, the concentration of elements such as lipase, amylase and calcium is increased.
3. X-ray. The “cloudy glass” syndrome, displacement of the duodenum and stomach can be observed.
4. Stool analysis for scatology will show undigested fibers and steatorrhea.

The diagnosis is made based on the examination, taking into account the degree of damage to the pancreas and damage to other body systems.

How to treat pancreatitis at home

Treatment can be conservative, including drug therapy and a strict diet, or surgical.

An important element of treatment is replenishing fluid lost as a result of dehydration. To do this, the animal is given a drip with Ringer's solution, Dextran 70, and fresh frozen plasma.

There is no single treatment regimen for cats with pancreatitis; it all depends on the cause of the disease.

The doctor may prescribe antibiotics, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs, and enzymes that improve digestion.

Atropine and its analogues are used to reduce the production of pancreatic secretions. To relieve swelling of the organ, hormonal drugs and ribonuclease are recommended.

Pancreatin can be given to a cat only in consultation with the attending physician. The dose is also set by a specialist.

If the clinical picture is not clearly expressed, antiemetics, painkillers, heart medications, and glucose for intravenous infusion are indicated.

If pancreatitis is a consequence of another disease, then it should be treated first.

In severe cases, an operation is performed during which cysts and purulent fillings are removed from the animal. Then the operated cavities are washed and irrigated with an antibiotic.

For the first two days of therapy, the cat is prescribed a starvation diet to suppress gland secretion. Famotidine and Omeprazole can be given for the same purposes. But if a cat has dystrophy, then she does not need to fast. When appetite appears, feeding should be fractional. To begin with, water is administered; if there is no vomiting, it is indicated liquid nutrition(broths, porridges, purees).

The diet for pancreatitis in cats is aimed at not overloading the pancreas:

1. Food should be warm, but in no case hot or cold.
2. Complementary foods are introduced gradually, one product per day.
3. Water - only filtered, fresh, in unlimited quantities.
4. If the condition worsens, the animal is again transferred to liquid feeding.
5. The list of prohibited foods includes cabbage, corn, boiled eggs, raw vegetables, fruits, whole grains, salt, dairy products.

As a rule, cats who have had inflammation of the pancreas or have chronic pancreatitis are prescribed a strict diet. Be sure to exclude fatty, salty, and canned foods from your diet. It is advisable to give preference to super premium food; the medicinal Royal Horse has proven itself well.

What to feed the animal if preference is given to natural food? The diet of a cat with pancreatitis should include steamed omelet, lean meat, cottage cheese and fish.

Informed about such a serious issue as the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis, owners treat their pets more carefully, because, as we know, the disease is easier to prevent than to treat.

Factors causing pancreatitis

IN Lately Many doctors have come to the conclusion that acute and chronic pancreatitis are a phase of one disease. Pancreatitis is a fairly common disease in small domestic animals, but the issues of diagnosis and treatment

remain complex. Diagnosis of pancreatitis is one of the most difficult both in humane gastroenterology and in veterinary medicine, which is associated with the nonspecific manifestations of clinical symptoms of the disease and laboratory methods research. In veterinary medicine, diseases of the pancreas are divided into non-inflammatory (diabetes mellitus, acinar atrophy leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency), inflammatory (acute edematous pancreatitis, acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, etc.), pancreatic tumors (insulinomas, adenocarcinomas) and fibrosis with pancreatic atrophy.

The factor that causes pancreatic damage in both dogs and cats often remains unknown. Provoking factors include heavy feeding of fatty foods, obesity and hyperlipidemia (in miniature schnauzers), infections (toxoplasmosis and infectious peritonitis virus in cats, parvovirus in dogs), obstruction of the pancreatic duct, ischemic and traumatic lesions pancreas, caused by both surgical intervention, and the injury itself, as well as a number of medications that can cause functional impairment.

Genetic predisposition. TO this disease Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, and Poodles are predisposed. In German Shepherds, pancreatic acinar atrophy is hereditary and is transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner.

The pathogenesis (mechanism of development) of the disease includes autoimmune destruction of pancreatic tissue and atrophy of the acini. The affected areas of the gland decrease in size and cease to function.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs can develop at any age, but is more common in dogs under 4 years of age. German Shepherds and Rough Collies are predisposed to this disease. According to statistics, 70% of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are german shepherds, and 20% are Rough Collies.

In cats The cause of the disease is usually pancreatitis, no genetic inheritance has been identified.

Breed predisposition

• Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Cocker Spaniels
• Siamese cats

Average age and age range

• Acute pancreatitis is most common in middle-aged and older dogs (over 7 years of age), with an average age of 6.5 years. The average age of acute pancreatitis in cats is 7.3 years.

Sex predisposition

• Bitches (dogs)

Risk factors (contributing to the development of pancreatitis)

• Breed
• Obesity
• Intercurrent diseases in dogs such as diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, chronic failure kidney, neoplasia
• Recent medication use
• See also reasons

Pathophysiology

• The body has a lot defense mechanisms preventing the gland from self-digesting with the digestive enzymes it secretes.
• Under certain circumstances, these natural mechanisms fail and self-digestion occurs as enzymes become activated within the acinar cells.
• Local and systemic tissues are damaged by the activity of released glandular enzymes and free radicals.

Causes
Initial reasons The occurrence of pancreatitis in both dogs and cats remains unknown. The following etiological factors need to be considered:

• Nutritional – hyperlipoproteinemia
• Ischemia and injury of the pancreas (pancreas)
• Duodenal reflux
• Medicines and toxins (see Contraindications)
• Pancreatic duct obstruction
• Chronic kidney disease
• Hypercalcemia
• Infectious agents (Toxoplasma and feline peritonitis virus).

Course of the disease.Pancreatitis is conventionally divided into acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is inflammation that develops suddenly without any prior symptoms. Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammatory disease, which is often accompanied by irreversible morphological changes in the structure of the organ. Acute pancreatitis can have a mild (edematous) form or a severe form, often ending in death - in the form hemorrhagic pancreatic necrosis. Normally, the pancreas has a number of protective mechanisms that prevent the activation of digestive enzymes in the gland itself and its self-digestion. As a result of premature activation of enzymes (trypsin, and then chymotrypsin, lipase, etc.), edema and necrosis, damage to the walls of blood vessels occur. Clinical symptoms are quite diverse. Typically, dogs experience damage to the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea), pain in the epigastric region, weakness, and refusal to feed. The disease very often develops some time after feeding. Severe forms of the disease are manifested by severe pain, which can quickly lead to the development of collapse and shock. This condition is characterized by a praying pose (the front legs are extended forward, the chest lies on the floor, and rear end the animal is raised). In cats, symptoms are often non-specific - they can be lethargy, depression and refusal to feed.

Affected systems

• Gastrointestinal – changes in motility (ileus) due to regional chemical peritonitis, local or generalized peritonitis due to increased permeability; hepatic damage due to shock, pancreatic enzymes, inflammatory cell infiltrates and cholestasis.
• Urinary – hypovolemia from loss of gastrointestinal secretions, which can cause prerenal azotemia.
• Respiratory—pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, or pulmonary embolism in some animals.
• Cardiovascular – Cardiac arrhythmia due to the release of myocardial depressant factor in some animals.
• Blood/lymphatic/immune – disseminated intravascular coagulation in some animals.

Clinical signs typically manifested in this disease.

Clinical signs in dogs are more due to gastrointestinal disorders.

• Clinical signs in cats are more vague, nonspecific, and nonlocalized.

• Lethargy/depression is common in cats and dogs
• Anorexia (in both species)
• Vomiting is more common in dogs due to acute inflammation, less common in cats
• Dogs may exhibit abdominal pain by showing abnormal postures.
• Diarrhea is more common in dogs than in cats

• Usually dehydration
• In some animals, fluid is felt in distended intestinal loops
• Massive damage is felt upon palpation
• Fever is more common in dogs, and fever and hypothermia have been noted in cats.
• Jaundice is more common in cats than in dogs.

Less common systemic abnormalities include respiratory distress, coagulation disorders, cardiac arrhythmias

. Let's list them point by point:

• Arrhythmia
• Heart murmur
• Muffled heart sounds
• Prolongation of capillary refill time
• Tachycardia
• Weak pulse
• Abnormal stretch
• Anorexia
• Ascites
• Bloody feces
• Reduced amount of feces
• Diarrhea
• Bloody vomiting
• Melena
• Vomiting, regurgitation
• Ataxia, incoordination
• Dysmetria, hypermetria, hypometria
• Fever, pyrexia
• Generalized weakness, paresis, paralysis
• Inability to stand
• Hypothermia
• Jaundice
• Abdominal masses
• Obesity
• Pale mucous membranes
• Petechiae and ecchymoses
• Polydipsia
• Tetraparesis
• Trembling, tremor, fasciculation
• Lack of weight, fatness
• Weight loss
• Coma, stupor
• Stupidity, depression, lethargy
• Head tilt
• Seizures and fainting, convulsions, collapse
• Anisocoria
• Nystagmus
• Colic, abdominal pain
• Pain from external pressure on the abdomen
• Abnormal pulmonary and pleural sounds
• Muffling pulmonary and pleural sounds
• Dyspnea
• Nose bleed
• Tachypnea
• Cold skin, ears, limbs
• Glucosuria
• Hematuria
• Hemoglobinuria or myoglobinuria
• Ketonuria
• Polyuria
• Proteinuria

Differential diagnosis

• Differentiate acute pancreatitis from other abdominal pain
• Perform complete blood count, biochemical, and urinalysis to rule out metabolic disease.
• Perform abdominal radiography to exclude organ perforation; generalized loss of detail indicates pleural effusion; check for organomegaly, masses, radiopaque stones, obstructive disease, and radiopaque foreign bodies.
• Perform abdominal ultrasonography to rule out the presence of masses or organomegaly.
• Perform paracentesis and fluid analysis if the patient has an effusion.
• Required special studies including gastrointestinal contrast radiography, excretory urography, cytological examination.

Blood and urine tests

• Hemoconcentration, leukocytosis with a left shift, toxic neutrophils in many dogs
• In cats it is more variable and may have neutrophilia (30%) and non-regenerative anemia (26%)
• Prerenal azotemia, reflecting dehydration.
• The activity of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) is often high, as a consequence of liver ischemia and exposure to pancreatic toxins.
• Hyperbilirubinemia, more common in cats, is caused by hepatocellular injury and intra- or extrahepatic obstruction.
• Hyperglycemia in dogs and cats with necrotizing pancreatitis caused by hyperglucagonemia. Moderate hypoglycemia in some dogs. Cats with suppurative pancreatitis may be hypoglycemic.
• Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are common.
• Serum amylase and lipase activities are high in some dogs, but are not a specific finding. Serum amylase and lipase activities are high in some animals with liver disease, kidney disease, or neoplasia in the absence of pancreatitis. Administration of dexamethasone may increase serum lipase concentrations in dogs. Lipase may be high or normal in cats. Amylase is usually normal or decreased in cats. In general, lipase activity is a more reliable marker in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. A normal serum lipase level does not exclude disease.
• The urine test results are normal.

Laboratory tests The diagnosis can be indirectly confirmed by an increase in the activity of pancreatic amylase and lipase in the blood, but their normal content does not exclude inflammation of the pancreas. Conversely, an increase in these indicators in the absence of clinical symptoms of the disease does not indicate pancreatitis in the animal. An increase in transaminases (ALT, AST), leukocytosis, an increase in bilirubin, and glucose are often observed. Abroad, trypsin-like immunoreactivity in blood serum is measured in animals. During ultrasound examination, even a swollen pancreas is often not visualized. Indirect sign is the presence of gas (flatulence) in the gastrointestinal tract during radiography and ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

• The trypsin immunoreactivity test (TIRT) is specific for the pancreas, and high serum concentrations are observed in some dogs and cats with pancreatitis.
• TIRT tends to increase faster and returns to normal faster than amylase and lipase levels in dogs.
• Reduced glomerular filtration may cause an increase in serum TIRT.
• Normal TIRT values ​​do not exclude pancreatitis.

ELISA for trypsinogen-activating peptide (TAP)

• Acute pancreatitis stimulates intrapancreatic activation of trypsinogen by the release of tPA into the blood serum. TPA is then excreted from the body in urine.
• The recent development of the ELISA test for tPA has made it possible this study, but is not yet commercially available.

This analysis is intended to be produced for specific and quick help in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Diagnostics

Contrary to popular belief, amylase and lipase activity in the blood are not decisive factors for the diagnosis of pancreatitis. The fact is that, unlike in humans, in acute pancreatitis in dogs and cats the level of these enzymes can be normal, while in other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, foreign body intestines or enteritis, their level may be high.

A sensitive test for pancreatitis recently developed at Texas A&M University, called Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity (PLI), is not yet available in Ukraine.

Considering the above, to diagnose pancreatitis, the doctor must analyze the animal’s symptoms, clinical and biochemical blood test data, and the results of ultrasound and/or abdominal x-ray. Since uncomplicated pancreatitis is treated therapeutically, and its symptoms are similar to those of intestinal obstruction, the main diagnostic task that the doctor solves is to exclude pathology that requires emergency surgical intervention.

Also, to diagnose pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor uses as much data as possible about the animal, taking into account its breed, age, symptoms, data on the presence of the disease in the parents, and fecal analysis for feed digestibility.

Visual diagnostic methods
X-ray of the abdominal cavity

• Increased opacity of soft tissues in the right cranial abdominal compartment. Loss of visceral detail (ground glass) due to pleural effusion.
• The presence of static gas in the proximal duodenum.
• Widening of the angle between the pylorus and the proximal part of the duodenum.
• Delayed transit of contrast from the stomach and proximal small intestine.

X-ray of the chest cavity

• Pulmonary edema
• Pleural effusion
• Changes suggestive of pulmonary embolism

Ultrasonography

• Heterogeneous dense and cystic masses indicate pancreatic abscesses.
• Loss of normal echogenicity of the pancreas in many patients.

Other diagnostic tests

• An ultrasound-guided biopsy can confirm the diagnosis.
• Laparotomy and pancreatic biopsy may be required to identify or confirm pancreatitis.

Histopathological studies

• Edematous pancreatitis - moderate edema
• Necrotizing pancreatitis - grayish-yellow areas of pancreatic necrosis accompanied by varying degrees of hemorrhage.
• Chronic pancreatitis - pancreas is small in size, dense, gray, may contain extensive adhesions to surrounding organs.
• Microscopic changes include edema, parenchymal necrosis, and neutrophil cell infiltrate in animals with acute lesions. Chronic lesions are characterized by fibrosis of the pancreas around the ducts, hyperplasia of the ductal epithelium, and a mononuclear cell infiltrate.

Prevention

• Weight reduction for obesity
• Avoiding diet with high content fat
• Avoid taking medications that can cause pancreatitis.

Possible complications

• Pulmonary edema
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Peritonitis
• Hepatic lipidosis in cats
• Lack of response to maintenance therapy.
• Diabetes
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Expected course and forecast

• Good prognosis for animals with edematous pancreatitis. These patients usually respond well to treatment. Relapse or treatment failure occurs most often in animals that are given oral nutrition prematurely.
• Poor or guarded prognosis in animals with necrotizing pancreatitis and life-threatening complications.

Owner education (familiarization with the complexity of the disease and prognosis)

• Discuss the need for prolonged hospitalization.
• Discuss the possibility of complications such as relapse, diabetes mellitus, exocrine insufficiency.

Surgical aspects

• Surgery may be necessary to remove acute pancreatic abscess or necrotic tissue in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.
• Extrahepatic obstruction caused by pancreatitis requires surgical correction.

Medicines and liquids.

Diet. In mild cases, a fasting diet for at least a day and painkillers and antispasmodics are indicated to reduce pancreatic secretion. In severe cases, hospitalization of the animal with intensive infusion therapy is necessary to prevent the development of such severe conditions such as pulmonary edema, peritonitis, DIC syndrome. Analgesics (butorphanol), parenteral or enteral nutrition through a tube, plasma, and protease inhibitors (contrical) are also used in therapy. antacids and antiemetics, antisecretory drugs (Sandostatin), antioxidant drugs (Mexidol, Essentiale), antibiotic therapy, lytic mixtures, dopamine.

• Aggressive intravenous therapy is the key successful treatment. Balanced electrolyte solutions such as Ringer's lactate are the first choice in treatment. The amount of rehydration required for the initial adjustment must be accurately calculated and administered over the first 4-6 hours.
• Colloids (dextrans and hetarstach) may be necessary to maintain pancreatic microcirculation.
• Once the deficit is corrected, additional fluids are given to support the patient's needs and ongoing losses. Potassium chloride is needed because of the normal loss of potassium through vomiting.

• Corticosteroids are only indicated for patients in shock.
• Central antiemetics for patients with intractable vomiting are chlorpromazine (every 8 hours) and prochlorperazine (every 8 hours).
• Antibiotics are necessary if the patient has clinical or laboratory evidence of sepsis - penicillin G (every 6 hours), ampicillin sodium (every 8 hours) and possibly aminoglycosides.
• Analgesics may become necessary to relieve abdominal pain: butorphanol (every 8 hours s.c.) - effective remedy for dogs and cats.

Contraindications

• Avoid using anticholinergic drugs such as atropine. These drugs have variable effects on pancreatic secretions and may cause generalized suppression of GI motility, leading to ileus.
• Avoid azathioprine, chlorothiazide, estrogens, furosemide, tetracycline, and sulfamethazole.

Warning

• Use corticosteroids only in patients who are adequately hydrated due to the vasodilation effects of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids may complicate pancreatitis.
• Use phenothiazine antiemetics only in well-hydrated patients as these drugs have a hypotensive effect.
• Use dextrans cautiously in patients with hemorrhagic pancreatitis, as they may promote bleeding.

conclusions

• Assessing the patient's hydration is especially important in the first 24 hours of treatment. Evaluation of results, general analysis blood, total plasma protein, residual urea nitrogen, body weight, diuresis - 2 times a day.
• Assess rehydration therapy after 24 hours, adjust the intensity of fluid administration and its composition accordingly. Repeat serum chemistry panel to assess electrolytes and acid-base balance.
• Repeat the plasma enzyme concentration test (eg, lipase or TIRT) after 48 hours to assess the status of the inflammatory process.
• Closely monitor for systemic complications. Perform appropriate diagnostic tests as needed (see complications).
• Gradually introduce oral nutrition as clinical signs resolve.

Likar - VOLODIMIR GENADIYOVYCH SUVOROV

More than 90% are idiopathic. In the pancreas, digestive enzymes are activated, leading to its partial digestion, which leads to its inflammation. In cats, the most common forms of pancreatitis are chronic non-suppurative (lymphocytic or eosinophilic) and purulent (neutrophilic) pancreatitis. Septicemic pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) are less common. Primary exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is not typical for cats; secondary exocrine insufficiency is more common in chronic or epizoodic pancreatitis. With EPI, a lack of digestive enzymes leads to impaired digestion and absorption: the cat loses weight, has oily fur, increased stool volume, fatty feces with a foul odor, or diarrhea. The occurrence of acute pancreatitis does not depend on the age or breed of the cat.
Symptoms include anorexia, depression and lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, and abdominal pain may occur. In some cases, shortness of breath is observed due to the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity (due to pleural or pulmonary inflammation under the influence of inflammatory mediators circulating in the blood). Chronic pancreatitis occurs in middle-aged and older cats, the symptoms are usually non-specific: intermittent anorexia or variable appetite, vomiting or diarrhea may occur, weight loss and possible abdominal pain.

Establishing diagnosis:

Treatment for chronic panreatitis:

Maintenance therapy:

• easy-to-digest low-fat diet. Feeding in small portions at short intervals.

• There is a decrease in Cobalamin levels due to a lack of intrinsic pancreatic factor and malabsorption. In this regard, Cobalamin must be administered additionally.

• Vitamin K1 is often administered, since if fat absorption is impaired, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is impaired, which can lead to impaired hemostasis.

• Vitamin E is prescribed due to its antioxidant properties.

• antacids reduce painful sensations that occur after eating (ranitidine, famotidine)

The illness of your beloved cat cannot but upset you. Especially considering the fact that the animal, unfortunately, will not tell you exactly where it hurts and what symptoms accompany the illness. All that remains is to carefully observe your pet in order to give the veterinarian as much information as possible to establish the correct diagnosis.

Let's 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 cats is nothing more than glands. Determining the disease can sometimes be very difficult, and this can only be done by a specialist after a thorough examination of the animal and obtaining the results of all necessary tests. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the health of your pet and, if you have the slightest suspicion, immediately contact a veterinary clinic for an accurate diagnosis. This will help you notice the problem in time and fix it.

Reasons for the development of the disease

There may be several reasons that can cause pancreatitis in a cat. The main ones include the following:

• improper use of certain medications;
• poisoning with phosphorus-containing organic compounds;
• presence of liver diseases, thin section intestines and bile ducts;
• diabetes;
• pancreas injuries;
• pathology at birth;
• the animal has worms, a viral or fungal infection.

However, there are factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

Predisposing factors

No disease occurs out of nowhere. 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 excess weight;
• improperly selected diet;
• the weight of the animal is too small;
• increasing the level of cholesterol in the animal’s blood;
• elevated levels of calcium in the blood.

At the same time, as statistics show, those most susceptible to the disease are Siamese cats and others oriental breeds. It is also possible that it may worsen during stressful situations, during pregnancy, or after changing the usual food. Most often, old cats suffer from pancreatitis, except in cases where it was triggered by external factors.

Acute pancreatitis

There are two forms and chronic. Each of them is accompanied by its own symptoms.

Acute pancreatitis in cats develops very rapidly. Most often this occurs 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, signs of the disease begin to appear quite suddenly.

Chronic pancreatitis

Cats are characterized by slow development and gradual onset of symptoms. This process can even take years, and the animal’s owners will not even suspect the disease. At the same time, the process is usually accompanied by changes in the behavior of the pet and its appearance. The animal becomes drowsy, its stomach often growls, and its stool becomes yellowish. At the same time, the wool loses its elasticity and shine.

Over time, the symptoms of the disease become more obvious, but this means that it has already become more severe.

Signs of the disease

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

Since during the disease it is affected gastrointestinal tract animal, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. In addition, touching its abdominal cavity is very painful for a cat.

The animal becomes lethargic, inactive and drowsy. Fever and shortness of breath may also occur.

During light form Symptoms of the disease can be very mild, while a severe form is accompanied by severe pain that can cause the animal state of shock. If complications occur, arrhythmia and sepsis may occur, and the animal’s breathing becomes difficult.

in cats

Pancreatitis in cats is a disease that is quite difficult to diagnose even with obvious symptoms. Therefore, to identify it, it is necessary to conduct a series of studies and undergo certain types of tests.

The most accurate diagnostic method is to carry out computed tomography 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 ultrasound examination. Using it, you can check the pancreas for the presence of swelling, and also see the displacement of the duodenum and stomach towards the liver. Next, a biopsy of the pancreas and urine and blood tests 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 dehydration of the animal’s body, which was caused by vomiting and diarrhea. To do this, an injection of saline solution is given intravenously or subcutaneously. In addition, pain is relieved.

If after a day the pet feels better, you can give him low-fat soft food. In case of refusal of food, veterinarians recommend trying to force-feed the animal. 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.

It is possible to use other drug therapy. It may include the use of anti-inflammatory, painkillers and antibiotics, as well as drugs to normalize the activity of the pancreas (for example, Contrikal). Surgery is recommended if complications occur.

In addition, it is necessary to install and eliminate it. If the disease was caused by taking medications, they should be discontinued immediately. If available infectious diseases all are accepted necessary measures to eliminate them.

During treatment, the animal's food should be dietary. At the same time, you need to feed your pet in small portions. This will help avoid excessive load on the gastrointestinal tract, and the pancreas in particular. Cat food for pancreatitis should contain high concentrations of carbohydrates.

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

1. If the cat has mild pancreatitis, treatment can be carried out at home, subject to regular visits to the veterinarian for examinations and tests, and in a hospital setting. The second option is preferable, since the animal will receive intravenous therapy, which promotes a speedy recovery.
2. The average form of the disease requires mandatory hospitalization, since therapy at this stage includes the use of painkillers and antibiotics. In some cases, a blood plasma transfusion may be necessary.
3. A severe form of pancreatitis in a cat requires treatment as there is a high risk of death. In this case, it is better to contact a specialized clinic.

Forecast for the future

After successful treatment, it is important for pet owners to continue to closely monitor their pet's health and behavior. The fact is that pancreatitis in cats cannot be completely cured, so it remains Great chance occurrence of relapses. As a preventive measure, the animal must constantly be on a specially designed diet.

In the absence of complications such as, for example, diabetes or problems with the kidneys and intestines, there is a high probability of successful recovery.

In the presence of acute form pancreatitis, the animal will be treated throughout its life. This will not get rid of the disease, but will help avoid its exacerbations.

Pancreatic function

The pancreas is a small, light pink glandular organ located under the stomach along the duodenum. The pancreas secretes a number of hormones, in addition, the exocrine zones of the gland secrete enzymes that help digest food. Without enough digestive enzymes in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, nutrients from food cannot be digested and absorbed. As a result, weight loss or chronic diarrhea (diarrhea) of gray fecal matter develops, or both symptoms occur. Dogs' coats are often dull and big amount dandruff, coprophagia (eating one's own feces) may occur.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

In dogs this disease is not congenital pathology, but note a genetic predisposition. Probably, in this case there is an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The pathogenesis (mechanism of development) of the disease includes autoimmune destruction of pancreatic tissue and atrophy of the acini. The affected areas of the gland decrease in size and cease to function.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs can develop at any age, but is more common in dogs under 4 years of age. German Shepherds and Rough Collies are predisposed to this disease. According to statistics, 70% of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are German shepherds, and 20% are rough collies.

In cats The cause of the disease is usually pancreatitis, no genetic inheritance has been identified.

Diagnostics

Abroad, and today in our clinic, for this purpose, first of all, TLI is used - a test for trypsin immunoreactivity in blood serum. In addition, a fecal elastase ELISA test may be used. Both of these tests are species specific. Also, to diagnose pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor uses as much data as possible about the animal, taking into account its breed, age, symptoms, data on the presence of the disease in the parents, and fecal analysis for feed digestibility.

Treatment

Therapy consists of prescribing pancreatic enzymes. The drugs are given to animals with food; the action of powdered drugs is more effective than tablets. It has been proven that enzymes must be given directly during feeding.

Some animals have good therapeutic effect observed when joint use enzymes and antisecretory drugs (H2-histamine receptor blockers) that reduce production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and thereby protect enzymes from the action of gastric juice. Blockers can be used for the same purpose proton pump(omeprazole, etc.).

Patients with pancreatic insufficiency mandatory required dietary food. The best diet is easily digestible food. Such foods are low in fiber and fat, which is especially important for animals with low weight.

Since in pancreatic insufficiency most nutrients are not absorbed into the blood; they are actively consumed by intestinal microorganisms. As a result, the bacterial population grows progressively. This process negatively affects the health of the animal. One of the consequences is vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause clinical picture anemia and neurological disorders. At the beginning of treatment, a course of antibiotic therapy is recommended, followed by periodic injections of vitamin B12. In some cases it is necessary additional introduction vitamins E and K 1.

Treatment must be continued throughout the animal's life. If you stop administering enzymes, the symptoms of the disease will return again. A positive response to treatment is an improvement in condition one week after starting it.

The described treatment tactics are usually very effective. But it is important to know that:

In approximately one dog in five, treatment may be unsuccessful,

Most animals never gain normal weight.

In such cases, it is important to ensure that other diseases that may accompany pancreatic insufficiency (bacterial overgrowth) or cause similar symptoms (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, infiltrative enteritis) have been excluded. In some cases, this requires a biopsy of the intestines and pancreas.