Feline Pancreatitis

Your cat shows no interest in food and appears depressed. To alleviate pain, your cat may bent front legs and elevate its rump. Is your cat middle-aged and overweight? Does she eat a high-calorie diet and table scraps? Is she diabetic? If so, she might have pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is an extremely painful ailment marked by overproduction of certain digestive enzymes, which begin to damage the pancreatic tissue. In extreme cases, pancreatitis can be so painful that it can induce shock and death result. In other words, take your cat to the vet. Your vet may perform an abdominal radiography and run blood tests to measure the level of ancreatic enzymes.

If the pancreatitis is the problem, your vet will order all food and water to be discontinued for up to 72 hours. This fast will lower the number of digestive enzymes that the pancreas manufactures. To prevent dehydration, your cat may be given intravenous fluids (which requires hospitalization), while special medication will reduce pancreatic secreation that can cause pain and destruction of the pancreas itself.

Unfortunately, once a cat comes down with pancreatitis, there's a good chance of periodic recurrence. As a preventive measure, your vet will place your on easily digestible, extremely low-fat daily diet that won't tax the pancreas.

Pancreatitis Preventive Tips
Feed your cat a low-fat, high-fiber, chemical-free diet, supplemented with antioxidants such as vitamin E and C (calcium ascorbate). Encourage her to get plenty of exercise. Never give her fatty "people food," and don't let her become overweight. Never give your cat chicken or turkey skin, and keep the garbage can securely covered or out of sight (and smell).