Signs & Symptoms of a Failing Pancreas in Cats

The pancreas is an organ in the abdomen that provides enzymes that are critical for normal digestion. It also produces insulin to control blood sugar levels and metabolism. When the pancreas doesn̵7;t function properly, your cat can develop diabetes or be unable to digest food properly. Pancreatic insufficiency can present as a number of signs and symptoms that indicate your cat requires medical attention.

  1. Pancreatitis in Cats

    • Pancreatitis, which is caused by metabolic disturbances, obesity, infectious disease or trauma from an accident, occurs frequently in both cats and dogs. The disease can prevent digestive enzymes from being released into the body as normally so that they begin to digest the pancreas itself, causing hemorrhage, according to Mike Richards, DVM, of the VetInfo website. Pancreatitis in cats can occur as chronic pancreatitis, a low-grade inflammatory condition, or as an acute condition that requires immediate medical attention to save the animal's life.

    Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis

    • Cats are good at hiding their pain and illness, which makes it difficult to know when to suspect this disease. Generally, lack of appetite, vomiting, depression, abdominal pain and diarrhea are signs that pancreatitis may be at fault. Until recently, no effective test to diagnose pancreatitis in cats was available. X-ray and ultrasound examination to determine if the pancreas is malfunctioning are less effective on cats than it is on dogs. Blood chemistry tests are also less conclusive. Researchers at the Texas A&M University Gastroenterology Laboratory developed a test kit that measures feline lipase immunoreactivity. Introduced in October of 2008, this test is the best available diagnostic measure available for detecting pancreatitis in cats.

    Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis

    • Acute pancreatitis often comes on suddenly. The cat may appear extremely depressed but not exhibit any other symptoms besides refusing to eat. Vomiting may also accompany the illness. If the animal appears weak, ill and refuses to eat for 48 hours, consult a veterinarian for testing and treatment. The acute form of the disease can lead to failure of the pancreas and death.

    Treatments to Prevent Pancreatic Failure

    • Intravenous fluids can be administered to the animal as necessary along with medications such as fentanyl or ketamine for pain. If the cat refuses to eat, a feeding tube can be inserted to deliver nutrition. Veterinarians are often able to prevent complete pancreatic failure if aggressive treatment is started immediately. However, the animal may continue to have chronic pancreatitis for the rest of its life that must be treated on an ongoing basis. The general health of the cat only determines the likelihood of success of treatment for acute pancreatitis.