🔥 Vet Guide to Pancreatitis in Cats (2025): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment 🐱🩺

Pancreatitis in cats can be mild or life-threatening. While it often flies under the radar, this inflammatory condition of the pancreas can lead to severe systemic complications if left untreated. Fortunately, with early detection and supportive care, many cats recover well. In this comprehensive 2025 guide, Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc explains what every cat owner should know about pancreatitis—including symptoms, risks, testing, and treatment options. 🧬🐾

🔬 What Is Pancreatitis?

The pancreas is a small, pink gland located under the stomach. It plays two key roles:

• 🥣 Secreting digestive enzymes that break down fats, proteins, and carbs
• 🧪 Producing hormones like insulin to regulate blood sugar

When functioning normally, these digestive enzymes are stored in inactive forms and only activated in the small intestine. But in pancreatitis, they activate prematurely—digesting the pancreas itself and triggering inflammation. 🔥

⚠️ Why It’s Serious

Pancreatitis can lead to:

• 🧠 Pancreatic encephalopathy (brain damage)
• 💔 Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
• 🫁 Respiratory failure due to lung surfactant loss
• 😿 Chronic pain, vomiting, appetite loss
• 🩸 System-wide inflammation and liver damage

Severe cases can cause permanent damage or trigger complications like diabetes or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). 🚨

🤔 What Causes Pancreatitis?

In 90% of cases, the exact cause is never found, but risk factors include:

• 🦠 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• 🧬 Bacterial reflux into the pancreatic duct
• 💥 Trauma or recent surgery
• 🐛 Parasites like Toxoplasma gondii
• 💊 Drug side effects (e.g., tetracyclines, valproic acid)
• 🔬 Pancreatic cancer
• ⏬ Hypotension (low blood pressure)

🩺 Symptoms of Pancreatitis

Signs are subtle and may include:

• 😿 Lethargy and weakness
• 🤢 Vomiting (in only ~35% of cats)
• 🚫 Appetite loss (almost always present)
• 💩 Diarrhea or constipation
• 📉 Weight loss
• 🌡️ Fever (sometimes, or a drop in temperature)
• 🟡 Jaundice (in cases complicated by hepatic lipidosis)

Note: Pancreatitis is a common trigger of hepatic lipidosis, a dangerous liver condition caused by not eating. 😿

🧪 Diagnosing Pancreatitis

Diagnosis can be tricky, especially in chronic cases. Most vets rely on a combination of:

1. Blood Tests

• 📊 SPEC-FPL (Specific Feline Pancreatic Lipase)
• 📊 Precision PSL® (Pancreatic Sensitive Lipase)

These tests detect elevated levels of lipase—an enzyme that spikes during inflammation. 📈

2. Imaging

• 🖥️ Ultrasound – Detects swollen or inflamed pancreas
• 🩻 X-rays are less helpful
• 🔬 Biopsy (rarely used due to risk)

Sometimes pancreatitis is diagnosed alongside IBD or cholangitis as part of triaditis. 🧬

💊 Treatment Options

1. 💧 IV Fluid Therapy

• 🚿 Rehydrates and flushes inflammatory toxins
• ⚖️ Supports electrolyte balance

2. 🤢 Nausea and Pain Management

• 💊 Cerenia®, ondansetron, or metoclopramide for vomiting
• 💉 Buprenorphine or gabapentin for pain

3. 🍽️ Nutritional Support

• 📆 Early feeding is now recommended—no more fasting
• 🍗 Low-residue, high-protein, or hypoallergenic diets preferred
• 🧴 Feeding tubes may be necessary if appetite doesn’t return

4. 💊 Vitamin B12 Supplementation

The pancreas produces intrinsic factor for B12 absorption. When it’s inflamed, B12 deficiency is common. It can cause weakness, poor appetite, and anemia. B12 is typically administered via:

• 💉 Injections (weekly or biweekly)
• 💊 New oral formulations

📈 Prognosis

• ⏱️ Acute cases often recover fully with treatment
• 🔁 Chronic pancreatitis may wax and wane over time
• 🩺 Lifelong dietary and medication support may be needed

📲 Ask A Vet for Help

If your cat shows signs of appetite loss, vomiting, or weakness, don’t wait. Use the Ask A Vet app to connect with Dr. Duncan Houston or another licensed vet to discuss diagnostics, fluid support, diet changes, or managing chronic pancreatitis. 🐱💬

Visit AskAVet.com for 24/7 expert feline health guidance. 📱

💬 Final Thoughts

Pancreatitis is sneaky but manageable with prompt veterinary care. Trust your instincts—if your cat stops eating or seems off, seek help. Dr. Duncan Houston and the Ask A Vet team are here to help your cat feel better and thrive. 🐾❤️