Mary Allen
In the case of pancreatitis – also known as pancreatitis – a distinction is made between two types in cats: there is acute and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is usually much easier to treat than chronic disease.
Acute inflammation of the pancreas can have various causes: On the one hand, the duct through which the organ normally releases digestive juices into the gastrointestinal tract can be blocked. When this happens, digestive juices back up in the pancreas, causing inflammation. On the other hand, it can also happen that contents from the intestine penetrate into the pancreas via said duct, which also causes the tissue to become inflamed.
If an acute inflammation of the pancreas is not treated, the disease can be fatal: In the worst case, the pancreas is decomposed by the penetrating digestive juices and ultimately dies. The result is the death of the affected cat.
Symptoms are Not Always Easy to Spot
Unlike the chronic form, which often goes unnoticed until it’s too late, symptoms of acute pancreatitis usually appear immediately. The cat is often apathetic, vomits, and has stomach pains. Since these symptoms also occur with many other diseases, acute pancreatitis is usually not immediately suspected. See your veterinarian if you notice any behavioral problems. Elevated levels of inflammation in the blood and abnormalities in the stool sample indicate acute pancreatitis.
Permanent Damage After Pancreatitis
Depending on how quickly acute pancreatitis is treated, the course of the disease can range from mild to severe. Mild forms of pancreatitis can be treated if the cat does not eat for several days and is treated with medication. This is almost always done on an inpatient basis since the animal is given daily infusions. To ensure that the acute inflammation of the pancreas does not turn into a chronic one, a special diet must be followed after the treatment. If the organ is damaged to such an extent that it can no longer produce digestive enzymes, these can be artificially added to the cat food using certain preparations.