Mary Allen
Chronic pancreatitis, also known as pancreatitis, can take a toll on a cat’s body. Because if a digestive organ cannot perform its function properly, it quickly affects the entire organism.
The pancreas is one of the digestive organs. It forms digestive juices that break down food into its smallest components. When this important digestive organ becomes inflamed, the entire digestive and metabolic process are disrupted, which can ultimately affect the cat’s entire body.
Chronic pancreatitis often follows acute inflammation of the organ. Undetected, the disease progresses and can lead to irreparable damage because the sensitive glandular tissue dies off due to the permanent inflammation, which in the worst case can be fatal. If pancreatitis is not discovered in time, the course of the disease can no longer be stopped, but only slowed down and the symptoms alleviated.
Causes of Chronic Pancreatitis
In most cases, the causes of chronic pancreatitis can no longer be understood – this is mainly due to the fact that the disease is usually diagnosed very late. Possible other triggers of pancreatitis can be physical in nature, such as a car accident or severe hypothermia. Sometimes chronic pancreatitis is also due to an infection caused by bacteria or viruses. Obesity and metabolic disorders can be additional risk factors. It is also possible that an undetected tumor blocks the duct of the pancreas and this leads to inflammation.
Two Forms of the Disease
Veterinarians distinguish between two forms of chronic pancreatitis. It can trigger digestive problems such as diarrhea or vomiting at irregular intervals, which will subside in the meantime. But there is also the unnoticed form of pancreatitis, which progresses without the cat showing any symptoms. Only when the organ has been severely affected and has regressed do the owners notice that something is wrong with their cat – for example because it suddenly lost a lot of weight. In both cases, treatment of the cat by the vet is essential.