Re: diagnosis: feline pancreatitis
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Posted by doctort on October 24, 2002 at 19:57:11:
In Reply to: diagnosis: feline pancreatitis posted by rrb on October 23, 2002 at 18:49:30:
:1.) While I recognize that most often the cause of pancreatitis in cats remains unknown, does anyone know if it is possible that a flair up may be related to the ingestion of poisonous plants? (My cat experienced severe diarrhea before being treated symptomatically. Before treatment her #2 contained mucous and plant material.) Dietary changes and toxins are one of the leading causes of pancreatitis in all species. Other causes are infections that spread to the pancreas from nearby organs - duodenum, or bile system/liver. Inflammation in the pancreas can result from changes inconjunction with insulin producing cells, vascular injuries, or cancer cells. Diagnosis of primary pancreatitis is difficult. Sometimes ultrasound, radiographs, exploratory surgery, and digestive studies can help with a diagnosis. Recovery for many pancreas injuries can be helped by feeding low protein diet (the exocrine pancreas must work to produce enzymes to digest protein), adding pancreatic enzymes to the diet, a bland diet, antibiotics, antiinflamatory drugs, or even surgery in some cases. Unfortunantly, damage to the pancreas often leads to loss of the endocrine pancreas with resultant insulin dependant diabetes.
:2.) Is there any reliable way to determine whether the flair up was acute or just the culmination of a low lying but chronic case of pancreatitis? Without a history of pancreatic failure (loose stools (maldigestion) over preceeding weeks, diabetes, etc) acute vs chronic is difficult. A biopsy may be the only indicator. Serial lipase/amylase levels may help to reveal rising levels or falling levels of pancreatic disease, but these are not alltogether reliable.
:3.) Some literature suggests using low protien and high carbohydrate food for longer term prevention. Other literature claims that this works for dogs but not cats. I currently feed her science diet senior formula. Should this food be adequate for the long term? May also use pancreatic enzymes added to the food to help with the protein digestion and allow the pancreas to "take it easy". Some of the concern with feeding high carb diets may also be due to the need for insulin to handle the resultant rapid increase in blood glucose.
:4.)My cat is currently not very interested in food and has not been interested for about a week. She eats her hard food voluntarily, but consumes less than 1/8 cup per day. She has not undergone IV fluids yet, but we are considering this possibility if she does not voluntarily increase her food cunsumption within the next couple of days. She is on a broad spectrum antibiotic. In the interim I am -- per vet's instructions -- force feeding her Hill's Prescription Diet a/d in attempts to prevent complete anorexia and increase her energy. Many internet sites discussing anorexia suggest against such a tactic. Does anyone know why?
Not sure why. Maybe some one can educate me. I prefer to limit the force feeding to small amounts infrequently. Instead I believe that a feeding tube is easy to place and easy to use. Feeding is required in cats to help prevent hepatic lipidosis from anorxia. Also I will use appetite stimulants before placing the tube.
Dr T
:Thank you in advance for your time.
:rrb
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