The cat’s pancreas plays an important role in the digestive system of the body. The pancreas can secrete insulin and digestive enzymes, which can control the cat’s blood sugar and help the stomach digest and absorb food. If the pancreas is diseased, then the cat’s digestive system will also have problems. Pancreatitis is a disease that often occurs in cats. Today we will share with you the symptoms, treatment, care, and prevention of cat pancreatitis.
6 causes of pancreatitis in cats
- Unbalanced diet
- Pancreatitis caused by other chronic diseases
- Body obesity causes a heavy burden on the pancreas
- Other reasons lead to decrease in immunity
- Drug side effects cause acute pancreatitis
- Cats have been overeating for a long time
1.Unbalanced nutrition in daily diet
Some cat foods are very unbalanced in nutrition. The fat and protein content of most cat foods exceeds the normal requirements of cats. Cats who consume these cat foods for a long time will suffer from pancreatitis and other diseases.
2.Pancreatitis caused by other chronic diseases
The cat’s pancreas is located next to the stomach, liver, and kidneys, and in the cat’s digestive system, in addition to the pancreas, the liver and the stomach are involved in digestion. If the cat’s stomach, liver, and kidneys are inflamed, the pancreas may also become inflamed.
3.Body obesity causes a heavy burden on the pancreas
As mentioned above, the insulin secreted by the pancreas has the function of regulating blood sugar, and the blood sugar of obese cats is higher than that of normal cats. In order to regulate blood sugar, the pancreas will work frantically, resulting in an overburden, which may eventually lead to pancreatitis.
4.Other reasons lead to decrease in immunity
Decreased immunity of cats may also induce pancreatitis. The common reasons that lead to the decline of cat’s immunity include being caught in the rain but not drying it in time, suddenly cooling down and failing to keep warm, and being infected with viruses.
5.Drug side effects cause acute pancreatitis
General drugs have certain side effects and will be written on the instructions. For diseases caused by drugs, as long as you take the cat to the hospital in time for treatment, the impact will not be particularly significant.
6.Cats have been overeating for a long time
If cats overeating for a long time, the burden on the entire digestive system will be very heavy. In addition to pancreatitis, it may also cause diseases such as gastroenteritis.
7 symptoms of pancreatitis in cats
- The cat becomes very lethargic
- Symptoms of dehydration slowly appear
- Drinking water often and urinating frequently
- Daily appetite loss or Refuse to eat
- The cat’s weight continues to drop
- Diarrhea, soft stools and vomiting
- The cat’s heartbeat is too fast or too slow
1.The cat becomes very lethargic
Although the cat sleeps a lot in a day, it will still be slightly active when the owner is around. If the cat is still asleep after the owner returns home, and the cat food in the food bowl does not decrease for a long time, then you should pay attention to it. It is already in a state of lethargy.
2.Symptoms of dehydration slowly appear
Pancreatitis will reduce the cat’s ability to digest and absorb, so that the water in the intestines and stomach cannot be effectively absorbed into the body, and can cause diarrhea and dehydration in the cat. You can pick up the cat’s skin to see the rebound speed. If the skin rebounds slowly, then the cat is in a dehydrated state and you need to take it to a doctor in time.
3.Drinking water frequently and urinating frequently
Because pancreatitis may cause dehydration, the cat will often feel thirsty, but the body cannot absorb water effectively, so it will have frequent urination.
4.Daily appetite loss or refuse to eat
Pancreatitis may make the cat bloated, nauseated and uncomfortable, and it will become unwilling to eat or even refuse to eat. Generally, when there is a decrease in appetite, the disease is already more serious.
5.The cat’s weight continues to drop
Loss of appetite leads to low energy intake and may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. The cat’s weight will drop rapidly, and the weight can lose a pound or more within a week.
6.Diarrhea, soft stools and vomiting
Pancreatitis can cause problems in the cat’s digestive system, leading to adverse reactions, such as vomiting, diarrhea and has soft stools. But in general, if your cat has soft stools, you still need to pay extra attention.
7.The cat’s heartbeat is too fast or too slow
A fast or slow heartbeat is not very obvious, and cats with this symptom of pancreatitis are relatively rare, but heart problems still cannot be underestimated, and you must be sent the cat to the hospital for specific examination.
3 methods of treatment of cat pancreatitis
- Take the corresponding medicine for the cat
- Give timely intravenous fluids to improve the cat’s physical condition
- Feeding (cats who refuse to eat can use a gastric tube to assist in eating)
1.Take the corresponding medicine for the cat
The pre-treatment of pancreatitis is to be hospitalized for observation and treatment according to the specific situation. Because vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain will make the cat very uncomfortable, in order to restore the cat’s spirit, it is necessary to give it symptomatic medicine, such as antidiarrheal medicine, analgesics, and antiemetics.
2.Give timely intravenous fluids to improve the cat’s physical condition
The main way to treat pancreatitis is to adjust the cat’s body indicators as much as possible. Dehydration is the first problem to be solved. Intravenous injections can solve the dehydration problem, supplement electrolytes, and allow the cat’s body water to be replenished for further treatment.
3.Feeding (cats who refuse to eat can use a gastric tube to assist in eating)
Nutritional supplementation is very important. It is recommended to feed special prescription food during pancreatitis. If the cat still refuses to eat, you can only use a nasogastric tube or gastric tube to help the cat eat to maintain its energy and nutrient intake.
How to care for cat pancreatitis
- Change prescription food for cats with pancreatitis
- Give the cat medicine to reduce the burden on its pancreas
- Regularly check relevant indicators
1.Change prescription food for cats with pancreatitis
Feeding cat pancreatitis prescription food and prescription cans can reduce the pressure on the cat’s pancreas, improve the digestion and absorption capacity of the cat’s intestines and stomach, and prevent the cat from having loose stools, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2.Give the cat medicine to reduce the burden on its pancreas
Chronic pancreatitis requires long-term medication for treatment to reduce the burden on the pancreas and help cats maintain normal digestive functions. The general medicine is fed once a day, one pill each time. The price of the medicine is slightly more expensive, tens of yuan per pill, but it cannot be replaced with other things.
3.Regularly check relevant indicators
You need to take your cat to the hospital for physical examination regularly, but you don’t have to do a full physical examination for the cat, only the more important items. This can reduce the cost of medical examinations and make them affordable for most people. Generally a few months after the cat is discharged from the hospital, you need to take it back to the hospital to check the recovery of pancreatitis.
4 ways to prevent pancreatitis in cats
- Maintain a good nutritional ratio in the diet
- Observe the pet’s daily life
- Control the cat’s weight
- Regular physical examination
1.Maintain a good nutritional ratio in the diet
Many cats get sick because of dietary problems. Ensuring a balanced diet for cats can avoid most physical diseases, such as pancreatitis, kidney failure, liver disease, and so on. Providing a balanced diet can not only keep cats healthy, but also keep cats in a good mental state and become lively and cute.
2.Observe the pet’s daily life
The cat can’t speak, but you can find out whether the cat’s body is abnormal from the aspects of diet, excretion, mentality, etc. Such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and poor mental state are all signs of physical problems in cats, so we should pay attention to the daily conditions of cats.
3.Control the cat’s weight
Obesity can cause physical diseases. In addition to pancreatitis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and fatty liver are also diseases that obese cats are prone to get. Therefore, if your cat is fatter, it is recommended that you guide your cat to exercise more and control its diet, and don’t make it too fat.
4.Regular physical examination
The price of a cat’s full physical examination is about 1300 yuan, which varies in different regions, but the price is still relatively expensive for ordinary people. The physical examination can check the status of the cat’s organs and oral cavity, and can check out the cat’s related diseases in advance, such as pancreatitis, cancer, blood diseases, parasites, etc. It is recommended that owners with better conditions can bring your cat for a physical examination once a year.
This article talks about the relevant knowledge about cat pancreatitis. I believe that preventing cats from getting sick is always better than treating them. If your cat has similar symptoms, it is recommended that you take the cat to the hospital for a professional examination.