Pancreatitis in Cats

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. Digestive enzymes leak into and damage the surrounding pancreatic tissues.

Aetiology
In most cases the cause of pancreatitis is idiopathic. Predisposing / risk factors may be:

• high fat, low protein diet
• other diseases (Cushing's disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure)
• in cats - toxoplasmosis, feline leukaemia virus, feline herpesvirus
• breed - Siamese cats are at higher risk

Acute pancreatitis may produce temporary diabetes mellitus; if there is extensive pancreatic necrosis, this may become permanent. A similar situation can arise if there is pancreatic neoplasia.