Menu:
Pancreatic Illness
Pancreatic illness occurs quite frequently in cats. Pancreas is a gland in abdomen that makes enzymes that further helps in the digestion of food. It is important to detect if your pet is prone to or suffering from pancreatic illness. Here are some important tips-
What is pancreatic illness?
The pancreas is a big gland that consists of two main lobes. It is located in abdomen near to the liver, stomach and small intestine. The gland also builds up some hormones, secreted in the blood. If due to injury or some disease, the digestive enzymes get activated in the pancreas prior to they are released. They may digest the pancreas itself. This self digestion induces grave inflammation known as Pancreatitis. It is related with pain and softness of the abdomen.
Pancreatitis is generally classified as Acute Pancreatitis that occurs suddenly or Chronic Pancreatitis, which is an ongoing condition. There are many causes, such as drug reactions, bacterial infection and trauma. The obese animals and the ones who are fed on high fat diets are more at risk due to pancreatic illness.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic illness
Cats suffering from pancreatic illness are unable to digest or absorb the food well. The following symptoms indicate the illness-
- Weight loss despite eating well
- Increased appetite: your cat may fast gobble in all food and then ask for more
- Salvaging food from the waste bins
- Tendency to eat up other animals faces
- Semi-made stools or loose stools
- Rounds of watery diarrhea that can be quite explosive
- Appearance of undigested food in stools
- Flatulency
- Queer abdominal rumblings or noises
- Loss of body condition as the disease develops, followed with wasting of muscles and ragged looking coat
- Appearing confused or depressed
- Vomit
Diagnosis of pancreatic illness
If the vet suspects pancreatic illness, he may decide to take a sample of blood. By doing this, the laboratory can also measure the pancreatic enzymes' levels in the blood. Oddly the high levels would point pancreatitis. Other elements evaluated in the blood can also give diagnostic readings.
Treating pancreatic illness
Acute pancreatitis needs immediate veterinary care and chronic cases are managed much more easily. Here are some tested treatment methods for illness of pancreas-
- An important therapeutic measure is to keep back all food, medications or fluids that are taken by mouth. This will help to reduce the need for the cat's pancreas to function.
- Avoid dehydration by giving your pet fluid endovenously or through injection.
- Dietary control plays an important part to control the illness. A high carbohydrate or low protein with low fat diet must be given to the cat.
- Using herbal remedies in combination with the dietary measures is also important. The herbal remedies can help you to cure the cat fast. There are greenleaf tablets for giving a natural anti inflammatory treatment and garlic tablets to help the cat avert infection and control bacteria's over growth in the intestine.