Pancreatitis newly diagnosed

Celle was just diagnosed with pancreatitis from a blood test. I had her tested only because her BG has been so hard to control. She seems basically healthy, a current UTI notwithstanding.

I could use some help understanding what to do now. My vet wants to start her on metronidazole and switch her diet to something lower in fat than the Fancy Feast she currently eats. Does anyone have any food advice? Any general advice on what to do now? What I've read makes it seem like a pretty dire diagnosis, but she seems to be doing pretty well to me. Is this something she's likely had all along and is likely to have forever? I'd appreciate any advice from others who are in the same boat.

I don't have any experience with pancreatitis other than a bout of triaditis after feeding Bandit dry W/D a few years ago, but I do have some food suggestions. Merrick's Cowboy Cookout (Protein 54, Fat 42, Carbs 5) and Grammy's Pot Pie (Protein 49, Fat 42, Carbs 8) are both low carb and low fat. They're what I feed Bandit because he has mild IBD, and he does really, really well on them! http://www.merrickpetcare.com/where-to-buy.php.

I don't have experience with making my own food but if you are able a raw or home made cooked diet is very low carb and low fat.

Melissa and Celle said:

Celle was just diagnosed with pancreatitis from a blood test. I had her tested only because her BG has been so hard to control. She seems basically healthy, a current UTI notwithstanding.

I could use some help understanding what to do now. My vet wants to start her on metronidazole and switch her diet to something lower in fat than the Fancy Feast she currently eats. Does anyone have any food advice? Any general advice on what to do now? What I've read makes it seem like a pretty dire diagnosis, but she seems to be doing pretty well to me. Is this something she's likely had all along and is likely to have forever? I'd appreciate any advice from others who are in the same boat.

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To treat pancreatitis, you will need 3 things: Pepcid AC regular strength 10mg and give 1/4tab BID daily total is 5mg which helps with the upset stomach so your cat will not feel so nauseous, subQ fluids, to flush system, and a pain med because pancreatitis is very painful and that`s according to humans with pancreatitis issues. Usually people get buprenex from the vet for the pain.

I think at one time, it was believed that lower fat would help lessen pancreatitis attacks but it`s been found to make no difference, so just stick with the fancy feast.

What I found that DID help my Shadoe almost eliminate her flares was to start giving her B12 shots weekly as it`s quite good at helping to lessen pancreas inflammation. She used to have attacks frequently, but after starting her cyano B12 shots, she had only one minor flare in several months. Pancreatitis is like a fever; it lasts for awhile then you get back to your normal temperature. Once you recognize the signs, there will be no need for expensive testing because you know what is needed to treat the condition. Before starting the B12 shots, I gave Shadoe 1/4 tab pepcid am and pm, about 30min before the 2 main meals so that any nausea would be lessened. If she was still 'off', I could give her a small amount of buprenex and if a bit dehydrated, I'd try a small amount of fluids as well. After fluids, it's as if the cat were like a freshly watered plant.... you will see a definite improvement.

Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:

Once you recognize the signs, there will be no need for expensive testing because you know what is needed to treat the condition.

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What are the signs? Her appetite may be a little off right now, but she has always eaten less when her BG is controlled, so it's hard to see that as a sign. Is the high dose needed an indication of a flare?

Melissa and Celle said:

Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:

Once you recognize the signs, there will be no need for expensive testing because you know what is needed to treat the condition.

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What are the signs? Her appetite may be a little off right now, but she has always eaten less when her BG is controlled, so it's hard to see that as a sign. Is the high dose needed an indication of a flare?

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Have you ever felt kind of sick to your stomach, and foods that you normally like to eat start to make you want to vomit when you smell them? That's how I see how my Shadoe acted... even Oliver acts similar. I put food in front of Oliver and he turns his head to the side, away from the food. Shadoe would move away.... they seem to be 'off' their foods and nothing you try works. I would get the impression that they were hungry but just could not stand the smell.

Classic would be seating in a meatloaf kind of position, and moreso than they normally do. Look will be more like hunched over as if with a stomach ache which isn't too far off the money.

Also, I would see higher BG numbers, in general, when either was having a flare. As with a headache, and both of my cats did have headaches, giving some small amount of pain meds was also a sign if the cat is much improved.

It's not always easy and clear to see the signs, but you will get to know your own cat and by giving Pepcid, it may help your cat feel like eating more. If still seeming off, I would give some bupe and if numbers were really high, I would give some subQ fluids.

So usually sitting in a meatloaf position, maybe some vomiting, hiding from lights, not able to eat without acting nauseous, and often higher than normal BG numbers.

There are a couple of links on pancreatitis that you may find helpful.

Pancreatitis roundtable - this is a discussion by experts about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatitis in cats. There is a section that talks about food (see p. 12) although much of the discussion focuses on feeding if the cat needs a feeding tube. The take away message appears to be that a special diet is unnecessary. This might be information you want to share with your vet.

Jojo's post on pancreatitis - This is general information about the treatment of pancreatitis that was written by a vet tech that was active on the Board at one time.

hi!
we are currently going thru the same thing. simba was diagnosed a little over a month ago. he was given 2 meds and got 'better'. the first test he was given was just the basic test in the office. then last week we took him b/c he started getting bad again. so they did another test, but this time sent it out for a better reading and again it came back. so now we have a new med to try. i truly don't believe the pancreatitis is the issue for simba. he was also just diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and possible cushing disease, which ill find out monday if he has. simba is on purina dm, the dry food and is doing well on it. but we cannot get his sugar down for the life of us, which is why now he is being tested for cushing. we are up to 5 units now 2x a day and will be going up to 6 next week depending on the results of the cushing test.
i know its scary but i would recommend changing his food to a diabetic one. it is more costly but well worth it i believe. good luck!

wsugold said:

hi!
we are currently going thru the same thing. simba was diagnosed a little over a month ago. he was given 2 meds and got 'better'. the first test he was given was just the basic test in the office. then last week we took him b/c he started getting bad again. so they did another test, but this time sent it out for a better reading and again it came back. so now we have a new med to try. i truly don't believe the pancreatitis is the issue for simba. he was also just diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and possible cushing disease, which ill find out monday if he has. simba is on purina dm, the dry food and is doing well on it. but we cannot get his sugar down for the life of us, which is why now he is being tested for cushing. we are up to 5 units now 2x a day and will be going up to 6 next week depending on the results of the cushing test.
i know its scary but i would recommend changing his food to a diabetic one. it is more costly but well worth it i believe. good luck!

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What reasons are you suspecting cushings? Is Simba having issues with his skin being fragile and tearing?
If you are upping the dose to such a high amount, are you testing to show that you need such a high amount of insulin?
The tests for cushings are NOT definite, so you may want to save your money on any tests and switch off the dry food. The dry food alone is contributing to the need for so much insulin.
If you are worried about a high dose of insulin, you would want to test for acromegaly, unless you are see signs of cushings.
What was the test result value for pancreatitis? I would hope that you are giving Simba some pain meds because pancreatitis is very painful.
What med is being given and for what health issue.... pancreatitis does not need any med to treat it.
There is no dry cat food that is healthy for a diabetic cat. You want to switch to a low carb wet canned food but certainly not any dry food.