Pancreatitis in non-diabetic cat

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Chuck and Susan

Chuck and Susan

Member Since 2010
Hi, all! I've not been on the FDMB since we lost Chuck in April of last year. Now, Dallas, our 6 year old neutered male (non-diabetic) has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. In March, just before we went on a cruise, we had him to the vet because he wasn't acting like himself. He was diagnosed at that time with a UTI, something the vet said is unusual in male cats. He bounced back rather quickly, and we were able to go on our cruise.

Fast forward to last week. We left on Wednesday morning to go from Texas to Iowa for hubs' 50 year class reunion. On Friday, our cat sitter called around 8:30 a.m. and said he had Dallas at the vet. I talked with the vet, who said his pancreas was very inflamed (based on ultrasound), and he had a mild UTI. Our cat sitter was able to bring him home on Monday, while we were still traveling back.

He seems better, he just isn't eating, that I can tell. Litter box is normal, although stool was moderately runny this morning. The vet wants him on Hills I/d, and sent home dry, which Dallas has never had (he always ate Chuck's low carb-high protein Fancy Feast). I paid the bill today, and picked up a case of the wet I/d -- he's not eating that, either. I tried water on the dry to make it softer, won't eat it. He does eat the Liv-A-Little Chicken that I used as treats for Chuck. (Actually, neither of the other 2 cats will eat the dry or wet I/d)

He's current on oral Cerenia for the next 4 days, to help with any nausea. He had a Convenia injection, due both to the pancreatitis and UTI. He currently (at the vet) weighs about 10.7 pounds; his BG was 220 (the vet isn't concerned about that, because of being sick and vet stress). The vet can't say if it's chronic or acute at this time, but did mention it was possible that he had a "light" flare back in March, along with the UTI.

I can post the details of what they did, but basically is was a Chem 13; CBC, urinalysis, Cerenia injection, ultrasound, IV fluids, and the Convenia injection. All values were normal, except BG and WBC (elevated due to illness).

What I'm hoping for is a tried-and-true pancreatitis diet that he will eat. I don't like the Hills (too much by-product and grains), but am not sure that going back to the high-protein/low carb is best. Right now, I'd just like to get him to eat something besides dried chicken!
 
I am sorry Dallas was diagnosed with pancreatitis! Did the vet do a Culture and Sensitivity for his UTI? Is that why he was given the Convenia shot? That's good he's not vomiting, that was my Tiger's main symptom along with inappetance and diarrhea. Here is a link to the invaluable Primer on Pancreatitis. You don't necessarily have to give prescription foods, the main thing is to find something that Dallas will want to eat. Tiger willingly ate Purina EN while she was in the ER, so I continued with it for a week when she came home, slowly mixing with her Wellness foods. I would say to keep a lookout for nausea and signs of pain, cats are expert at hiding it. Cerenia works well for us because mine got nauseous and vomited a lot. Other kitties do better with Ondansetron. Just have something on hand and you can often stop the flare up. The other thing to have on hand is pain meds, we have bupe for pain if she needs it.
 
Fred just had pancreatitis attack June 8. He had nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, no appetite and Ruth is right....they hide pain very well. I didn't know Fred was in pain. But he was put on Cerenia tablets for 4 days. Bupe for pain and an antibiotic. I have had him on Friskies pates since the attack and he's eating it well. I keep it under 8 carbs a can and give him 1/3 - 1/2 can at a feeding unless I'm gone all day, I leave a whole can. I hope Dallas feels better soon. I'm sorry you lost your Chuck last year.
 
Jayme and Ruth:
Dallas' symptoms were vomiting (both food and clear) and not running to the door when the cat sitter came Friday morning. It was a very sudden onset because he was fine Wednesday and Thursday. Not sure about diarrhea, but he wasn't eating, so the sitter knew something was not right (I'm so very lucky to have a sitter who loves cats as much as I do, and loves mine almost as much as I do!). The vet said he was in a lot of pain because when she touched his belly, he tensed up and started shaking; plus, the pancreas was very visible on the ultrasound and she indicated it's normally hard to see. I was able to get him to eat a few bites of "people" tuna, although I don't usually feed any fish flavors. Dallas, Bouncer (age 4) and Riley (age 8) have had Fancy Feast Beef classic, Turkey and Giblets classic, Chicken and Liver classic and Beef and Liver classic, since that's what Chuck always ate -- Dallas and Bouncer have NEVER had dry food, as Chuck was already diabetic when we got them. The Convenia was mostly for the UTI, but also for the pancreatitis. We have some Cerenia (1 tablet I'm supposed to split into 4 pieces!!) for him to have the next couple of days -- thinking the vet must feel if we continue that for a few days, everything will settle down enough that he will eat better -- but no pain medication. I don't see the "harm" in putting him back on his Fancy Feast, but the vet wants him on the i/d food.

Thank you for the link to the Primer on Pancreatitis! I'm printing it out so I can refer to it if necessary. I Googled a lot, but didn't find anything like this. And, I couldn't find a message board that was just for pancreatitis, so I came back to FDMB since I knew lots of sugar kitties had flares. I was lucky Chuck never had one -- don't know if I could have handled that on top of not being able to control his BG the last 6 months we had him...
 
Pancreatitis can damage the enzyme-producing cells, as well as the islet cells in the pancreas, leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (pale, malodorous stools with increased volume) and/or diabetes. Cross your fingers you're treating it in time and can get the damage prevented, or slowed.
 
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