Feline pancreatitis is a common pancreatic disease in felines, characterized by inflammation of the pancreas, leading to the abnormal release of digestive enzymes and damage to pancreatic tissue. Pancreatitis in cats may present as acute or chronic, and both forms can have a serious impact on the cat's health.

Functions of the Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland located in the abdominal cavity and has two main functions:
Ÿ Exocrine function: Secretes digestive enzymes to help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in food.
Ÿ Endocrine function: Secretes hormones (such as insulin) to regulate blood glucose levels.

Types of Feline Pancreatitis
Ÿ Acute pancreatitis: It has a sudden onset with severe inflammation and usually shows obvious clinical symptoms.
Ÿ Chronic pancreatitis: It lasts for a long time, and the degree of inflammation may be mild or occur intermittently. The symptoms may not be obvious, but it will lead to the gradual damage of the pancreas.

Clinical Symptoms
The symptoms of feline pancreatitis can vary depending on the severity of the disease. Common symptoms include:
Ÿ Loss of appetite: Cats may refuse to eat or have a decreased appetite.
Ÿ Vomiting: Repeated vomiting is a common symptom of pancreatitis.
Ÿ Abdominal pain: Cats show a painful reaction when their abdomen is touched and may curl up their bodies.
Ÿ Dehydration: Due to vomiting and loss of appetite, cats may experience dehydration.
Ÿ Diarrhea: Some cats may have diarrhea, especially in the case of chronic pancreatitis.
Ÿ Lethargy and weakness: Cats with pancreatitis usually show extreme lethargy and depression.

Transmission Routes
Feline pancreatitis is not an infectious disease, so it will not be transmitted to other animals or humans through contact or the air.

Clinical Diagnosis
Ÿ Clinical examination: The veterinarian can initially determine pancreatitis by palpating the cat's abdomen and combining it with the symptom manifestations.
Ÿ Blood tests: Measure the level of serum pancreatic lipase (Spec fPL). An increase in this enzyme is an indicator of pancreatitis. In addition, routine blood tests may also be carried out to assess the cat's overall health status.
Ÿ Imaging examinations: Ultrasonography can help the veterinarian observe the morphological changes of the pancreas and detect inflammation, pancreatic swelling, or other abnormalities.
Ÿ Other tests: In some cases, CT scans or biopsies may be required to obtain more detailed information.

Prevention and Treatment Measures
Ÿ Treatment in the acute phase: Includes intravenous infusion to maintain water and electrolyte balance, analgesics to relieve pain, antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, and antiemetic drugs to control vomiting.
Ÿ Diet management: Avoid high-fat diets and provide easily digestible, low-fat special cat food to reduce the burden on the pancreas.
Ÿ Long-term management: For cats with chronic pancreatitis, long-term dietary control and drug treatment may be required, including the use of digestive enzyme supplements to aid food digestion, as well as insulin treatment for diabetes (if the pancreatic function is severely damaged).
Ÿ Regular monitoring: Cats with chronic pancreatitis need to undergo regular health checks, including blood tests and imaging examinations, to monitor the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of the treatment.

SunShiny Med has developed a Feline Pancreatic Lipase Test Kit based on ELISA technology, which provides effective assistance for users in detecting feline pancreatitis.