Feline pancreatitis causes significant abdominal pain and is frequently underdiagnosed. Understanding recognition and management improves welfare outcomes for affected cats.
Feline pancreatitis causes abdominal pain that is difficult to assess because cats hide pain well, often simply becoming less active and eating less. The welfare concern is that pancreatitis pain may be undertreated because it is underrecognized - cats showing only lethargy and reduced appetite may have significant abdominal discomfort that warrants pain management. The welfare-centered approach to suspected pancreatitis provides analgesia early while diagnostic confirmation is pursued, rather than withholding pain management pending diagnosis. Nutritional support is also a welfare priority - cats that are not eating develop hepatic lipidosis rapidly, adding additional welfare harm to the pancreatitis itself.