Companion Animals

Cat Pancreatic Disease Welfare

Feline pancreatic disease including pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency causes chronic welfare problems requiring specific diagnosis and management.

Key Facts

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) causes malabsorption and weight loss despite good appetite
EPI is less common in cats than dogs but causes significant welfare deterioration
Pancreatic enzyme supplementation with meals achieves good clinical response in EPI
Feline pancreatitis is often concurrent with IBD and liver disease (triaditis)
Pain management is essential in acute pancreatitis and often inadequate in chronic cases

Welfare Considerations

Feline pancreatic disease causes chronic suffering that responds well to targeted diagnosis and treatment. Distinguishing EPI from IBD and pancreatitis guides appropriate management.

What You Can Do

Request feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) and TLI testing for cats with chronic digestive signs
Ensure pancreatitis treatment includes analgesia as a core component
Monitor weight and appetite carefully in cats with diagnosed pancreatic disease