Pancreatitis
• Inflammation of the pancreas
o Acute
o Chronic
• Common
Spectrum of Disease
• Mild, edematous
o Mild, rapid recovery
o Interstitial edema
• Hemorrhagic, necrotic
o Severe, prolonged
o Complications
o Necrosis
Pathophysiology
• Autodigestion of the pancreas
o Premature activation of zymogen granules
Pancreatic Protection
o Enzymes stored as inactive zymogens
o Cleaved by proteases in small intestine
o Zymogens and lysosomal enzymes separate
o Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor
Risk Factors
• Fat!
o Obesity
o Hyperlipidemia
o Dietary indiscretion
o High fat diet
• Endocrine diseases
o Diabetes Mellitus
o Cushing's Disease
• Pancreatic factors
o Duct obstruction
o Trauma/ischemia
o Neoplasia
Drugs & Toxins
• Potassium bromide (KBr)
• Azathioprine (Imuran™)
• L-asparaginase (Elspar™)
• Organophosphates
• Furosemide (Lasix™)?
• Corticosteroids?
Additional Risk Factors in Cats
• Trauma (high-rise syndrome)
• Toxoplasma ?
• FIP ?
• Triaditis
o Inflammatory bowel disease
o Cholangiohepatitis
o Pancreatitis
Signalment
• Cats
o ??
Clinical Signs (Feline)
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Dehydration
• ± Hypothermia
• ± Vomiting
• ± Abdominal pain
• ± Dyspnea
• ± Ataxia
• ± Diarrhea
• ± Icterus
• ± Weight loss
Complications
• DIC
• Acute Renal Failure
• Respiratory distress
o Pulmonary edema
o PTE
• Vascular collapse, shock
• Diabetes mellitus/EPI (chronic or acute recurrent)
