Pancreatic Insufficiency in Cats

sandigram77

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My sweet baby was just disgnoses with this, and I'm hoping maybe someone else out there that has a kitty with the same issue can give a helping hand!

From what I've read, he needs to go on a high protein, low-fiber diet.  any suggestions??

It's taken a little time to get this diagnosis and he's lost a good amount of weight, I'd like to know if anyone knows of some supplements that I might be able to get for him to help him gian back the weight once he'sback on track?

He's currently on antibiotics and we're picking up the enzyme powder that he'll have to have with all meals from now on tomorrow from the Vet's office.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!
 

vball91

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Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. EPI is fairly rare so I'm not sure how many members have actual experience with it.

I think your best bet for finding high protein / low carb foods is this chart here: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf Depending on where you live and what's available to you, you should be able to find some brands to try. Another thing you may want to consider is feeding raw or home-cooked food because it's so much easier to control the ingredients this way for a special diet needs cat.
 
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sandigram77

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Thank you for the information, big help!

I have an update, the vet called last night and she consulted with the head of the practice and they have changed the disgnosis to Chronic Pancreatitis w/ possible Irritable Bowel Disease.

Now after research both diagnosises around the web, my baby presents with all the symptoms of the original diagnosis of Pancreatic Insufficiency, weight loss, he seems constantly hungry and eats EVERYTHING, frequent loose stools (going many times a day with small water stools) and the stool has an extremely putrid smell, and his coat seems unkept and a little greasy.

Now Pancreatitis and IBD present with lethargy, abdominal pain, a loss of appitite and loss of interest in thier surroundings, he has none of these...

His liver levels also came back elevated and his blood sugar was high (194).  Both of these can be side effects of the Pancreatic Insufficiency and/or Pancreatitis.

Currently, my vet wants to go through the current course of 1 week on antibiotics and we will talk again Friday to see if he's improving at all with that.  And if not, she'd like to put him on steroidsto try and combat the inflamtion of the pancreas and liver, and I'm not jazzed about putting him on steroids :(
 

goholistic

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It sounds like there is some uncertainty with the diagnosis. Were specific blood tests sent out that test for these conditions?

There is a specific pancreatitis test, and there is also a specific test for feline EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency). My Sebastian has chronic pancreatitis and had both tests done with the same blood draw. If you suspect either in your cat, I would strongly encourage getting the special blood tests run. They are the most accurate and will either give a confirmed diagnosis, or will help you rule it out.

The pancreatitis test is called Spec fPL (feline pancreas-specific lipase).

The EPI test is called Feline TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactivity).

Here's the info from Idexx:

http://www.idexx.com//view/xhtml/en...menu/innovative-tests/spec-fpl.jsf?SSOTOKEN=0

If your cat has true EPI, which is a disorder in which not enough pancreatic enzymes are being produced to properly digest food, then your vet will likely have you supplement enzymes. Pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a little more tricky.
 

cprcheetah

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What tests were done?  did they do the specific tests for Pancreatitis and/or Pancreatic Insufficiency?  I have a kitty who has chronic pancreatitis.  She was diagnosed via symptoms, a comprehensive panel and the specific pancreatitis test.  She was on steroids but had to go off so her bladder infection could get better. 

Here are a couple of links for you:

Pancreatitis

http://ibdkitties.net/

http://www.epi4dogs.com/catsgetepitoo.htm
 
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