Feline pancreatitis

Hi my 14-year-old have Bruno has a history of chronic pancreatitis ... Which has cause diabetes three years ago .. The diabetes is under control but his pancreas is failing ... He is a losing weight and his pancreas is not producing enzymes ... The vet recommended powdered enzymes to put on his food ... I mixed it in with his dry food last night and wet it a little bit and he refused to eat it ... I'm going to see if there's a pill form that might be easier
Has anyone had experience with chronic pancreatitis and a cat and the pancreas failing to make enzymes ?
Thank you
Lisa

You may want to post on the FelineDiabetes.com message board Pancreatitis in diabetic cats is common and the FDMB board can suggest ways to help manage the condition without affecting the diabetes.

Litlisa100 said:

Hi my 14-year-old have Bruno has a history of chronic pancreatitis ... Which has cause diabetes three years ago .. The diabetes is under control but his pancreas is failing ... He is a losing weight and his pancreas is not producing enzymes ... The vet recommended powdered enzymes to put on his food ... I mixed it in with his dry food last night and wet it a little bit and he refused to eat it ... I'm going to see if there's a pill form that might be easier
Has anyone had experience with chronic pancreatitis and a cat and the pancreas failing to make enzymes ?
Thank you
Lisa

Click to expand...

Yes, chronic pancreatitis can lead to both diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (or EPI). I'm so sorry your kitty has both. Did your cat have the special test done to confirm EPI? What a juggling act. 

EPI is the enzyme problem, and the only treatment is enzyme supplementation with food. Timed meals with enzymes is best. If the cat is free fed and ends up eating food without enzymes, then the problem isn't being addressed. Unfortunately, getting the cat to eat the food with the enzymes is the biggest challenge. Adding the enzymes to dry food would be very difficult. It is usually recommended to add the enzymes to wet food and then let it sit for at least 20 minutes before serving. Giving the enzymes immediately without letting them sit first can cause their mouth to burn or cause sores. For some that have had a really difficult time putting the enzymes in food, they've had to resort to mixing it into a slurry with a tiny amount of wet food or baby food, letting it sit for 20 minutes, and then administering with a syringe just before serving a meal. I think some have had to administer it as a pill, but it didn't seem to be as effective as the method of letting it sit first. The main thing is giving it with or right before food or it won't work.

You might benefit from this site, which has some written content and it's own forum specifically for cats with EPI:

http://epiincats.webs.com/

Please come back let me know how things are going.

P.S. I had a cat with chronic pancreatitis for almost three years.

Thank you for the advice ...I didn't realize that it can burn their mouth ....he won't eat it with dry food ...I tried to syringe it in his mouth with water ...now he won't eat at all ....maybe I burnt his mouth ..,I'm a terrible mother .....I will probably have to resort to the pills tomorrow
Thanks

Litlisa100 said:

Thank you for the advice ...I didn't realize that it can burn their mouth ....he won't eat it with dry food ...I tried to syringe it in his mouth with water ...now he won't eat at all ....maybe I burnt his mouth ..,I'm a terrible mother .....I will probably have to resort to the pills tomorrow
Thanks

Click to expand...

You're not a terrible mother! You got the diabetes under control, didn't you? This is just another thing you'll have to educate yourself on.    I'm assuming the vet gave you the prescription animal enzymes since that is usually the standard treatment. He/she should have mentioned to incubate (let sit). A lot of pet parents get their kitty's enzymes from Enzyme Diane. They seem to be more tolerable or something. It is a powder, though. Here's a page on their site that has ideas for administering:

http://www.enzymediane.com/catsandepi.htm

I looked in his mouth .. It looks ok .. And he's finally eating now ...

Thank you for the info