Cat aged 14 has pancreatitis

[tabbycat15]

Dotty has had chronic vomiting the last few months, we had every blood test done (cost a fortune) & it turns out she had Pancreatitis.

The vet has put her on a special Hills prescription diet. She is still vomiting once a day, she has lost 2kgs the past few months.

We might have to try steroids but she is terrible at taking tablets

Does any one have experience of Pancreatitis in cats. Does a low fat diet help?

The vet had suggested checking get weight in a few weeks time. She is down to 2.8 kgs but used to be around 5 kgs

I only have a little (a very little) experience of pancreatitis in humans and not cats. I've had a little look see though - which you could do as well - and a low fat diet does seem to help. It's a serious illness though and often goes along with other conditions which the vet may not have highlighted.

I think on this one, you have to rely on the vet's advice - they found it, so that's a start because it's not easy to diagnose. That's one heck of a weight loss, though.

Thanks. She does look very thin. She was always a bit overweight. I will see how the vomiting goes this week. She would have been on the diet for 2 weeks. She used to vomit 2 or 3 times a day so seems to only be once now so there is some improvement.

Well that's something.

How old is she?

Sorry - been a bad afternoon. I overlooked her age in the title.

That is a very worrying weight loss indeed at that age. And the primary condition. What else did the vet say? Did he give any prognosis - even if you were to read between the lines?

I know about pancreatitis in dogs, if that helps.

Yes, def a low fat diet. The equivalent Hills stuff for dogs isn't low enough in fat, IMO. A diet of about 5% crude matter fat, or about 10% dry matter fat is what to aim for, and I'm sorry I don't know anything about cat food! For dog food, wet food is less likely to be low fat than dried complete.

Burns cat food (ocean fish) would be a good choice for her, I've just checked out it's fat levels.

Thanks the vet didn't give us a prognosis. Just said to try her on the low fat diet. If she hasn't improved in a few weeks then she might have to try steroids.

Ah well. Do that thing, then - but keep a close eye on her generally and her weight in particular. If you see any marked deterioration in some way, I'd have her in to the vet earlier - or give her a ring at the very least.

Best of luck.