how to help a cat with pancreatitis gain weight

Using some very appealing foods as toppers or mixers (e.g., pet foods that are appropriate for kittens or canned/wet foods) might improve your cat’s appetite, as they usually have high protein and fat. Adding water or warming the food can also help with food intake.

What Kind of Diet Should I Feed My Cat if They Have Pancreatitis AND Another Disease?

Some diets are especially useful for treating or managing diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in cats that also have pancreatitis; these diets may also aid in the recovery of the pancreatitis. The higher the protein in the diet, the more it normalizes fat metabolism and provides a slow, consistent energy source; conversely, carbohydrate-rich diets may cause hyperglycemia due to the sharp increase in glucose. Several studies have demonstrated that cats with diabetes can benefit from a high protein, high moisture, low carbohydrate diet6—to the point they may even go into complete remission!

Additionally, it has been demonstrated that cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can benefit from switching to a gluten-free protein with a moderate amount of soluble fiber, especially if it is a protein they have never tried before6,13. The rationale behind this is that, in theory, the body shouldn’t react to a protein if it has never been encountered before. Because the food that was initially causing the inflammation is no longer being constantly consumed, the gastrointestinal tract has more time to heal7,13.

You may be noticing a theme emerging here: eating too much of the wrong food, foods that cause inflammation, or foods inappropriate for the species may be the cause of chronic disease, just like they are in humans! (Are any of you reading about celiac disease?) Since pancreatitis falls under the category of chronic diseases, we believe it is reasonable to make some assumptions and assume these kinds of foods may be contributing factors. However, given some unflattering proverbs regarding assumptions, let’s examine this chronic inflammation theory in more detail.

Some of these risk factors include:

• Breeds:
• Himalayan
• Domestic Shorthair
• Siamese
• Diet: Unlike dogs, cats’ diets have no impact on the risk of pancreatitis.
• Medication: Organophosphate insecticides
  Possibly other medications, or even a particularly negative drug reaction, may act as a trigger for pancreatitis.
• Infections:
  • Parasites
    • Toxoplasma gondii
    • Eurytrema procyonis
    • Amphimerus pseudofelineus
  • Viruses
    • Feline Infectious Peritonitis(FIP)/coronavirus
    • Parvovirus
    • Herpesvirus
    • Calicivirus
• Additional factors include: hypercalcemia, intravenous calcium infusion, duct obstruction, trauma, ischemia, pancreatic tumors, hepatobiliary disease, feline suppurative cholangiohepatitis, and trioitis (IBD, cholangiohepatitis).

Regretfully, more than 2095% of cats diagnosed with pancreatitis are idiopathic, which means that no cause could be found1, 2020

Pancreatitis: Often Secondary to Other Underlying Diseases

Recall that we mentioned that pancreatitis can occur in conjunction with other conditions? This is especially true for chronic cases of pancreatitis, as they frequently coexist with fatty liver syndrome, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cholangiohepatitis (bile duct inflammation), and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome). Treating the primary disease is crucial in these situations1,2,7,20, as it frequently has the added benefit of managing pancreatitis1.

Thus, in the event that your cat is diagnosed with pancreatitis, it is critical that your veterinarian conducts additional testing to rule out the possibility of an undiagnosed underlying illness. To establish a trend, this may entail more specialized blood tests or serial blood testing, which entails at least two blood tests separated by at least one day. It could also be necessary to have ultrasounds, invasive tests (like gastrointestinal biopsies to rule out IBD), or even referrals to internal medicine specialists. We realize this may sound like a lot, but it’s crucial to realize that if an underlying illness is present and goes undiagnosed and untreated, even if it seems to be dormant and comparatively ineffective, the patient’s pancreatitis is unlikely to ever be under control.

Assume that everything has been done correctly and that your veterinarian has thoroughly investigated the case to rule out any other illnesses in addition to chronic pancreatitis. Alternatively, suppose there is another illness present, but pancreatitis is making it worse or complicating the prognosis of that illness. In these cases, it’s pancreatitis management go-time. Regretfully, there isn’t a single, universally effective treatment plan for pancreatitis in cats. The majority of therapies center on supportive care, with recommendations derived from case studies as opposed to particular research1. Hospitalization, IV fluid therapy, pain management, antiemetic drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting, and other drugs as needed are examples of supportive care1,2,3. It may be possible to find a specific treatment and full cure if a trigger or inciting cause—such as a parasite or medication—can be identified!

FAQ

What is the best thing to feed a cat with pancreatitis?

What are the final stages of pancreatitis in cats?

Does pancreatitis cause weight loss in cats?

What do vets give cats for pancreatitis?