Q&A: Your cat not eating is a major warning sign
My cat has lost his appetite, and he's not as active as usual.
Q: My cat has lost his appetite, and he's not as active as usual, but the veterinarian can't find anything wrong with him. We are wondering if it might be pancreatitis.
A: Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a frustrating disease because it's so difficult to diagnose and treat. Your cat's vague symptoms could signal any number of problems.
In more than 90 percent of cases, we don't know what causes pancreatitis in cats. Some theories suggest that it's caused by infection, trauma or individual reactions to certain drugs. Worse, no exam, test or procedure can provide a definitive diagnosis. Abdominal ultrasound can provide clues, but it can't necessarily pinpoint the condition. Certain blood tests can offer guidance, but they aren't always reliable.
Sometimes, the best you can do is to treat the signs. Your veterinarian may prescribe antiemetics if the cat is vomiting. If the abdomen is tender, pain-relief medications can help. A suspected bacterial infection of the pancreas is treated with antibiotics. Cats who are too sick to eat may need to be hospitalized so they can be tube-fed. No matter what the signs, the cat needs intravenous fluids to make up for any fluid loss caused by vomiting or diarrhea and to keep the blood flowing through the pancreas. And remember, any time a cat won't eat, it's serious.