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Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats. Two Different Animals Wendy Blount, DVM Nacogdoches, TX. Wendy Blount, DVM drblount@vonallmen.net www.wendyblount.com. DVM TAMU 1992 Private Practice Houston 2 years Small Animal Residency TAMU 1994-1997 Small Animal Internal Medicine
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Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats Two Different Animals Wendy Blount, DVM Nacogdoches, TX
Wendy Blount, DVMdrblount@vonallmen.netwww.wendyblount.com • DVM TAMU 1992 • Private Practice Houston 2 years • Small Animal • Residency TAMU 1994-1997 • Small Animal Internal Medicine • Private Practice Nacogdoches, TX • 75% Referrals – Internal Medicine and Herbal Medicine/Nutrition • 25% General Practice
Two types of pancreatitis • Acute Pancreatitis • Abrupt onset • often reversible after treatment • May lead to chronic pancreatitis • Acute necrotizing (cell death) pancreatitis is a life-threatening condition • Chronic Pancreatitis • Continuing inflammatory disease • Irreversible pathology • Relapsing acute pancreatitis • Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) • Diabetes mellitus Acute Chronic 2/3 1/3
Pancreatitis Clinical Presentation Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Chronic liver Disease – Why? Bile reflux into the pancreas Especially in cats – why? Because bile & pancreatic duct merge Diabetes mellitus Intestinal disease
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Hyperlipidemia – Why? Blood sludging - pancreatic ischemia Lipase and other enzymes released Hydrolysis of TG in ECF by lipase releases free fatty acids (FFA) FFA cause microthrombi and bind to calcium to cause further damage (saponification) More lipase is released Positive feedback vicious cycle
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Obesity Hypercalcemia Hyperadrenocorticism Hypothyroidism High fat meal – How much is too much? >50% calories as fat Careful of U/D in Schnauzers Refeeding after prolonged anorexia
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Pancreatic neoplasia If you are treating one of the worst cases of pancreatitis you have ever seen, rule out pancreatic adenocarcinoma Infectious Toxoplasma gondii Feline liver flukes Amphimerus pseudofelinus Feline pancreatic flukes Eurytrema procyonis FIP
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Drugs Corticosteroids Chemotherapeutics/immunosuppressives L-asparaginase Azathioprine (Imuran) Estrogens Others
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Toxins Organophosphates Scorpion stings Uremic toxins Vaccines
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Trauma to the pancreas Abdominal surgery Ischemia (post-GDV, anesthesia, hypotension, shock) Bile duct obstruction Protracted and severe vomiting – why? Bile reflux into the pancreatic duct Especially in the cat
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Hyperadrenocorticism both Hypothyroidism dogs High fat meal dogs Refeeding after anorexia dogs Pancreatic neoplasia both Dog vs. Cat - Quiz Chronic Liver Disease both Diabetes mellitus both Intestinal disease both Hyperlipidemia dogs Hypercalcemia both
Pancreatitis - Predispositions Trauma to the pancreas dogs >> cats Ischemia both Bile duct obstruction cats > dogs Protracted severe vomiting cats > dogs Vaccines ????? Toxoplasma gondii cats Corticosteroids dogs Organophosphates both Scorpion sting both Uremia both
Breed Predisposition Dogs Miniature Schnauzer Sheltie Briard Small dogs (yorkies, poodles) Cats Siamese Himalayan
Common Concurrent Diseasesespecially in cats Cholangiohepatitis Inflammatory bowel disease Triaditis Nephritis Hepatic lipidosis – cats only
Most Common Clinical Signs Dogs 95% of dogs with pancreatitis vomit Anorexia (91%) Abdominal pain (58%) Cats Anorexia/weight loss – 97% Only 35% of cats with pancreatitis vomit Dehydration – 92% Constipation
Clinical Signs – Dogs and Cats Lethargy Icterus – why? Diarrhea – with or without blood Fever (hypothermia more common in cats – 68%) Abdominal pain, cranial abdominal mass Hunched stance or praying position Elevated respiratory rate Necrotic skin lesions or red skin – why? Ascites
Pancreatitis - Sequella SIRS Systemic Inflammatory Response can Precipitate: Thromboembolic disease Pumonary thromboembolism DIC Pancreatic encephalopathy Arrhythmia Metabolic acidosis Respiratory Distress (2 causes)
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork CBC – nonspecific Thrombocytopenia Neutrophilia with left shift Anemia Serology – Dogs only Lipemia after a prolonged fast (TG, chol) Can present for opaque eyes or anterior uveitis Hypocalcemia – why? Calcium consumed by saponification of fat Hypoalbuminemia – why? Massive inflammation, vasculitis, + sepsis
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Serology – Dogs only Amylase normal in 47% Lipase Normal in 61% Serology – Cats only Elevated cholesterol (not as often triglycerides) Amylase and lipase not at all useful
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Lipase – non-specific – why? Digestive lipases Intestinal lipase Lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase Hormone-sensitive lipase (adipocytes) Lysosomal acidic lipase
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Serology – Dogs and Cats Nonspecific changes Elevated liver enzymes Elevated bilirubin – why? Azotemia Hyperglycemia (cause or effect) Hypoglycemia – why? Hypophosphatemia – why? Hypochloridemia – why?
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork GI Serology – Dogs and Cats B12 may be low – why? Intrinsic factor from the pancreas is required for absorption concurrent proximal small intestinal disease Folate may be low if distal intestinal disease Folate is absorbed in the ileum REMEMBER: “B” comes before “F”
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork GI Serology – Dogs and Cats TLI (trypsin like immunoreactivity) Highly specific for EPI Increased in SOME dogs and cats with pancreatitis
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork GI Serology – Dogs and Cats What is the BEST blood test to diagnose pancreatitis?? cPLI (canine Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity) 97% sensitive for pancreatitis 82% specific for pancreatitis fPLI (feline Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity) Much more sensitive and specific for pancreatitis than any blood test or imaging Antech and IDEXX TAMU GI Lab (TVMDL sends to TAMU)
Spec cPLTM • cPLI Developed by Drs. Jörg Steiner and David Williams at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University • IDEXX collaborated with Drs. Steiner and Williams to develop the Spec cPL • IDEXX renamed it Spec cPL • For better name recognition • To trademark the name • Available only at IDEXX Labs
Introducing SNAPRcPLTM Features • 2 results: Normal or Abnormal • Read time: 10 minutes • Storage: Refrigeration • Sample type: Serum • Read: Visual; semi-quantitative • <200 ug/L normal • 200-400 ug/L borderline • >400 ug/L pancreatitis • Same technology as Spec cPL® • Correlation to Spec cPL >95% • 96% of interpretations are correct Sample Reference
SNAP cPL for Screening Dog w/ Vomiting, Anorexia, Abdominal pain CBC Profile/lytes UA SNAP cPL SNAP Abnormal SNAP Normal >400 200-399 Treat for pancreatitis, Baseline cPLI Abdominal radiographs Abdominal US Baseline cPLI Pancreatitis is unlikely – pursue other differential diagnoses monitor w/ cPLI US/Rads confirm pancreatitis US/Rads equivocal Treat, Monitor, Retest; Continue to rule out other differential diagnoses Treat for pancreatitis, Monitor with cPLI
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Urinalysis – nonspecific Ketones think diabetic with ketoacidosis (if glucosuria) Or prolonged fasting/starvation Transient proteinuria Enzyme mediated glomerular damage
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Coagulation panel Thrombocytopenia Vasculitis (enzyme mediated) DIC PT, PTT, ACT Elevated Antithrombin III Low FDP, d-Dimers high
Diagnosis: Clues in the Bloodwork Electrolyte panel/blood gases (venous is fine) HCO3,TC02, pH, pC02 Low - Metabolic acidosis What clue will your patient give you to check venous blood gases? Panting Potassium Low – why? H+ outside the cell exchanged for K+ inside the cell K+ lost in the urine Especially a problem with diabetics – why? Insulin is required to get potassium into the cell where it is needed
Diagnosis: Abdominal Ultrasound BEFORE PLI, WAS THE BEST TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATITIS Highly specific, but not that sensitive 60% of cats with pancreatitis have normal US Pancreatitis (> 1 cm thick) Enlarged pancreas Hypoechoic May have cavitary lesions Fluid accumulation around the pancreas Pancreatic duct may be tortuous and dilated
Diagnosis: Abdominal Ultrasound Duodenum Dilated and hypomotile (<5 waves per minute) Sometimes “corrugated” Common Bile Duct Dilated and tortuous Gall bladder Enlarged, wall edema/hyperechoic, sludge Ascites Peripancreatic fat and omentum hyperechoic
Diagnosis: Abdominal Ultrasound Ultrasound truly IS for everyone Time-consuming time to warm up reagants 10 minutes to run the test Expensive Used Toshiba Analog $12k in 2000 Cost $1714 per year 3 US a week x $150 x 50 weeks = $22.5K Subject to user experience No more subjective than x-rays
Diagnosis: Radiographs Abdominal radiographs Often normal (sensitivity 24%) Ascites – generalized or localized Peritonitis – loss of detail “ground glass” Stomach – displaced left, dilation Duodenum – displaced caudal and right, gas Dilated, thickened, corrugated Colon – displaced caudal Calcification of fat
Diagnosis: Radiographs Upper GI Barium Series Delayed emptying of stomach and duodenum Corrugation of duodenal wall Thoracic radiographs Can be normal Pleural effusion Pulmonary edema Severe vasculitis if severe hypoalbuminemia 25-50% of cats have either pleural effusion or ascites Sometimes pneumonitis (interstitial pattern)
Diagnosis: Abdominocentesis, Thoracocentesis Usually modified transudate Occasionally exudative (suppurative) Rarely hemorrhagic
Diagnosis: Exploratory Laparotomy Pancreas Edematous, hemorrhagic, abscesses, cysts Enlarged if acute Very small, wasted, fibrotic if chronic Can appear grossly normal in cats Peripancreatic tissues Saponification of fat Inflammation Adhesions
Diagnosis: Exploratory Laparotomy Histopathology - pancreas Definitive diagnosis in cats Chronic pancreatitis – fibrosis, inflammation, nodular hyperplasia Acute pancreatitis – edema, hemorrhage, necrosis, inflammation Few side effects after Bx of cat pancreas Culture/Cytology any abscesses Usually sterile (do cytology first) Bacterial infection is not very common in dogs and cats
Pancreatitis Treatment: Dogs and Cats PRIMARY THERAPIES Fluid therapy Colloids Antibiotics Analgesia Antioxidants
Pancreatitis Treatment:Dogs and Cats Fluid therapy – why so crucial Need to support pancreatic perfusion Pancreatitis + pancreatic ischemia = bad things 35-45 ml/lb/day until eating well less if low albumin, until colloids restored Supplement potassium according to the sliding scale One scale for animals with severe acidosis One scale for animals with normal venous blood gases
Pancreatitis Treatment:Dogs and Cats Fluid therapy – why so crucial Why do pets with acidosis need more potassium? In a state of acidosis, there are excess hydrogen ions (H+) in the extracellular fluid As the acidosis is corrected by therapy, potassium that had left the cells in exchange for H+ goes quickly back into the cells This can drop potassium precipitously, causing arrhythmia, weakness or even respiratory paralysis Most common culprits are DKA and RTA
Pancreatitis Treatment:Dogs and Cats Fluid therapy – why so crucial Add glucose if hypoglycemic Add bicarbonate if: Acidosis is immediately life threatening Acidosis will not be corrected by treating other problems See handout Avoid LRS if severe liver disease and needs alkalinizing – why?? Liver must transform lactate to bicarbonate
Pancreatitis Treatment:Dogs and Cats “Flop” Chief Complaint – Not doing well since treating abscess on a toe 1 week ago, vomiting blood 3 days ago regular vet did a UA and blood glucose UA showed ketones++ and glucose +++, blood glucose 296 Has been treating with IV fluids since, getting worse Did not start insulin because cat not eating Exam - Dehydrated, lethargic, icteric, RR 56 vomited coffee grounds and collapsed on abdominal palpation, HR 65/bpm Responded to atropine IV and fluid bolus