Feline pancreatitis is a severe condition that involves the swelling and leakage of certain tissues from the body into the pancreas. If your pet experiences pancreatitis, he will likely display several of the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Abdominal swelling or distension
- Abdominal pain
- Shock or collapse
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it's a good idea to take him to the veterinarian for examination right away. After diagnosing the condition, your vet will recommend one of several different treatment options for your pet's pancreatitis. One of the most common of these is a prednisone treatment. Read on for a brief overview of how these treatments are effective against feline pancreatitis.
Prednisone Overview
Prednisone is a potent corticosteroid. Corticosteroids occur naturally in your pet's body and are responsible for a huge range of different functions in your pet's body. These functions include the regulation of your cat's metabolism, the body's reaction to different stresses, inflammation control and many other elements as well. Prednisone is one of the more powerful corticosteroids that is available.
Corticosteroids are regularly prescribed to both humans and animals as anti-inflammatory drugs. These steroids are dramatically potent at relieving pain and inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis, but they can also help out with a variety of other problems as well. Generally, however, corticosteroids are meant to be used for a short period of time only, as extended use can oftentimes lead to other problems in the animal.
Treating with Prednisone
Although it hasn't been confirmed through proper studies, many veterinarians agree that keeping a cat with pancreatitis on a very low and consistent dosage of prednisone may help to eliminate the inflammation and swelling of the pancreas and may also help to prevent further episodes in the future. This is an important thing to note for many pet owners, as the exact causes of pancreatitis are sometimes left unknown; it may be that cats with a lowered prednisone level naturally are more inclined to develop pancreatitis issues.
Because prednisone is a powerful prescription medicine, you'll need to obtain a prescription fill sheet from your veterinarian in order to give it to your pet.
Generally, your vet will recommend that you provide prednisone to your cat at a regular and set time each day. You'll likely need to administer a tablet to your pet, typically mixed in with his food. The exact dosage is dependent upon both the severity of your pet's pancreatitis, his age and weight and size, and his overall health and any other underlying conditions that may be affecting him concurrently.
Prednisone treatments oftentimes result in side effects, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, lowered immune system rates and other more serious conditions. It's therefore important that you and your vet carefully monitor your cat for signs of any side effects for the entire duration of the treatment program while he's on prednisone supplements. Ask your vet for more information about this treatment option.