PANCREATIC DISEASES OF CATS

There are relatively few reports of pancreatic disease in cats. In one survey of 800 feline necropsies, only 28 (3.5%) had gross and/or micr oscopic evidence of exocrine pancreatic disease. Excluding exocrine pa ncreatic insufficiency, the history, clinical signs, and results of no ninvasive diagnostic tests for pancreatic disease are vague and nonspe cific-probably the major reason that pancreatic disease is diagnosed s o infrequently in cats. In most cases, a definitive diagnosis is reach ed only at necropsy. In live animals, exploratory laparotomy (with pan creatic biopsies taken for histopathologic examination) is likely to y ield more information than any other test. This article addresses exoc rine pancreatic insufficiency; pancreatic neoplasia (including apudoma s); insular amyloidosis; pancreatic flukes; and pancreatic, bladder, a nd other miscellaneous conditions.