
High Lipase in a Cat
My question is about my 14 to 16 year old spayed cat. Within that last four months she has lost 2.5 pounds. I had a blood screen done and the results were high lipase level and a low red blood count. Everything else was normal. The vet ruled out a tumor because her glucose level was fine. She is still somewhat active. Her appetite isn't as good as it was before. She is more finicky and doesn't eat as much. We started supplementing her food with lean beef and boiled chicken. She seems to eat a lot more of that than anything else. I know that is not as good for her but she needs to gain weight. Please help me if you can ... I am desperate at this point. Thank you.
Further blood work may be needed to rule out the possibility of hyperthyroidism, leukemia, and diabetes. A fecal analysis should be run to determine if she is free of parasites, such as tapeworms. The high lipase level indicates her pancreas has been damaged. Since the pancreas is critical for proper digestion of food, this could likely be the cause of her weight loss and anemia (low red blood cell count). Allergic reactions, infections, cancers, inflammation and other diseases can cause pancreatitis. A special diet, such as I/D by Hills, may be necessary no matter what the cause of her problems. Using VitaGravy on the prescription diet often helps the transition to the new diet. Further investigation with laboratory tests is definitely warranted.
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High Lipase in a Cat

My question is about my 14 to 16 year old spayed cat. Within that last four months she has lost 2.5 pounds. I had a blood screen done and the results were high lipase level and a low red blood count. Everything else was normal. The vet ruled out a tumor because her glucose level was fine. She is still somewhat active. Her appetite isn't as good as it was before. She is more finicky and doesn't eat as much. We started supplementing her food with lean beef and boiled chicken. She seems to eat a lot more of that than anything else. I know that is not as good for her but she needs to gain weight. Please help me if you can ... I am desperate at this point. Thank you.

Further blood work may be needed to rule out the possibility of hyperthyroidism, leukemia, and diabetes. A fecal analysis should be run to determine if she is free of parasites, such as tapeworms. The high lipase level indicates her pancreas has been damaged. Since the pancreas is critical for proper digestion of food, this could likely be the cause of her weight loss and anemia (low red blood cell count). Allergic reactions, infections, cancers, inflammation and other diseases can cause pancreatitis. A special diet, such as I/D by Hills, may be necessary no matter what the cause of her problems. Using VitaGravy on the prescription diet often helps the transition to the new diet. Further investigation with laboratory tests is definitely warranted.

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