This is a personal experience share. For any health concerns or questions about lab results, always consult your veterinarian!
The thing most feared with pancreatitis is gastrointestinal bleeding and severe diarrhea. While she was hospitalized, her hematocrit (red blood cell percentage) dropped into the low 20s%. The vet administered an erythropoietin injection and monitored her — thankfully, it eventually rose. After discharge, she continued to have diarrhea, and her hematocrit slowly dropped again. Another injection on the follow-up visit stabilized things.
The inflammation marker SAA stubbornly remained high. The vet asked if I’d consider a plasma transfusion — hoping it would help her fight the disease, but noting there was a risk of allergic reaction. Every option had risk. Each decision was agonizing.
The deadline for deciding was the following day. I said I wanted to watch one more day — if the numbers didn’t drop, we’d do the plasma transfusion. I had no real hope. It had been so many days without improvement; I was mentally prepared that the transfusion was inevitable. Then the next day — the values miraculously improved. Still elevated, but trending in the right direction. We held off on the plasma transfusion. Lucky. And she was incredibly strong.
Another concern: pancreatitis combined with chronic kidney disease can cause dangerously low blood pressure, leading to insufficient organ perfusion — which dramatically raises the risk of death. This was the primary reason I insisted on the 24-hour hospital — with medical staff monitoring overnight, any emergency could be addressed immediately.
What This Experience Taught Me
- At 18 years old, any sign of something “off” requires immediate veterinary attention
- There is no specific cure for pancreatitis; only supportive care (pain relief, hydration, nutrition, anti-diarrheal)
- NG tubes are difficult to manage, but for a cat that cannot eat on their own, they are life-saving
- Choosing a 24-hour care hospital truly matters
She’s home resting now, and her values are slowly stabilizing — but continued monitoring of kidney function and gastrointestinal health is still needed. Every day she’s with me becomes more precious. She’s worth every ounce of effort. ❤️
Micords Medical Records
During hospitalization, record each day:
- Weight
- Lab values
- Appetite, water intake, and elimination status
- Energy and activity changes
- Vet instructions
So the complete hospitalization journey is clearly recorded and tracked.