Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pancreatitis tests for dogs and cats - what you need to know
By Xenoulis, Panagiotis G & Steiner, Jörg M·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine and feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity.
Plain-English summary
A dog or cat showing signs of pancreatitis, like vomiting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite, can be tricky to diagnose. Tests that measure pancreatic lipase levels (cPLI for dogs and fPLI for cats) are now considered the best options for identifying this condition. These tests are sensitive and specific, meaning they can accurately indicate pancreatitis, but they can still give false results. For the most reliable diagnosis, vets recommend combining these tests with a thorough history, physical exam, and ultrasound of the pancreas.
People also search for: dog vomiting pancreatitis treatment · cat abdominal pain diagnosis · how to test for pancreatitis in pets
Abstract
The diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats can be challenging. Several diagnostic tests have been evaluated over the years, but the majority have been shown to be of limited utility owing to poor performance or limited availability or because invasive procedures are required. Assays for the measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI for dogs and fPLI for cats) were first developed over a decade ago and now include Spec cPL and SNAP cPL for dogs and Spec fPL and SNAP fPL for cats. Owing to their high sensitivity and specificity for pancreatitis compared with those of other serum tests, concentrations of cPLI and fPLI have been demonstrated to be the serum tests of choice for evaluation of dogs and cats, respectively, suspected of having pancreatitis. False-positive and false-negative results can occur, and recognition of the limitations of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity assays is important. As there is currently no gold standard for antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats, the combination of a complete history and physical examination, measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, and ultrasonographic examination of the pancreas is the best approach for an accurate noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22861648/