Robert J. Washabau, VMD, PhD, DACVIM

The initiating event of acute pancreatitis is the premature activation of digestive zymogens within the acinar cell. Premature activation of digestive zymogen results in acinar cell necrosis and pancreatic autodigestion.

The etiologies of acute necrotizing pancreatitis are probably not yet completely recognized. Biliary tract disease, gastrointestinal tract disease, ischemia, pancreatic ductal obstruction, infection, trauma, organophosphate poisoning, and lipodystrophy all have known associations with the development of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the cat.

Mechanisms of gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction have been a longstanding area of research interest. Our laboratory has been particularly interested in the role of myosin light chain phosphorylation in the regulation of contraction.

A complete and detailed history is the first step in establishing a correct diagnosis of a vomiting disorder. The patient's signalment will usually establish some level of probability for many of the differential diagnoses.

There are many potential causes of acute diarrhea in cats, but a smaller number of etiologies are associated with the development of feline chronic diarrhea.

Hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract may have a number of different pathogenetic mechanisms. Specific therapy for gastrointestinal hemorrhage will depend upon the etiopathogenesis as well as the site of hemorrhage.