There may be an association with pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Still, it is prudent to avoid drugs that have been associated with pancreatic inflammation in a cat with history of pancreatitis. Chances are the cause for a given case will never be revealed. Fever is a possible sign but often the temperature will drop instead. Lethargy and appetite loss are consistent signs.
Pancreatitis is hard to diagnose.
Often this will not turn up a good indicator of pancreatitis. Ultrasound often reveals an enlarged pancreas surrounded by fluid and confirms the diagnosis. The pancreas can be biopsied but many veterinarians are reluctant to do so for fear that removing a piece of tissue could generate further inflammation. Some also feel that flushing the belly with warmed sterile fluids helps remove some of the inflammatory toxins. There is another blood test which is very accurate in the diagnosis of pancreatitis and that is the TLI test.