Spec fPL (feline pancreatic lipase)
Cats onlyKey concepts ·Also called: fPL, feline pancreatic lipase, Spec fPL, SNAP fPL, pancreatitis test cat
What it is
The assay measures lipase produced by the feline pancreas alone. Ordinary lipase and amylase are close to useless for diagnosing pancreatitis in cats, so this test carries most of the laboratory weight, alongside abdominal ultrasound.
Why your vet measures it
Cats with pancreatitis frequently present with nothing more specific than lethargy and a reduced appetite, and those signs overlap with almost everything. Feline pancreatitis also travels with inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease often enough that it has its own name — triaditis — so finding it changes how the whole case is worked up.
What a high result can mean
- Pancreatitis, acute or chronic
- Triaditis, where pancreatic, liver and intestinal inflammation occur together
- Mildly raised values in cats without clinical pancreatitis, which need interpreting with the whole picture
What a low result can mean
- A normal result makes pancreatitis less likely, but chronic feline pancreatitis can be present with a normal test — imaging may still be warranted
Dogs and cats differ
Only the feline assay is valid in cats. A cat that has stopped eating also risks hepatic lipidosis within days, so a suspected pancreatitis case is usually assessed for both, and getting food into the cat becomes part of the treatment rather than something to postpone.
Questions worth asking your vet
- Has my cat's liver been assessed as well, given the appetite loss?
- Do we need an ultrasound to look at the pancreas and intestines?
- How do we get my cat eating again while we investigate?
Related terms
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