Zinc‐associated pancreatitis with histological findings in a cat

This case report describes a 6‐year‐old, female, neutered Burmese cat presented for inappetence, lethargy and diarrhoea of 6‐day duration with prior vomiting. Diagnostic imaging revealed a radiopaque gastric foreign object and an enlarged hypoechoic pancreatitis. The cat underwent surgery to remove the foreign object and subsequently died post‐surgery. A diagnosis of zinc toxicosis was made based on pre‐mortem serum and post‐mortem liver zinc concentrations. Histopathology revealed subacute pancreatitis with acinar cell degeneration and necrosis. In peripancreatic adipose tissue, necrosis and neutrophilic inflammation were present, with saponification of fat. In the liver, there was minimal acute cholangitis and lipid accumulation. In the kidney, there were minimal scattered hyaline casts and associated tubular change. This is the first case report of histological findings in a cat with zinc toxicosis.