You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Estimating the activity of the enzyme amylase is frequently included in laboratory screening tests for cats and dogs, but interpretation can be difficult

The enzyme alpha-amylase exists in plasma as several iso-enzymes which originate from a number of  tissues including :

• The pancreas
• The liver
• The small intestine - THE MAIN SOURCE OF AMYLASE IN SMALL ANIMALS

Tests used to detect enzymes rely on measuring their chemical activity in vitro - so absolute measurements of their concentration are not available. This introduces a complication into interpreting results. 

Published ranges for amylase in both dogs and cats are 400-2000units/l but each laboratory will have its own reference range.

False high results may occur if the blood sample is haemolysed , if the animal is jaundiced or if "older" types of saccharogenic test are used.

An increase in amylase activity is found in several diseases, including:

• Pancreatic disease - over 3 times normal activity levels
  • Acute pancreatitis in dogs - NOT in cats. 
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Obstruction of the pancreatic duct
  • Pancreatic abscess
  • Drug-induced pancreatitis - eg azathioprine, calcium, corticosteroids, diuretics (frusemide and thiazides), metronidazole, oestrogens, sulphonamides, tetracycline, 
• Small Intestine disease - 2-3 times normal
  • Obstruction in dogs
  • Trauma
  • Torsion
  • Infarction
  • Ulceration
• Corticosteroid therapy - occasionally reported ? due to drug-induced pancreatitis
• Renal failure - reason unknown . ? decreased excretion or secondary pancreatitis
• Leptospirosis - iso-enzyme from liver or intestine and decreased renal function 

Unfortunately, amylase activity can be found to be  normal in all the above diseases - including pancreatitis , so the absence of elevated amylase does not preclude these diseases being present in the animal. 

Increased amylase activity in cats is difficult to interpret accurately...some authors suggest it may be due to intestinal iso-enzyme.

A decrease in amylase activity is found in several situations :

• Pancreatic disease :
  • Exocrine pancreatic disease - in humans - but not detectable in dogs
  • Pancreatic necrosis
• Corticosteroid therapy -  may occur, but increases also reported

False low results may occur if the blood sample is lipaemic.

Last updated : January 2016