Acute Pancreatitis In Dogs
All mammals
have a pancreas. It plays an important role in metabolizing
sugar in the body by producing insulin and it produces pancreatic
enzymes to help the body digest nutrients. In cases of acute
pancreatitis the pancreas becomes inflamed. It is a
life-threatening condition.
Causes
Pancreatitis
can be caused by both external and internal factors. Some
medications can contribute to pancreatitis. Dogs can also
develop infections which affect the pancreas. Certain
metabolic disorders can cause the body to have high amounts of
lipids in the blood or high amounts of calcium. Even trauma
can bring on pancreatitis. But obesity and nutrition are most
commonly associated with pancreatitis. Dogs which are
overweight or which are fed diets high in fat are at increased risk
for pancreatitis. Dogs which are fed fatty table scraps or
which are allowed to binge during holidays such as Thanksgiving and
Christmas can often have an attack of acute pancreatitis.
Thanksgiving leftovers and other fatty foods can lead to an attack
of acute pancreatitis.
Symptoms
Dogs suffering
from acute pancreatitis may show some of the following symptoms:
Painful
abdomen
Distended abdomen
Lack of appetite
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Depression
Dehydration
Hunching their bodies
Oily or greasy stools
Fever
You may notice
these symptoms at home. They may be particularly noticeable if
your dog has binged on some fatty food or gotten into the trash and
eaten something he shouldn’t have. If you see these symptoms
you should take your dog to the veterinarian so he can assess
whether or not your dog has pancreatitis. Your vet will be
able to determine if your dog has other symptoms that can accompany
a severe case of pancreatitis such as heart problems, difficulty
breathing or a possible hemorrhage.
Diagnosis
Your vet can
make a diagnosis of pancreatitis by talking to you, observing your
dog, doing a physical exam and performing some laboratory tests.
If your dog has pancreatitis he will likely have an increase in
certain enzymes in his body, such as amylase and lipase. His
liver enzymes may also be affected. His white blood cell count
will also probably be raised. Your vet may also want to take
x-rays or an ultrasound. There is also a new test called a
serum cPLI (pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity) test that can help
determine the state of the pancreas.
Treatment
Treatment of
pancreatitis will depend on the severity of the attack. The
immediate goal will be to get the attack under control and return
your dog’s enzyme levels to normal. Your vet will have to get
any vomiting stopped. Generally, your dog won’t be able to
take normal food, water or oral medications for about 24 hours.
This will also give his pancreas time to return to normal.
During the next few days he will take a bland, easily-digestible,
low-fat diet. It’s very important for his recovery that his
fat intake be controlled and reduced. Your dog may need to
switch to a special diet.
Your vet will
also make sure that your dog is getting enough fluids.
Dehydration is common in dogs with pancreatitis so your vet may need
to give your dog fluids intravenously.
Since acute
pancreatitis involves an inflamed pancreas your dog may be
experiencing pain. Your vet will manage pain with pain
relievers and may give your dogs appropriate antibiotics.
Long-term Recovery
It is possible
for a dog to have one episode of acute pancreatitis and fully
recover. Making adjustments to his diet and avoiding fats may
prevent any further occurrences. In other cases a dog may have
recurrent bouts of acute pancreatitis. There can be
complicating factors. If your dog has diabetes mellitus,
hypothyroidism, epilepsy or other health problems, then pancreatitis
may become chronic or even lead to fatal complications. You
and your vet will need to work together to manage your dog’s
long-term health needs.