Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It is a condition that typically presents with vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and painful abdomen. This particular condition is a very good reason to visit your veterinarian if your pet is not feeling well. If left untreated patients can become very sick and even require extended hospitalization.

 

(Image Source)

The pancreas plays an important role in excreting the enzymes that help digest food. Another important job of the pancreas is to secrete insulin to keep our glucose levels in check. When the pancreas becomes inflamed the enzymes are released without food being present in the body so the enzymes begin to digest the body itself and cause even more inflammation which perpetuates the cycle. This can be extremely painful and most pets will stop eating. In some cases the glucose regulation is disrupted and patients can become diabetic making them even more sick. Once pancreatitis is resolved they may or may not still require treatment for diabetes.

 

New snap tests can help diagnose pancreatitis more quickly (Image Source)

Pancreatitis can be diagnosed via ultrasound or in some cases there are specific blood tests that can be used to identify if the pancreas is inflamed. Treatment for most cases in dogs require fasting to allow the body to relax and medications to coat the lining of the gut somewhat like a band aid. Most patients will benefit from supportive care in the hospital such as intravenous fluids and injectable medications to reduce stomach acid and calm the digestive tract down. Some require antibiotics due a secondary infection. Pain medication is also a staple for treatment. This condition causes quite a bit of discomfort and is very difficult to help patients feel better and the body to become less stressed without appropriate pain control.

 

Iv fluids and supportive care are sometimes required for pancreatitis (Image Source)

While being treated it is important to try and identify an underlying cause to prevent this from occurring in the future. Some pets are predisposed. This includes the schnauzer breed. Others can occur if a fatty meal or treat is ingested which their body is not accustomed to eating. More serious cause could include a tumor on the pancreas or unregulated diabetes. There are several classes of drugs that can also cause inflammation in the pancreas. These drugs will need to be avoided in patients suffering pancreatitis in the future so as not to cause a re-occurrence.

 

Avoid greasy and fatty meals to keep the pancreas happy! (Image Source)

Pancreatitis is a manageable condition, but it is important to remember it is quite serious. Many pets end up spending one to four days in the hospital. While supportive care is helpful, some patients may still succumb to this condition. This is another great reason that if your pet is not feeling well to visit your veterinarian early in hopes of preventing worsening their condition. For more information on pancreatitis in dogs you can visit the following websites here and here.