Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas lies within the abdominal cavity beside the small intestine. It produces insulin for blood sugar regulation and many of the enzymes necessary for digestion. When the pancreas suffers an insult (trauma, inflammation, bacterial or viral infections), the digestive enzymes can activate while still within the pancreatic tissue. These enzymes start to digest the pancreas and cause pain and inflammation. Pancreatitis can result in mild symptoms or life-threatening disease. It can arise suddenly (acute pancreatitis) or become a recurrent or persistent disease (chronic pancreatitis).
Risk factors and detection
Pancreatitis can affect any age and breed of dog, but it’s most common in middle-aged to older pets. Most dogs with pancreatitis are overweight and indulge in high-fat foods, such as table scraps. Certain dog breeds are more susceptible to disease, including Miniature schnauzers, Miniature poodles, terriers and Cocker spaniels.
Underlying conditions, such as Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and idiopathic hyperlipidemia (a condition involving high levels of fat in the blood) of Miniature schnauzers, contribute to pancreatitis.
Signs of pancreatitis include:
- abdominal pain
- lethargy
- appetite loss
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever
- hypothermia, or below normal body temperaturejaundice (look for yellow-colored gums, eyes, and skin)
- collapse, severe weakness, or shock.
If you notice signs of pancreatitis, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately. The doctor will perform a complete physical examination and may use blood and urine tests, X-rays, ultrasound, and possibly a surgical biopsy to diagnose and determine the severity of pancreatitis.
Prevention and treatment
Feeding your dog a high-quality diet and avoiding high-fat foods helps prevent obesity and pancreatitis. Your veterinarian will aggressively treat and manage any underlying medical conditions that predispose your dog to pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis and episodes of chronic pancreatitis usually require hospitalization for intensive intravenous fluid therapy. Fluid therapy corrects dehydration, restores fluid volume, and maintains blood flow to the pancreas. Antivomiting drugs may control persistent vomiting. The digestive tract and pancreas need a rest, so your dog won’t receive food or water orally for two to five days. The pancreas will produce and secrete fewer enzymes, allowing inflammation to subside. After this rest period, your dog may consume small amounts of water, followed by small amounts of bland food, such as plain rice. If your dog eats a bland diet without vomiting, you and your veterinarian can gradually increase the quantity until she’s eating normal amounts of a low-fat, restricted-protein food. If vomiting recurs, the doctor will stop feeding and let the digestive tract rest longer.
If the rest period lasts longer than five days, your veterinarian may feed your dog intravenously. Another treatment option is surgical placement of a feeding tube into the small intestine.
Your dog may receive antibiotics for any concurrent bacterial infections. The veterinarian also will prescribe antibiotics if your dog must undergo surgery to treat a pancreatic abscess. He or she also may use surgery to relieve bile duct obstructions caused by pancreatitis or to collect biopsy samples for testing.
Pancreatitis often recurs, but you can help avoid future bouts by feeding your dog food with restricted amounts of fat. Your veterinarian will recommend a food for your dog and explain how to introduce the new food. If your dog is overweight, work with your veterinarian to develop a diet and exercise program.
Diabetes mellitus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are two possible complications of pancreatitis. If enough of the pancreas is destroyed, it may not produce insulin, leading to diabetes mellitus. In that case, your dog may require insulin therapy. Be sure to look for signs of diabetes, such as changes in your dog’s water consumption and urine production. The pancreas also may stop producing digestive enzymes, causing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. If this occurs, your dog won’t get enough nutrition from her food and may require an enzyme supplement. Signs of this condition include weight loss and large, fatty feces.
Prognosis
For dogs with mild pancreatitis, the prognosis is fair to good if they receive appropriate treatment. But pancreatitis can and does recur. For dogs with severe pancreatitis and life-threatening complications, the prognosis is guarded to poor.
