Canine Pancreatitis -

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY - (E.P.I.) ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS CAN AND DO MIMIC EACH OTHER. BOTH DISEASES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC TO THE PANCREAS ITSELF.

FOR INFORMATION ON EXOCRINE PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY CLICK THIS TEXT.

"Canine pancreatitis is associated with obesity and high fat diets in middle age dogs, although the exact cause of the condition is unclear. The pancreas becomes inflamed and releases enzymes that cause the body to attack its own pancreatic tissue. The result is inflammation and multiple symptoms. Treatment includes dietary change and fluids."

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that does two things. First, it helps the body metabolize sugar by producing insulin. Second, it is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by its production of pancreatic enzymes.

Canine Pancreatitis can be caused by many things, including certain medications, infections, metabolic disorders, trauma and shock. Middle-aged dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than younger dogs. Dogs who are fed diets high in fat or those who are fed greasy “people food” are at high risk for the condition.

Acute Pancreatitis is a sudden onset of the condition. Some dogs have only one episode of Pancreatitis, while others have ongoing problems with the disease.

Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers are more susceptible to Pancreatitis than other breeds.

Dog Pancreatitis Symptoms

Pancreatitis canine symptoms include a very painful abdomen with abdominal distention and a “hunched up” appearance. Other symptoms include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (yellow, greasy stool), depression, fever, and dehydration. In severe cases, symptoms may also include heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), sepsis (body-wide infection), and difficulty breathing.

If your dog has symptoms of Pancreatitis, he should see a vet right away. It will be obvious that he is ill and in need of treatment.

Dog Pancreatitis Diagnosis

Your vet will take a thorough history and do a physical examination of your dog. He or she will also do some blood work. If your dog has Pancreatitis, blood levels of the pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase will be elevated. If the liver is also inflamed, which is sometimes the case with Pancreatitis, liver enzymes in the blood will also be elevated. Your vet will also do an ultrasound to look at your dog’s pancreas.

Canine Pancreatitis Treatment

The treatment for acute canine Pancreatitis begins with fluid therapy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are common, so fluids are given by IV or subcutaneously (under the skin). Medication may be given to stop vomiting and diarrhea.

Antibiotics are usually given to prevent a bacterial infection from setting in. Pain medication is also given.

Oral food and fluids are restricted for a few days so the digestive system and therefore the pancreas can rest. After a few days, small amounts of water and a bland diet are offered, a little at a time. Food and water intake can be increased as tolerated.

Dogs who have repeated episodes of Pancreatitis need to be fed low-fat diets made for dogs with Pancreatitis. Chronic Pancreatitis can lead to diabetes or to pancreatic insufficiency, which is a condition in which the nutrients in food are passed out of the body in the feces undigested. Pets with this disease need to have their diets supplemented with pancreatic enzymes.

Check with your veterinarian regarding any base or homeopathic supportive treatment options for pancreatitis.

Sources

Pancreatitis
Nash, Holly DVM

Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats
Hines, Ron DVM

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Canine Pancreatitis Symptoms

" Canine Pancreatitis symptoms occur when a dog's pancreas becomes inflamed. The disease is considered to be idiopathic, which means that the exact trigger or cause is unknown. Problems with the pancreas lead to issues in blood glucose (sugar) levels and issues with nearby organs. Symptoms associated with mild cases of canine Pancreatitis include anorexia (not eating), abdominal pain and lethargy. Symptoms that appear in some cases include vomiting with diarrhea and weakness. Chronic or more severe forms of the disease can include anorexia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and generalised signs of illness (affecting the whole body) such as fever. Dogs will look severely dehydrated, emaciated and in a hunched up position. Along with specific treatments, fluid therapy, supplementation and dietary management can effectively treat dog Pancreatitis symptoms. Though the prognosis in severe cases is not good, a symptomatic approach to treatment in more mild cases can help a patient. "

General Dog Pancreatitis Symptoms:

In mild cases of canine Pancreatitis, partial anorexia is usually an initial symptom; which is a reaction to reduced levels of pancreatic juices and secretions. Anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy and progressive weakness are some general signs of dog Pancreatitis. It should be noted that symptoms might get worse and more severe, as the body reacts to more acute (rapid onset) and severe inflammatory responses in the pancreas.

General canine Pancreatitis symptoms may vary, depending upon the cause of the condition. Abdominal pain is common in those dogs in which the Pancreatitis is a result of injury, trauma or mishandling of the pancreas during surgery. Similarly, dogs that have elevated pancreatic enzyme levels in their blood develop problems in the liver as well, represented by jaundice (increased levels of liver bile in the blood) or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

Canine Pancreatitis Symptoms are often idiopathic,
meaning of unknown cause

The pictures in this section are reprinted with permission by the copyright owner, Hill's Pet Nutrition, from the Atlas of Veterinary Clinical Anatomy. These illustrations should not be downloaded, printed or copied except for personal, non-commercial use.

Dog Pancreatitis Symptoms and the Severity of Disease:

Dog pancreatitis can be graded based on a review of acute or severe signs and symptoms. Similarly, in most cases, the prognosis can also by calculated based on the symptoms. Laboratory results are the main indicator for forming a prognosis (likelihood of a cure or positive outcome to treatment).

Almost all cases of dog pancreatitis, whether mild or severe, have some common signs, as discussed above, but some severe cases may be represented by some other signs too. These are either increased severity in existing symptoms, or the presence of new symptoms.

In the initial stages of the disease, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea are the three main dog pancreatitis symptoms, which can worsen as the disease progresses. Dehydration is mainly caused by vomiting, thus dehydration is the result of other existing symptoms.

Additionally, in severe cases the stool appears yellow and greasy. The dog may be ataxic (failure of muscular system), appear stressed and in a hunched up position.

Abdominal pain, on the other hand, gets worse, representing the involvement of adjoining organs (nearby). Initially abdominal pain occurs, due to an inflammatory response, but as the disease progresses, pancreatic juices spread to adjacent organs, causing irreversible injury and damage, resulting in severe abdominal pain.

In any case, it is can be said that dog Pancreatitis symptoms can indicate the degree of disease present; which helps in diagnosing and defining possible outcomes of the disease, i.e. prognosis.

Symptomatic Treatment of Dog Pancreatitis:

Along with specific treatments for the underlying causes, Pancreatitis symptoms in dogs should be preferably treated individually.

Fluid therapies and the administering of nutrients through the intravenous route will help in rehydrating and treating anorexia. Fluid therapy is considered the base of the treatment plan, as it helps in treating different symptoms, such as anorexia, dehydration, lethargy and weakness.

Anti-emetic drugs can be administered to treat vomiting, but it should be noted that only intravenous administration should be made, initially and during treatment. Food should be administered through the No per Oral or “NpO” mode of dietary management (nothing by mouth)

The dog, once rehydrated, is able to eat small meals comprised of soft food which contain more carbohydrates and less fat.

Mild cases of canine Pancreatitis have a good prognosis. This is not the case for more chronic forms of the disease. Diagnosing the disease early is important before any complications can set in.