Dogs Can’t Eat Almonds!
Dogs Can’t Eat Chocolate!Can Pancreatitis in dogs be spread from one pet to another? – pancreatitis & diabetes in dogs
We have taken our dog, a few months. Toward the end, he developed pancreatitis (among many other things, he has) in recent years, such as diabetes and epilepsy. We have) a new dog (dog and I’m cleaning the teeth with the toothbrush you use up on my other dog’s teeth clean. I know it can be like a good idea, but never a toothbrush that often anyway. He was only 4 when we settled. Is it possible that pancreatitis can my dog to spread my ex-dog again with the same toothbrush? I prefer when a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or even someone with experience in biology could answer this question. Thank you.
It is a common belief that a hungry dog is a healthy dog. While things are not quite this simple, it is true that a decrease in appetite is an important symptom that should be taken seriously.
But what if your dog is TOO hungry?
A ravenous appetite, particularly when combined with weight loss, can be just as important to note. Medical causes of increased appetite in dogs range from internal parasites to diabetes to bowel diseases.
If your dog is unusually hungry and yet keeps loosing weight, something is amiss.
Today we’ll take a look at exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
Exocrine pancreatic insuffiency (EPI) is the inability to properly digest and therefore absorb food due to a lack of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas.
Meet the pancreas
The pancreas doesn’t get a lot of publicity . That is until it decides to stop running smoothly. Pancreatitis, diabetes … quite a trouble-maker.
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| Image Veterinary Partner |
So what does the pancreas do when it works properly?
The pancreas is a glandular organ tucked in next to your dog’s stomach and small intestine. It has two important functions endocrine (hormone producing) and exocrine (enzyme producing).
Endocrine pancreatic cells secrete hormones that regulate blood sugar (e.g., insulin and glucagon). The exocrine pancreas produces digestive enzymes that are released into the small intestine. Some of these enzymes are:
When the pancreas fails to supply these enzymes, your dog cannot properly digest the food he eats.
That’s why this condition is often referred to as maldigestion.
When food is not digested properly, it cannot be absorbed by the intestinal tract. So, regardless of the amount of food ingested, your dog’s body doesn’t get the nutrition that he needs.
Untreated or misdiagnosed dogs with EPI, may die a painful death either by starvation or organ failure.
The most common cause of EPI is pancreatic acinar atrophy, a fancy name for a shriveled up, dysfunctional pancreas. Genetics plays a role is some cases, particularly in the German Shepherd breed.
The most obvious symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are:
Your vet will need to run blood and/or fecal tests to determine if EPI is causing your dog’s symptoms.
Fortunately, many dogs with EPI that are fed a highly digestible diet and supplements containing the missing enzymes do very well, but treatment does have to continue for the rest of their lives.
The most important point is to pay attention to your dog’s symptoms.
It’s your dog’s health,
Jana
Related articles:
Weight Loss, Brittle Fur, Starving All The Time … Beaner’s Story (Part I)
Beaner Has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Beaner’s Story (Part II)
Further reading:
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder) in Dogs
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency at Veterinary Partner
EPI – Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Forum for dog owners
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Inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis, has several causes and can be sudden or chronic. When the pancreas is inflamed, its normal functioning is disrupted and regular pancreatic enzymes become toxic to the pancreas. Withholding food, fluid therapy and medications encompass treatment options for this painful condition. Dogs need hospitalization for proper monitoring during acute pancreatitis, but monitoring chronic pancreatitis varies, depending on the case.
Vomiting and anorexia, two common signs of pancreatitis, cause dogs to become dehydrated. Lactated ringers or 0.9 percent sodium chloride solutions given intravenously or by injections under the skin will correct dehydration. Long-term food withdrawal requires enteral nutrition, defined as liquid supplementation given through stomach or nasal tubes. The liquid diet is made by pharmaceutical companies to be nutritionally optimal and its medical formulation includes proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Pancreatitis frequently causes dogs to vomit. The vomiting can lead to dehydration, physical exhaustion, and aspiration pneumonia. Anti-vomiting medications, antiemtics, are prescribed by veterinarians to control the impulse. Antichoinergic drugs block pathways from the intestinal tract to the vomiting center. Antihistamines block nerve transmission to the vomiting center and serotonin antagonists block the chemoreceptor trigger zone to cease vomiting. Also, butophanol, a sedative, works directly on the vomiting center.
Pancreatitis is a very painful condition. The swelling of the pancreas causes abdominal organ displacement and abdominal pain. Injections of pain medications should be given for the duration of pancreatitis. Opioids, such as fentanyl or morphine, are considered the best pain medications for pancreatitis, but meperidine and butorphanol can be used as well. Also, abdominal infusions of lidocaine or bupivacaine alleviate abdominal pain.
When digestive enzymes become activated within the pancreas, due to injury of disease, the enzymes begin digesting the pancreas itself. Benefits have been shown from giving oral enzyme supplementation, such as Viokase. These additive enzymes seem to function on the feed-back mechanism within the intestines. Since the intestines sense digestive enzymes present, they relay the message to the pancreas telling it to cease enzyme production, thus decreasing enzyme production within the pancreas.
Some dogs have a metabolic problem that prevents proper clearing of fat from the blood stream. It is called hyperlipemia, which contributes to the development of pancreatitis. A low-fat diet and the use of statin medications help control levels of fat, or lipids, in the bloodstream. Statins, such as Levacor, Zocor, Pravachol, and Lipitor, block the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for making cholesterol, lowering blood lipids.
We are approaching that time of the year when pancreatitis becomes a problem… Thanksgiving.
Owners feed their dogs too many fatty foods, often times turkey skin, or for my breed–Weimaraners–they steal fatty foods, which leads to sickness. Pancreatitis is anecdotally more common Weimaraners, as is counter surfing!
Whenever my dogs get any highly fatty foods, I usually follow that up by giving them a digestive enzyme with Pancreatin. Pancreatin is a combination of the enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease. My first two weims got pancreatitis several times. It is VERY painful for the dog and nearly killed them. Since I began my regimen of giving digestive enzymes after consumption of fatty foods, there has been no reoccurrence of the problem.
Be aware of the symptoms and what to do about it. Following is an excerpt from an article. You can read the full article here.
“Acute pancreatitis is characterized by the abrupt onset of vomiting and severe pain in the abdomen. The dog may have a tucked-up belly and assume a prayer position. Abdominal pain is caused by the release of digestive enzymes into the pancreas and surrounding tissue. Diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, and shock may ensue.
The diagnosis can be suspected based on a physical examination. It is confirmed by blood tests showing elevated amylase and/or lipase levels, along with a new serum test called canine pancreatitis lipase immuninol reactivity and TAP (trypsinogen activation peptide). Abdominal ultrasonography may reveal an enlarged and swollen pancreas.
Mild pancreatitis produces loss of appetite, depression, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea and weight loss.â€
Please keep an eye on your dog around the holidays and don’t leave that turkey or ham on the table unattended!
