Canine Pancreatitis

You’ve probably never even thought about pancreatitis in dogs unless your pet has contracted the illness but it is considered to be a common canine disease.

What is it?

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, either acute or chronic. The enzymes that normally digest food in the small intestine actually leak out into the pancreas and begin to digest the pancreas itself. It is a painful and serious disease. It isn’t well understood what causes pancreatitis but there are some known causative factors and some dogs are at greater risk such as dogs who:

• are overweight,


• have suddenly eaten a very high fat meal,


• have had an injury to the abdomen,


• are on cortisone,


• are diabetic or,


• are over 5 years old.

Schnuazers and terriers are at slightly greater risk of contracting pancreatitis.

Diagnosis

It isn’t easy to disgnose pancreatitis but some symptoms are loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, depression, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain. If your veterinarian suspects the disease (s)he will order blood tests and perhaps also x-rays or ultrasound. Because the disease is so variable the treatment will be based on the evaluation of the needs of your pet.

Most dogs who’ve had pancreatitis recover without long-term effects but owners need to be conscious of doing all they can to prevent a relapse. Owners of dogs that have had pancreatitis will need to monitor their fat intake. They should not ever be given high-fat treats such as pig’s ears. They also should not have any supplemental oils or fats. Their diet should be limited to 10% fat. Their medications may need to be changed and, if the dog is overweight, it is important to take off the excess kilos.