The pancreas is a 'V' shaped organ you very likely hardly knew your dog had, until it became inflamed and caused a series of serious symptoms that granted veterinary attention. If your dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis, very likely you will be asking yourself how he got it in the first place and what will happen from now on. While the good news is that often a bout of pancreatitis remains an isolated event, the bad news is that in some cases, it will come back again and again, and ultimately become chronic.
Understanding How the Pancreas Works
The dog's pancreas is responsible for a variety of duties. Located behind the stomach, this organ aids the digestive system by secreting pancreatic juices (digestive enzymes). Such enzymes are passed to the small intestine where they aid the digestion of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Other than this, the pancreas is also responsible for producing insulin.
Upon becoming inflamed, serious problems may occur. Being a storage center for digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down nutrients, leaking of such enzymes may literally cause the pancreas to 'digest itself'.
Causes of Pancreatitis in Dogs
One of the most common causes of pancreatitis in dogs is the administration of fatty meals. It is not unusual to see this condition develop primarily near the holidays when dogs are fed greasy table scraps or when dogs are prone to raid the trash bin. Faced with large amounts of fat, the pancreas must work extra hard to digest such greasy substances and this 'over drive' causes it to become inflamed.
Some medications such as potassium bromide or antibiotics may also cause the pancreas to work extra hard, causing it to inflame and lead to a bout of pancreatitis. If this is the case, halting the administration of such suspected medications is required, explains veterinarian Holly Nash in article in Pet Education. Note that exposure to toxins may also lead to this condition.
There are also predisposing factors that make a dog more likely to develop pancreatitis than other dogs. Obesity, for instance is a common trigger and so are metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia and hypercalcemia, hormonal disorders such as Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism and diabetes, or simply belonging to a predisposed breed such as Schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers.
Symptoms of Pancreatitis
It is difficult to not notice the signs of pancreatitis. Most dogs will appear to be in pain and may assume a hunched up position. Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever and depression are other signs. Some dogs may also develop heart arrythmias, increased heart rate, dehydration and difficulty breathing. Life threatening conditions may also arise in severe cases such as hemorrhages, damage of nearby organs being 'digested' and sepsis, a wide spread infection.
Treatment of Canine Pancreatitis
Since the pancreas is stimulated to secrete digestive enzymes when food is in the stomach, the practice of fasting will allow the pancreas to rest. Nothing by mouth is what most vets order upon diagnosing pancreatitis.
Supportive care is essential as the pancreas attempts to heal. Vomiting must be controlled to reduce the chance of serious dehydration and fluids are supplemented subcutaneously or intravenously. Pain medications are given as needed.
Once the dog is no longer vomiting, a bland diet may be prescribed. Such bland diet is obviously easy on the stomach and low in fat. it may be given temporarily for acute cases or long term for chronic or recurrent bouts. The prognosis for pancreatitis varies from one dog to another, based on underlying causes if identified, response to dietary changes and predisposing factors.
Adrienne Farricelli - Adrienne Farricelli brings expertise in canine topics as a former American Animal Hospital Association employee and certified dog ...
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