Pancreatitis comes in two forms, acute and Your vet is then likely to conduct a physical In the case of chronic pancreatitis the dog
chronic. examination, and perhaps take blood can develop diabetes mellitus, (sugar
samples to look for things such as raised diabetes), or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
“Acute pancreatitis is a sudden enzyme levels. (EPI).
inflammation of the pancreas, and chronic
pancreatitis is repeated attacks of acute Elaine says: “X-rays and ultrasounds can The causes of the condition are unknown, but
pancreatitis or low grade inflammation also be used, that can show changes to there are several factors that may contribute.
where hormone producing tissue is the pancreas in some cases and rule out
replaced by non-active fibrous tissue.” says other conditions." Elaine explains: “High blood fat content is one
Elaine. factor; dogs are more likely to develop
She adds: “Biopsies can give a definitive pancreatitis after eating a meal with a high fat
In a normal dog, enzymes are secreted by diagnosis but may be too risky in some content.”
the pancreas in an inactive form, they are cases so the vet has to make a careful
then emptied in to the small intestine where consideration about when to use these.” Other factors include obesity, trauma, if for
they are activated by various mechanisms. example a pet has had its abdomen damaged
In chronic pancreatitis minor symptoms in a car accident, and infectious diseases.
Elaine explains: “In acute pancreatitis these include diarrhoea and weight loss.
mechanisms fail, so the enzymes are
How Is It Treated?
activated and can even start to digest the Major symptoms include abdominal
pancreas itself (necrotising pancreatitis). “ discomfort and vomiting.
Elaine says: “Acute pancreatitis treatment
may include nil by mouth at first, intravenous
So What Are The Typical Symptoms Elaine comments: “The clues when fluids, pain killers, antibiotics, and later on a
Of The Condition? questioning owners are repeated episodes convalescent low fat diet.”
of gastro-intestinal symptoms.”
Elaine says that for acute pancreatitis the For chronic pancreatitis the dog may be given
major symptoms include abdominal pain, As with acute pancreatitis the vet will the same kind of supportive treatment as in
perhaps the adoption of the prayer position conduct a physical examination and acute pancreatitis, as well as a long-term low
(where the dog rests its chest on the floor laboratory tests. fat diet, or a diet to reduce the animal’s
with its rump in the air, to alleviate any weight.
pressure on the abdomen), vomiting, Elaine adds: “A dog with chronic
diarrhoea, and sometimes jaundice, if the pancreatitis will have usually frequent Dogs that are most susceptible include
inflammation of the pancreas obstructs the episodes of acute pancreatitis. They may middle aged, or over weight female dogs and
bile duct. have repeated abdominal pain and Miniature Schnauzers can have a breed
sickness.” predilection to acute pancreatitis.
She adds that minor symptoms would
include a lack of appetite and fever. Pancreatitis can in some circumstances What’s The Prognosis?
lead to the development of other
In diagnosing acute pancreatitis the vet will conditions. Elaine says: “Pancreatitis can be very serious
look for several things, whether there has – it can range from mild pancreatitis where
been a sudden onset of the signs, whether With acute pancreatitis these include the the dog just has a mild bout of sickness to
the dog has abdominal pain (this is present development of an abscess or cyst type life-threatening acute necrotising pancreatitis
in 60 per cent of cases), whether it has lesion in the pancreas, reoccurrence of where the pancreas in effect digests itself.
diarrhoea (present in 33 per cent of cases) pancreatitis, acute kidney failure, heart The recovery depends on the severity of the
and whether it has been vomiting (present problems or fluid in the lungs, which can disease. In milder one-off forms, the dog may
in 90 per cent of cases). lead to shock, or even death. make a complete recovery and being fed a
low fat diet may be all that’s needed. ”
Being the master of
all pick-pockets,
thieves and
scavengers, he
would find or steal
and eat anything
that could fit in to
his mouth, the
nastier it looked or
smelt the better.
K9MAGAZINE 69
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