Is It Simple Vomiting or Pancreatitis?
by Jim Dobies, DVM
As pet parents, we have all faced the dilemma, “How serious is my dog’s vomit- ing?” We know that dogs eat the most disgust- ing things (despite the supernatural ability to spit out pills wrapped in cheese), and vomit- ing is nature’s way of saying, “Do not enter!” So, occasional and mild vomiting simply
Dr. Dobies & Iris
goes along with sharing our homes with our canine companions. However, when vomiting becomes more frequent resulting in dehydration and inappetence, it is time to seek veterinary care. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to preventing more serious complications. At UrgentVet, vomiting
Dr. Jim Dobies (shown with Iris) founded UrgentVet, the first dedicated urgent care for pets in 2015 to fill the gap between the family vet- erinarian and the ER. UrgentVet is about 40% less than an average visit to the ER. There are currently four UrgentVets in cities across Florida including Gainesville (352.374.0040), Odessa (727.877.8044), Westchase (813.328.3288), and Valrico (813.413.6664).
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is the third-most common presenting complaint, so we have a lot of experience with this symptom. In younger dogs, partic- ularly those with a history of dietary indiscretion, vom- iting is frequently caused by “garbage gut” and the much more serious GI foreign body. With conservative supportive care like an anti-emetic injection, subcutaneous fluids, and GI protectants, most of these patients make a full recovery in just a day or two. Some dogs do require hospitalization and sur- gery to remove foreign objects, but even these dogs tend to have an excellent prognosis. Middle-aged and older dogs that present
with vomiting, especially purebreds including Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, and Terriers, are more likely to have a condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) and its symptoms can range from mild to severe. Diagnostic tests including CBC (Complete Blood Count), serum chemistry, urinalysis, Canine Pancreatic Lipase (cPL), abdominal x-rays, and ultrasound are often necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. However, it is not uncommon that test results are unavailable or inconclusive, and veterinar- ians treat patients symptomatically for
76 THE NEW BARKER
pancreatitis without a definitive diagnosis. Symptomatic care ranges from simple
outpatient treatments all the way to critical care in a 24-hour ICU, depending on the severity of the clinical signs. In our experience at UrgentVet, most pan- creatitis cases respond well to conserva- tive outpatient care just like cases of dietary indiscre- tion. Yet, it is some- times unclear if a dog
suffers from dietary indiscre- tion or pancreatitis. To further complicate matters, pancre- atitis can be brought on when dogs eat fried or exces- sively fatty foods (whether
eaten by accident or fed purposely by pet parents). Regardless, the outcome with prompt veteri- nary attention is generally affordable and we expect a full recovery in 24-72 hours. Severe and/or chronic pan-
creatitis cases may require far more aggressive medical intervention and have vastly different outcomes with
greater expense. Severe cases often result in extended hospitalization, IV fluid therapy, IV medications, and aggressive pain management (abdominal pain is significant in some patients). The sickest dogs may have life- threatening complications, and some do, unfortunately, pass away. Chronic cases may present to the veterinarian multiple times in their lives with mild to moderate GI symp- toms, often in conjunction with eating rich foods. These patients can usually be managed successfully with a low-fat prescription diet. However, chronic pancreatitis can lead to diabetes later in life, so it is important to diag- nose and manage the condition as early as possible with your veterinarian’s guidance. If you share a home with one of the breeds
that is predisposed, it may be wise to investigate pet health insurance early-on before pancreati- tis is diagnosed as a pre-existing condition.
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