Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a condition of middle-aged to older dogs and can occur suddenly after a high-fat meal such as BBQ leftovers, or a low-grade condition in the background with occasional flare-ups.

Overview

Pancreatitis is a serious condition that describes the severe inflammation of the pancreas gland. It can happen at any age, but commonly affects middle-aged to older dogs as well as overweight dogs. The pancreas is responsible for regulating pet blood sugar levels, and secreting enzymes to digest carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

The most common cause of pancreatitis in dogs is a high-fat diet or ingesting a fatty meal/treat. It can also occur without a known cause (idiopathic pancreatitis).

Risk factors for pancreatitis:

Obesity
Small breed size
Prior gastrointestinal disease
Diabetes mellitus
Cushing's disease
Hypothyroid disease
Surgery 2 weeks prior to pancreatitis
Breed

Breeds more commonly affected by pancreatitis:

Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Poodle
Yorkshire Terrier
Silky Terrier

Signs

Common signs of pancreatitis:

Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Off food
Diarrhoea
Weight loss
Weakness
Fever

Causes

Common causes of pancreatitis:

Unknown
A sudden fatty meal such as BBQ leftovers, access to garbage, ongoing fatty treats
Trauma
Drugs such as corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic drugs, diuretics, anticonvulsants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), anti-nausea
Toxins
Hypercalcaemia (Vitamin D overdose, kidney disease)
Bacterial or viral infections
Immune disease
Obesity
Recent surgical procedure

The diagnosis is based on a combination of dietary history, clinical signs, laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasound. Your Veterinarian may perform a full examination of your pet, run bloodwork, urine tests, and/or ultrasounds.

Management

Pancreatitis can be a challenging condition to treat. The goal is supportive therapy until the clinical signs resolve.

Veterinary treatment options:

Hospitalisation
Fluid therapy
Special diet regime
Pain management
Medications to reduce vomiting, treat any infections

Home care

Once your pet has been discharged from the hospital, we recommend the following:

Avoid high-fat diets
Aim for slow and healthy weight loss if your pet is overweight
Adhere to the veterinary rechecks for bloodwork for ongoing monitoring

Prognosis

The prognosis for dogs with mild acute pancreatitis is good.

Unfortunately, in severe cases, pets may continue to deteriorate no matter what treatment. And in some cases, dogs develop life-threatening conditions such as kidney failure or diabetes.

Prevention

Tips to help prevent pancreatitis:

Weight management
Low-fat diet
No table scraps
Regular veterinary examinations

References

Hess RS, Saunders HM, Van Winkle TJ, et al. Clinical, clinicopathologic,radiographic, and ultrasonographic abnormalities in dogs with fatal acute pancreatitis: 70 cases (1986-1995). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998; 213(5):665-70.

Adrian AM, Twedt DC, Kraft SL, Marolf AJ. Computed tomographic angiography under sedation in the diagnosis of suspected canine pancreatitis: a pilot study. J Vet Intern Med. 2015; 29(1):97-103.

Mansfield C, Beths T. Management of acute pancreatitis in dogs: a critical appraisal with focus on feeding and analgesia. J Small Anim Pract. 201; 56(1):27-39

Watson P. Pancreatitis in dogs and cats: definitions and pathophysiology. JSmall Anim Pract. 2015; 56(1):3-12.

Chartier MA, Hill SL, Sunico S, Suchodolski JS, Robertson JE, Steiner JM. Pancreas-specific lipase concentrations and amylase and lipase activities in the peritoneal fluid of dogs with suspected pancreatitis. Vet J. 2014; 201(3):385-9.

Kim HW, Oh YI, Choi JH, et al. Use of laparoscopy for diagnosing experimentally induced acute pancreatitis in dogs. J Vet Sci. 2014; 15(4):551-6.

Jensen KB, Chan DL. Nutritional management of acute pancreatitis in dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2014; 24(3):240-50.

Mansfield C. Acute pancreatitis in dogs: advances in understanding, diagnostics, and treatment. Top Companion Anim Med. 2012; 27(3):123-32.

Bostrom BM, Xenoulis PG, Newman SJ, et al. Chronic pancreatitis in dogs: a retrospective study of clinical, clinicopathological, and histopathological findings in 61 cases. Vet J. 2013; 195(1):73-9.

Qin HL, Su ZD, Hu LG, et al. Effect of parenteral and early intrajejunal nutrition on pancreatic digestive enzyme synthesis, storage and discharge in dog 122 Proceedings of the ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG 2018 Conference, Melbourne Twedt, D â€“ Acute pancreatitis in the dog models of acute pancreatitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2007; 13(7):1123-8.