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Pancreatitis, or inflammation and swelling of the pancreas, is a painful and seldom-understood affliction that affects dogs worldwide. While spontaneous canine pancreatitis is not particularly well understood, veterinarians do have an idea of the causes that contribute to this condition, its related conditions and symptoms and treatment methods to lessen symptoms.
Article Overview
What Is Pancreatitis In Dogs?
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The term pancreatitis refers to the general condition of inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. There are two variations of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitis occurs with a sudden onset of symptoms with no previous signs of the condition. Chronic pancreatitis symptoms present more slowly over time. When the condition occurs suddenly in a dog, it takes many owners by surprise, and the acute form can also cause a considerable amount of pain for the affected dog.
What Is Fatal Pancreatitis?
The term “fatal pancreatitis” is used to refer to when the condition causes fatal complications to develop that eventually take the life of the dog. If pancreatitis becomes extremely severe or if a dog suffers repeated occurrences they can develop many other conditions that can lead to death including maldigestion syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Both of these conditions are treatable; however, when left untreated they will almost certainly lead to a fatal outcome.
Symptoms
There are two degrees of pancreatitis in dogs recognized by the veterinary community: mild and severe.
Mild Pancreatitis
- Distention or pain in the abdomen
- General discomfort or inability to find a comfortable place to lie down
- Flinching or whining when you touch their abdomen (also a symptom of Canine Bloat, a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention)
- Dehydration
- Lack of appetite
- Appearing hunched over when standing or walking
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea that’s greasy and yellow in color
- Fever
Severe Pancreatitis
Dogs that are experiencing more severe cases of pancreatitis may display the symptoms listed above; however, it’s more likely that they’ll exhibit more serious symptoms that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can be life-threatening. Some of these more serious symptoms include:
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (a condition in which multiple hemorrhages can take place resulting in possible death)
- Heart arrhythmia (or irregular heartbeat)
- Sepsis (a body-wide infection that occurs when toxins are released into the blood)
- Difficulty breathing
In the most extreme cases, pancreatic enzymes can digest the pancreas and surrounding organs. Once organs become partially digested, the damage is irreversible.
What To Do If You Suspect Pancreatitis In Your Dog
The first thing you should do is call your vet or an emergency vet if it’s after hours. If your dog is stable, your vet may ask you to bring your dog in immediately. If your dog is not stable, your vet may come to you or make another suggestion.
It’s crucial that you act quickly if you suspect that your dog has pancreatitis. This condition can deteriorate quickly, leading to severe pain and even death.
How Will My Vet Diagnose?
Many important factors play into an accurate diagnosis, including your dog’s medical history, a physical examination and laboratory testing.
My Dog’s Medical History
A dog’s medical history is important because dogs that have experienced a bout of pancreatitis once are more likely to experience it again during their lifetime. The age of your dog can also play a part in the risk of concern, as older dogs are more susceptible. Lastly, any current medical conditions may also play a role in your dog’s diagnosis.
A Physical Examination
If you’ve noticed abdominal swelling or any of the other “tell-tale” signs of this condition, your vet will confirm this with a thorough physical examination.
The physical exam will consist of visually examining your dog’s stomach area in addition to palpating it gently to check for bloating and tenderness. Your vet will also check your dog’s gums, take your dog’s temperature, listen to his heart and look into his eyes and ears to check for any other signs of illness.
Laboratory Testing
Laboratory testing involves drawing blood and testing it for the presence of pancreatic enzymes. An increased white blood cell count and elevated lipase and amylase (pancreatic enzymes) can lead to a diagnosis. Vets may also test for liver enzyme levels and perform x-rays and ultrasounds.
Treatment
- Pain relievers
- Antibiotics
- 24-hours without food and water to rest the pancreas, then slowly introduce food and water
- Bland, prescription dog food
- Hydration through an IV drip or subcutaneous injection
- Surgery in rare cases (e.g., if bleeding or other intestinal complications arise)
Avoid Do-It-Yourself Treatments
While many pets benefit from holistic medicine and natural treatments, there are times when a vet should evaluate some conditions. If you prefer to treat illnesses through a holistic route, there are plenty of certified holistic vets available that can help immediately treat your dog’s pancreatitis.
It’s crucial that you never attempt do-it-yourself treatments such as tips read on the internet or “cures” that work for people; dogs and humans are not the same, and they do not respond similarly to certain foods and chemical substances. While you may think that you’re administering a “calming herb” to your dog, you may actually be worsening their condition or even poisoning them. This is a serious condition and should always be assessed by a trained professional.
How To Prevent The Recurrence Of Pancreatitis
If your dog has ever suffered from a bout of it, there’s an extreme likelihood that they will experience a recurrence. Recurring episodes can be mild or severe regardless of the severity of the original occurrence. Below are some tips that vets offer to help reduce the chance of recurrence.
- Reduce food intake and increase the exercise level of an overweight dog. Make sure not to underfeed or over-exert your dog during this type of approach, though. Weight loss should be slow and steady.
- If your dog experienced a severe episode that left his pancreas damaged, provide any necessary medications to supplement pancreatic function.
- Avoid feeding any human foods to dogs. Many human foods, particularly table scraps, are high in fat content which can prompt an episode.
- Feed multiple, small meals during the day rather than feeding one large meal. This not only reduces the strain put on the pancreas during digestion, but it also lessens the likelihood for certain breeds to develop canine bloat.
- If your veterinarian suggests keeping your dog on a low-fat diet, ensure that you comply to maintain healthy lipid levels in your dog’s body. High lipid levels can result in aggravation of the pancreas.
Watch the video below for further tips on how to prevent pancreatitis in your dog.
Causes
While no one knows exactly what starts pancreatic symptoms, there are some suspect elements that your vet will be familiar with. It may be as “simple” as a medication your dog is taking.
In other instances, you may have to go through many questions and answers before you have any idea what started the symptoms. It’s important to try to narrow it down so you can reduce the risk of another episode. You may find that the food you’ve chosen to feed your dog is simply too high in fat or that it was table scraps that caused the trouble.
There are some things that the veterinary community believes contribute to the development of this condition.
Dogs who are:
- Overweight
- Female
Dogs suffering from:
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes
- Certain bacterial or viral infections
- Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal tract disease
- Idiopathic hyperlipidemia
- Ingestion of a single, high-fat meal
Pancreatitis In Dogs Infographic
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Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Vet Expenses
It can quickly become expensive for all of the testing and vet care your dog may require if diagnosed with pancreatitis. Pet insurance can help protect your wallet, so you can focus on nursing your dog back to health. Find out whether you should consider pet insurance for you and your pet.
Have you ever treated a dog for pancreatitis?
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We choose the latter & glad we did as the liver cytology showed normal hepatocytes but inflammatory infiltrate ie no hepatocellular carcinoma. He was kept in hospital for 2 nights on Iv fluids, pain relief & started on antibiotics.
He came home yesterday & while still exhausted he looks to be on the improve. We were also prescribed tablets to support the liver enzymes (Denamarin). Just monitoring now & feeding Hills low fat can food mixed with water & praying for a full recovery.
Pancreatitis is fast in onset, your dog may not show outward signs of pain but look out for sudden panting, lack of energy & hiding or not responding/ interacting as usual. Hope this helps & best wishes for your “good boy or girl”.
5 cups oat flour (could do 1/2 brown rice flour if you choose)
1 egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 can pumpkin (100% natural with no spices-can be found in most groceries stores).
Mix all up and spoon onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
I cook about 40 minutes or so on 325 degrees.
As my girls (yorkie sisters) are 13 and have lost many of their teeth, I watch the cookies closely and take out when they are fairly firm but not hard. Recipe makes a bunch and I just store in refrigerator. They do keep for quite some time. From the time I start mixing them until they are cool enough to eat, my two girls sit in kitchen waiting.
Jersey, my girl with the pancreatitis has been losing weight though even though she eats well so I still worry. Vet keeps telling me she is very healthy considering and she definitely is not in any pain so we just keep loving her.
My 9 year old dachshund has been diagnosed with EPI, pancreatitis. My vet gives me liquid b12 shots to give him every other day and digestive enzymes in a pill form to crush and put over his food. He was eating regular but then he stopped for a few days and became gaunt. My vet gave him and IV drip, which helped. He started drinking a lot more, and just the last few days he’s been eating once a day, which is very exciting, but he is so thin and turns up his nose to a lot of food.
I can get him to eat boiled chicken but then he stopped wanting it. And now he’s liking pork, but I’m wondering what else y’all have had success feeding yalls dogs with? He must gain weight, but it must be healthy spiceless food. Any suggestions? I can still see most his bones but I feel like he is gaining strength I just need some ideas on what else to feed him to nourish his weight.
Thanks you guys, anything helps 🙂
-appreciate it
Naomi
Now that I know a little about cushings I think my girls had it for years.
She’s a 12 yr old Jack Russell. She’s had a hard last 6 months and I’m really worried I’m going to lose her.
I lost my 14yr old 6 months ago and chick (my jack) has just gone downhill since.
This Monday is 2 weeks since she ruptured her cruciate ligament. … A cpl of days after that she was diagnosed with cushings (the pituitary) them meds should arrive early next week. And on Monday she was really sick. (Vomiting)
Ive taken her to the vets straight away. Pancreatitis. Not a lot of information was given by the vet (which I’m fuming about) lots of money happily taken. She stayed overnight on an iv drip. Tuesday, she’s made a massive improvement (they fed her a little bit of chicken) and they were semi happy for me to take her home. So I thought she’d be good to go home (in 12 years she’s never not eaten but back to eating, again I thought she was fine). Nope. Not fine. She was so weak when we got home I just let her sleep. She’d been pumped full of medication, spent a night away from me (which she’s not used to at all) anyway I almost took her back in but I thought she’ll be ok. She’ll eat a little bit later. Nope. (I must add, before I left the vets they gave her an anti nausea injection – and something to increase her appetite) but she wasn’t interested in food. No food. Had a few sips of water when I’d put the bowl up to her but nope.
Wed morning, we go back in. She’s back on the drip. She stayed wed night and Thursday night (I’ve visited her twice each day – morning and night) she’s looked better and then she’s looked bad. It’s really messing with her and I can tell because I’m her mother and she’s showing me.
I’m about to go in soon to see her. I spoke with one of the vet nurses this morning and today she looks great and is “comfortable” but she’s not interested in food so they were going to give her some different meds to see if she’ll eat. So pretty much – they want her to stay in again overnight if she hasn’t eaten by this afternoon.
It’s cost me 500 per night, plus ultrasounds and X-rays and every consultation fee and meds left right and centre and I’m starting to go broke. I’m so upset and pissed off with all the mucking around. I just want my girl healthy and home. This Monday will be 2 weeks since she did her knee and I’m worried sick about her recovery from surgery once she can have surgery (God knows when now because of everything else)
She’s 12kgs and a Jack Russell. I’m not a bad mother. She’s just seem to have had every symptom possible of cushings.
I’m devastated. Can anyone shed some light on me?
I’m not giving up on her. She’s my world. I am starting to become broke and I don’t have pet insurance (I tried a few hrs ago but was declined because of age)
Can someone/anyone give me any advice please
These were most of the symptoms my dog who was diagnosed yesterday had. Mainly the shaking means pain.
My dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis a couple weeks ago and, after a week of being in and out of the vet (IV Fluids, injections, x-rays, and a 3 day stay) the doctor sent us home with Famotidine, clavamox, endosorb, and Advita powder. My little guy was doing ok, after his back and forth vet visits his vomitting and constipation slightly subsided. However, now that his medication is finished, he has gone right back to being very lethargic and literally, cannot keep ANY food or water now. My dog is a 60lb Pitbull and he is now down to 50lbs since he’s been sick. I’m at my wits end and am TERRIFIED to lose him. He just turned 1 year old and is my everything since I have no children. My vet won’t give us more medication, and I can’t afford to do the week long vet visits for another vet. PLEASE HELP!
How is your dog doing? Did anything work for him that I might be able to do for my dog.
Holistic was the life changer!! My dog was allergic to chicken, chicken byproducts!! Who knew!!
We now only buy ground turkey, turkey tenderloin..basmati rice, steamer veggies…green peas, green beans, carrots, cauliflower etc. Less than expensive emergency vet bills!!! Organic Bone Broth…low fat everything!!!
It has been amazing! I use otc meds for nausea if he starts a mini cycle! Hold food for 24 hrs n reinduce food in small incremts. Usually rice n bone broth. Have brought him around and avoided many trips to the vet!! It is a learning process to know your pet n when to make an emergency run to the vet! If I see I’m not bringing him around within 4 hours..I go to reg vet. Lol usually happens on a week end!♀️
Now we are down to once a year for an uncontrolled pancreatic attack!! I keep children’s pedialite on hand n give him some by mouth with a syringe.
Amazing control!!
No fats!! Sure they get some via diet but…don’t add it! No peanut butter no added oils etc! I make my own dog treats out of baby foods, mom fat yougurt, bananas, apples, cinnamon. This disease became my personal challenge for the well being of my dog n finances!! I take a day…cook, crock pot, steamer bags etc. then divide it up into ziplock bags and always have his meals prepared!
Good luck! We have been managing his pancreatitis n what I call Irritable bowel symptoms for 6 years!! Our new Vet was amazed! We just retired to Florida n had to find a Vet I trusted…just in case!
My boy Leo who is a King Charles cavalier who will be ten next march
He has chronic pancreaitas he is under a vets
He is on gastrointestinal low fat dry food
His problem is he has constantly got runny poos
I have been back to the vets so many times the last time his poo was really loose watery he was given steroids and metrobactin within three days his poo was worse I phoned vets and was told to stop melds
I feed him three times a day so it’s not so hard for him to digest
It’s getting to the point I can’t take him out because of his runny poo it goes all down his legs
Apart from all the above he is healthy do gets excited when I give him his food
He does not have anything else
I am at my wits end now have made another appt for sat to see vets
Any advice would be appreciated
In addition I have realized that so many dogs are getting urinary tract infections and from owning numerous dogs and cats my latest knowledge is the following:
– Diet-
-Hooded Vulva animals have more issues
-Letting your pet lay on dirty floors or not washed and wiped .
-Bottled water is good and changing every day
-Shampoos that dont Irritate.
I have had in my lifetime 4 cats 6 dogs who I treat as I treat myself. I will tell you all of them had urinary tract issues and finally on my latest dog we have done the following and the urinary issue is working better:
-Paul Newmans Organic Pet foods
-Royal Canine Urinary SO
-Paul Newmans Dried Cranberries Organic
-Bottle Water everyday Multiple bowls around house 2 as she drinks much more. More drinking less problems.
-Fresh cooked Organic chicken, organic broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, organic rice, blueberries
-Wipe the private area DOUXO CHlorhexidine 3% percent pads once a day.
-She lays on small towel or mini blanket if she goes out on walk and sits outside of restaurant on street when we dine. Never allow her privates on sidewalk or street. (can get a cloth daiper with velcro) put on after the dog goes to bathrooom and then lays on street. We do on occasion.
Shampoos no irritation after we tried many:
Burts Bees shampoo & conditioner
We bathe our dog every 3 days either (butt bathe and paws) or (full bath). Get a sprayer for shower or tub and don’t fill bathtub as dirty paw water goes in to private area
Walks & Wee pads
Dogs should not just have access to walk they should (must) have wee wee pads allocated to one part of house/bathroom. A dog goes not once but maybe 10 times a day and needs to drink water. Dogs limit their water intake because of this and not natural to hold pee as its not normal for humans.
Teeth:
Teeth should be brush every few days (everyday would be great) with paper towel ripped into small pieces dipped in PETZ LIFE oral care peppermint spray and gel. Spray on paper towel 3 small pieces and run around and rub teeth and gums bottom and top . every week once we dip a small touch of Listerine not enough to get one drop out of it and wipe teeth and gums. Also we do Hydrogen peroxide not even one drop can drip from the paper towel and rub all around teeth. Our dog now is 6 yrs old and the dentist (she went once since we believe its too dangerous to put a brachyatic dog under) told use he has never seen a dog come in at this age and not have one cavity. Most dogs have to pull 5 teeth out by this age. So its working well!!
Ears:
Dogs like a beagle , Cavalier get ear issues often because moisture gets trapped in. So do not wash ears often. Dogs get yeast (itchy) infection in outer area around ear canal and infection in canal so important to clean ears a few times a week. Vet has a ear cleaning solution to put in ear (get from VET) and then on outside of ear u can use 50/50 water cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide damp wipe (very small dab) Never in ear ! also dog itchy ears if there is clump of hair under the ear or oily patch under ear. This patch should be shaved out every few weeks and wiped to make sure not oily or washed.
Mental Health
Dogs should never be left along more then 3-4 hours at a time. Also they need mental stimulation or will get depressed or not well socialized. access to look out windows, pet walks, televisions, music. Our dog watches all dog movies, Benji, Beethoven Beverly Hills Chihuahua, etc and has playdates with other dogs from early age.
Hair Trim
Every couple weeks yourself and hairdrying with cool air important to prevent hot spots. (itchy spots). Nails clipped once a month, Anal gland cleaned by vet every few months. Trim around private area to keep clean and paws and ears.
Care
Check Paws occasionally for glass/ thorns sticks. Ticks and rub eucalyptus citron/lemon oil diluted with water all over neck body and under ears. We dont use tick meds as we believe gives tumors and health issues cancer. Our dog never gets ticks maybe one in her lifetime and she goes to country and stays out of grass.
Eyes
Clean with eye wipes for dogs every day under eye and pluck by hand any hair pricking eye. If something get in eye get eye saline solution from Vet and drop with liguid dropper water in eye to cleanse out.
Allergies & Breathing
House should be dust free and vacuum with hepa filter vacuum that has filters cleaned out or blowing dust all around house. No chemical cleaners just water and soap is best, meyers. Zyrtec or clariton half a pill or quarter pill depending on weight helps allergies and humidifiers and fresh air circulating, low heat. Couches carpets should be steam cleaned couple times a year. Clean floors with no chemicals just steam clean it with water and $70 dollars on amazon Bissell floor steam cleaner. Air Vents should be cleaned, Furnace filters cleaned, Window sills outside (weekly)so when u open window does not blow in dirt and dust.
The vet also told my boyfriend that he expects it to be a very long surgery. Just curious as to how many others have had to go down the surgery road? It was my understanding that surgery, while a possibility, is actually somewhat rare for treatment. I’m reading everything I can get my hands on and waiting for a call back from the vet. Any tips will be greatly appreciated!!
I’m not sure if my last comment posted or not. How is your dog? Surgery is very rare. But if your dog had any intestinal bleeding they may have needed to do surgery to stop the bleeding . In some instances it can cause sepsis. Did they mention anything to you about that? I think that would be the only reason surgery would be necessary. My dog also has pancreatitis. It is so horrible to see them hurting. She had it really bad three months ago, and now again but levels are not as high as they were. I hope your dog is feeling better. You too!!