Pancreatitis In Dogs: Symptoms, Causes And More

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a painful 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 options to lessen symptoms.

What Is Pancreatitis In Dogs?

The pancreas is responsible for producing specific enzymes that promote digestion and enable the body to absorb fats in food. Without the pancreas, dogs would have a very difficult time absorbing nutrients from food.

The term ‘pancreatitis’ means inflammation of the pancreas. There are two classifications of pancreatitis:

1. Acute – Acute pancreatitis occurs with a sudden onset of symptoms with no previous signs of the condition.
2. Chronic – Chronic pancreatitis symptoms present more slowly over time. When the condition occurs suddenly in a dog, it takes many owners by surprise and can cause a considerable amount of pain for the affected dog.

Can Pancreatitis Be Fatal?

Pancreatitis, particularly acute pancreatitis, can be fatal in dogs. If a dog suffers from recurrent acute pancreatitis, the inflammation can spread to other organs and lead to potentially fatal complications like blood clotting disorders and perforation of the intestines.

What Are The Symptoms Of Pancreatitis In Dogs?

Symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs vary according to whether the disease is mild or severe. Be aware that the symptoms of pancreatitis can also be observed with other diseases in dogs.

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 dangerous combination of abnormal blood clotting and internal hemorrhaging)
• 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 Your Dog Has Symptoms Of Pancreatitis

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 your dog is showing symptoms of pancreatitis. This condition can deteriorate quickly, leading to severe pain and even death.

How Will My Vet Diagnose Pancreatitis?

Many important factors play into an accurate diagnosis, including your dog’s medical history, a physical examination, and laboratory testing.

Pancreatitis in dogs does not have a lot of specific signs or laboratory test results, so the diagnostic process can be extensive to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

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. Other aspects of your dog’s history that could increase the risk of pancreatitis include surgery, diet (high-fat diets), and trauma. Lastly, any current medical conditions may also play a role in your dog’s diagnosis.

A Physical Examination

The physical exam will consist of visually examining your dog’s stomach area and 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 to look for several “clues” that point toward pancreatitis. 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.

A blood test called the canine pancreatitis lipase immunoreactivity test has been shown to provide an accurate diagnosis of pancreatitis.

Surgery

Surgery to obtain a sample of the pancreas is the most surefire way to diagnose pancreatitis, but most affected dogs are too sick and unstable to undergo surgery.

Treatment

Veterinary treatment is required for pancreatitis in dogs. In severe cases, dogs need to be hospitalized. Dogs with milder pancreatitis still need treatment but don’t necessarily have to be hospitalized.

Treatment for pancreatitis is supportive and symptomatic, meaning that the treatments will treat the symptoms and help a dog feel more comfortable as they recover.

• Pain relievers
• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Medications to treat vomiting and diarrhea
• 24-hours without food and water to rest the pancreas, then slowly introduce food and water
• Bland, prescription dog food that is low in fat and highly digestible
• Intravenous fluids to restore hydration and electrolytes

CBD Oil & Treats

Many pet parents ask if CBD oil can help treat pancreatitis. There are many benefits of CBD oil including its ability to help ease pain, reduce chronic inflammation, anxiety and more.

However, the severe nature of pancreatitis makes it crucial for affected to dogs to receive only veterinary care, without a complementary therapy like CBD.

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.

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 veterinarian.

How To Prevent The Recurrence Of Pancreatitis

If your dog has ever suffered from a bout of pancreatitis, it’s likely 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 to help them lose weight, though. Weight loss should be slow and steady.
• If your dog experienced a severe episode of pancreatitis that left his pancreas damaged, consider giving your dog digestive enzyme supplements that would help the pancreas not work so hard to secrete digestive enzymes.
• Avoid feeding any human foods to dogs. Many human foods, particularly table scraps, are high in fat, which can prompt an episode of pancreatitis.
• 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.

What Causes Pancreatitis In Dogs?

While no one knows exactly what starts pancreatic symptoms, there are some potential risk factors. 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 of pancreatitis. 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.

The process of diagnosing pancreatitis will help you figure out what might have caused pancreatitis in your dog.

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

Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Vet Expenses

Costs can stack up quickly 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.

Tagged With: Gastrointestinal, Reviewed By Dr. Pendergrass, DVM