We often read about dogs suffering from pancreatitis recently. But what actually is pancreatitis and what are some symptoms to look out for?
Pancreas is an organ in the abdominal cavity which helps dogs to digest food and regulate blood sugar. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is inflamed and swollen. The inflammation results from the inappropriate, early activation of an enzyme in the pancreas, which causes the pancreas to digest itself.
It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of pancreatitis. One of the most common risk factors is scavenging. Sometimes, acute pancreatitis is triggered when a dog eats food high in fat. Severe trauma or surgery can also lead to pancreatitis. It has also been linked to the use of some medications, which include, but are not limited to, some chemotherapy medications and antibiotics. Cushing's disease, infections such as Babesia Canis or Leishmania, and high blood levels triglycerides fats, have also been listed as risk factors. A rare but probable cause of acute recurrent pancreatitis is food intolerance.
While pancreatitis most commonly affects middle aged to older dogs, some breeds such as Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, miniature Schnauzers, Poodles and Yorkshire Terriers, are predisposed to the condition.
Pancreatitis may be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis may either take a mild, oedematous form or a more severe, haemorrhagic form. The associated inflammation allows digestive enzymes from the pancreas to spill into the abdominal cavity resulting in secondary damage to the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder, and intestines. Some dogs that recover from an acute episode of pancreatitis may continue to have recurrent bouts of the disease, which is then called chronic or relapsing pancreatitis. A chronic condition can also be one that has developed over time and often without symptoms.
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| Photo Credit: Tendertouchvethosp |
The most common clinical signs include nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and decreased appetite. Some other symptoms can be dehydration, irregular heartbeat, irregular body temperature and a hard time breathing. During an attack, dogs may hunch their back, with their rear end up in the air while their front legs and head are lowered onto the floor. If the attack is severe, acute shock, severe depression, and even death may occur.
Often, in cases where the cause of dogs' pancreatitis cannot be pinpointed, vets will provide supportive veterinary care and ensure your dog is monitored carefully. Most dogs with pancreatitis are hospitalized for two to four days while IV fluids and medications are administered and food is gradually re-introduced. With severe haemorrhagic pancreatitis, or if the dog is showing signs of systemic shock, intensive care using aggressive doses of IV fluids and medications to counteract shock.
Most dogs recover without any long-term consequences. However, there have also been cases of death associated with pancreatitis. In 2018, our beloved Button passed away from pancreatitis. Button was Singapore's first and only animal assisted therapy dog trained in Hokkien. We had no idea she was feeling unwell. We noticed she did not eat for a day, and then realised she was running a fever. We immediately took her to the vet where we learnt that she was suffering from pancreatitis. Her condition deteriorated and in just 10 days, she passed from complications and heart failure 😢
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| Button, Singapore's first Hokkien animal assisted therapy dog |
If your dog is feeling unwell or showing any of the symptoms of pancreatitis, please rush straight to the vet! Do take note not to spend time asking on various social media platforms on how to cure as pancreatitis is not a condition that can be cured with home remedies. There is no time to waste and early diagnosis is the best way to cure pancreatitis.
Written by: Xinyi
