When the pancreas becomes suddenly inflamed and activates various enzymes that start digesting itself, pancreatitis develops and can cause a number of advanced health issues in your dog. The pancreas itself produces bicarbonate to reduce stomach acid as well as other enzymes to help in digestion. There are no set reasons for why a dog might develop pancreatitis, but general causes are usually related to poor diet and obesity.
A dog that eats a high fat diet, has liver disease, or has recently been under for surgery or been subject to whole body infections is more likely to contract the disease.
Warning Signs
Warning signs and symptoms for pancreatitis vary greatly. Most dogs with pancreatitis will experience a loss in appetite, followed by severe lethargy and possible vomiting or diarrhea.
Signs of pain and fever are also common, along with general weakness and disinterest in playing or being active. Because these symptoms are so much like many other diseases, it is very important to see a vet immediately for a proper diagnosis. It could be as simple as food poisoning or as severe as pancreatitis.
Actual diagnosis is done by checking blood counts and doing a number of chemical tests to check for the enzymes emblematic of pancreatitis.
Treatment of Pancreatitis
If your dog is diagnosed with pancreatitis, know that it can be immediately life threatening and should be treated right away. Food and water are often held for as long as 72 hours, followed by subcutaneous or intravenous fluid administration. When food and water are reintroduced, it is done very gradually to see how the dog responds.
If the dog does not vomit for 24 hours, the food will be increased with fat reintroduced. Dogs are also held in a crate if they have pain to keep them from moving, and if there is an infection, antibiotics will be administered.
It’s hard to prevent pancreatitis, because it is hard to pinpoint an exact cause. The easiest ways to avoid the factors that lead to the disease are to reduce the fat in their diet and help them lose excess weight if they are obese. Do not feed them table scraps, keep sodium levels low and get them exercise on a daily basis.
