Pancreatitis

What is it?
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland organ that secretes enzymes for digestion and hormones for metabolism. The pancreas sits in between the stomach, small intestine, liver and kidney.

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden, painful and debilitating condition where the digestive enzymes (pancreatic juice) leak and are activated, causing digestion of the pancreas itself, organs around it and the circulatory system.

Chronic pancreatitis is a gradual, ongoing condition that damages and scars the pancreas. Repeated bouts of low grade acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic pancreatitis.

Breeds prone to pancreatitis include: Miniature Schnauzers, Poodles and Cocker Spaniels. Obese dogs of any breed are also at high risk. Pancreatitis most commonly affects middle-aged to old dogs.

Causes
The exact causes are often unknown but are usually associated with:
  Consumption of highly fatty foods
  Injury or infection of the pancreas
  Obstruction of the pancreatic duct
  Recent abdominal surgery
  Liver disease
  Small intestinal reflux
  Certain prescription medications

Symptoms
  Abdominal pain – can be severe
  Lethargy and weakness
  Depression and sleepiness
  Loss of appetite
  Vomiting
  Diarrhea
  Dehydration
  Fever
  Jaundice

Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will conduct the following basic steps to diagnose the problem:

  Question you about the dog’s medical history and symptoms, paying particular attention to the diet and recently eaten foods (e.g., fatty off-cuts, fatty meats like sausages, recent barbecues, scavenging)
  Perform a physical examination, concentrating on the abdomen (to feel for pain and any lumps in the abdomen).

Dogs with severe pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, other signs of sickness, should have further investigation. Further tests include:
  Complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry – To gauge how ill your dog is and how the condition is affecting the body system
  Abdominal ultrasound – The most accurate way to detect the problem, as it can show any swelling of the pancreas
  Abdominal X-rays – To check for other causes, such as twisting of the spleen, tumors, pyometra, etc.
  Exploratory abdominal surgery

Treatment
Severe pancreatitis is life threatening, as it may cause pulmonary edema, heart rhythm irregularities and peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity). Severity of the condition will determine the aggressiveness of treatment.

The treatment principles are to reverse dehydration and to completely rest the digestive system. This is achieved by:
  Intravenous fluid with electrolytes (IVs)
  Medications that control pain and inflammation
  Medications that control vomiting and diarrhea
  Medications that sooth the stomach and intestines
  Hospitalization with cage confinement
  Fasting for 24-72 hours and then slowly reintroducing water, then a bland diet (low fat/low protein) over the next few days
  Antibiotics to prevent and treat secondary infections
  Surgery may be required in severe cases with pancreatic obstructions, abscesses, cysts or peritonitis

Prevention
As the exact cause is usually unknown, it is difficult to know exactly how to prevent pancreatitis. You can, however, address the associated issues by:
  Starting and following a weight loss program for obese dogs
  Avoiding fatty foods, table scraps, and feeding your dog a low-fat diet
  Keeping your dog on a leash to minimizing scavenging behavior

Note: Even after your dog has recovered from acute pancreatitis, he may be permanently affected from injury to the pancreas. Repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis cause chronic pancreatitis. Depending on the severity and particular area where the damage has occured, your dog may develop diabetes mellitus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (inability to produce digestive enzymes). Fortunately, these conditions can be managed long term.