Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

The pancreas has many functions, including the production and secretion of digestive enzymes and the production of insulin. Digestive enzymes are critical for food digestion, while insulin aids in the control of the metabolism and blood-sugar levels. Pancreatitis means “inflammation” of the pancreas and acute means “sudden.” When the pancreas becomes inflamed, digestive enzymes that are normally inactive until they reach the small intestine become active in the pancreas instead—resulting in pain and swelling as the pancreas actually begins to digest itself.

Risks of Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

There are many suggested causes of acute pancreatitis including: obesity, high-fat diets, endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, and various medications or toxins. Even if your dog doesn’t normally eat a high-fat diet, the introduction of a large amount of fatty food all at once can cause acute pancreatitis. Veterinarians see an increase in pancreatitis around the holidays, since many people think a nice way to celebrate is to share their holiday meals with their dog. In addition, dogs that get into garbage are much more likely to develop pancreatitis, so be sure to keep your trash out of your dog’s reach! Pancreatitis can occur in any dog, but some breeds are more susceptible to this disease. They include the miniature schnauzer, miniature poodle, and cocker spaniel. Additionally, pancreatitis is more common in middle-age to older dogs, overweight dogs, and females.

Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

The most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis in dogs are loss of appetite, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms you may notice include:

• Swollen abdomen

• Abnormal posture; arching of the back

• Diarrhea

• Lethargy

• Restlessness

• Gagging

• Diagnosis/Treatment

Your veterinarian will take a complete history and perform a thorough physical exam. Additionally, diagnostic tests will be required to identify if your dog has acute pancreatitis. These may include:

• Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic disease or dysfunction, as well as blood sugar levels

• A complete blood count to screen your pet for infection, inflammation, or anemia and other blood-related conditions

• Electrolyte tests to ensure your dog is neither dehydrated nor suffering from an electrolyte imbalance

• Pancreas-specific tests to help diagnose or rule out the disease

• Imagaing studies to evalutate the pancreas and other abdominal organs

The treatment of pancreatitis depends on the severity of the disease and may include:

• Hospitalization at the veterinary clinic and in more severe cases 24 hour intensive care and monitoring

• Intravenous fluids

• Pain medicine

• Antivomiting medication (antiemetics)

• Antibiotics, if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected

• Nutritional support

• Other medications, depending on your dog’s symptoms

Keep in mind that your veterinarian may recommend that some diagnostic tests, such as the CBC, chemistry tests, and pancreatic-specific tests be repeated to monitor your dog’s progress during treatment.

Your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan that is specific for your pet. Make sure you give all medications as directed and carefully follow any dietary recommendations. Following recovery a low fat diet may be recommended to decrease the chance of recurrence. Keep a close eye on your best friend; if he or she becomes lethargic or stops eating, call your veterinarian right away.

Prevention of Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

While you can’t completely prevent acute pancreatitis, the following will help reduce the risk of your dog developing the disease and ensure his health and well-being:

• Don’t let your dog become overweight—weight management is just as important for our four-legged friends as it is for us!

• Avoid high-fat diets.

• Avoid giving your dog table scraps, especially if he isn’t accustomed to eating people food.

• Make sure you discuss all medications your dog is receiving with your veterinarian.

• Don’t let your dog have access to garbage

If you suspect your pet is overweight or potentially suffering from pancreatitis, please call your vet.

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

Dog Health

Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA) - A Complication of Diabetes in Cats and Dogs

Unfortunately, as veterinarians, we are seeing an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. This is likely due to the growing prevalence of obesity (secondary to inactive lifestyle, a high carbohydrate diet, lack of exercise, etc.). You're probably wondering if you just had a dog or cat diagnosed with diabetes mellitus—what do you do? First, we encourage you to take a look at these articles for an explanation of the disease:

• Diabetes in Cats

• Diabetes in Dogs

This article will teach you about life-threatening complications that can occur as a result of the disease; specifically, a life-threatening condition called diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) so that you know how to help prevent it.

What is DKA?

When diabetes goes undiagnosed or difficult to control or regulate, the complication of DKA can occur. DKA develops because the body is so lacking in insulin that the sugar can’t get into the cells — resulting in cell starvation. Cell starvation causes the body to start breaking down fat in an attempt to provide energy (or a fuel source) to the body. Unfortunately, these fat breakdown products, called “ketones,” are also poisonous to the body.

Symptoms of DKA

Clinical signs of DKA include the following:

• Weakness

• Not moving (in cats, hanging out by the water bowl)

• Not eating or complete anorexia

• Vomiting

• Excessive thirst and urination (clear, dilute urine)

• Large urinary clumps in the litter box (anything bigger than a tennis ball is abnormal)

• Weight loss (most commonly over the back), despite an overweight body condition

• Obesity

• Flaky skin coat

• Excessively dry or oily skin coat

• Abnormal breath (typically a sweet “ketotic” odor)

• Diarrhea
  

In severe cases DKA can also result in more significant signs:

• Abnormal breathing pattern

• Jaundice

• Abdominal pain (sometimes due to the secondary problem of pancreatitis)

• Tremors or seizures

• Coma

• Death

What can cause DKA?

When DKA occurs, it’s often triggered by an underlying medical problem such as an infection or metabolic (organ) problem. Some common problems that we see with DKA include the following:

• Pancreatitis

• Urinary tract infection

• Chronic kidney failure

• Endocrine diseases (e.g., hyperadrenocorticism [when the body makes too much steroid], or hyperthyroidism [an overactive thyroid gland])

• Lung disease (such as pneumonia)

• Heart disease (such as congestive heart failure)

• Liver disease (such as fatty changes to the liver)

• Cancer

Diagnosing DKA

While diagnosing DKA is simple, by looking at the blood sugar levels of dogs and cats and by measuring the presence of these fat breakdown products in the urine or blood, treatment can be costly (running between $3-5000). A battery of tests and diagnostics need to be performed, to look for underlying problems listed above, and treatment typically requires aggressive therapy and 24/7 hospitalization.

Treatment of DKA

Treatment, typically, is required for 3-7 days, and includes the following:

• A special intravenous catheter called a “central line” (placed to aid in frequent blood draws)

• Aggressive intravenous fluids

• Electrolyte supplementation and monitoring

• Blood sugar monitoring

• A fast acting or ultra fast acting insulin, regular or Lispro, typically given intravenously or in the muscle

• Blood pressure monitoring

• Nutritional support (often in the form of a temporary feeding tube)

• Anti-vomiting or anti-nausea medication

• Antibiotics

• Long-term blood sugar monitoring and a transition to a longer-acting insulin

Thankfully, with aggressive supportive care, many patients with DKA do well as long as pet parents are prepared for the long-term commitment (including twice-a-day insulin, frequent veterinary visits to monitor the blood sugar, and the ongoing costs of insulin, syringes, etc.).

Preventing DKA

By following your veterinarian’s guidelines and recommendations you can help regulate and control your pet’s diabetic state better and monitor your pet carefully for clinical signs. For example, if your pet is still excessively thirsty or urinating frequently despite insulin therapy, they are likely poorly controlled and need an adjustment of their insulin dose (of course, never adjust your pet’s insulin or medications without consulting your veterinarian).

When in doubt remember that the sooner you detect a problem in your dog or cat, the less expensive that problem is to treat. If you notice any clinical signs of diabetes mellitus or DKA, seek immediate veterinary attention. Most importantly, blood glucose curves (when a veterinarian measures your pet’s response to their insulin level) often need to be done multiple times per year (especially in the beginning stages of diabetes mellitus).

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian.

Related reading:

• Diabetes in Cats

• Diabetes in Dogs

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

dog health, cat health