Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis in an inflammation (infection) of the pancreas. It usually has no known specific cause, but can sometimes be due to toxins or other disease. Generally the most likely animals to get pancreatitis are overweight, middle-aged female house dogs, or dogs who have been fed a diet high in fat, such as table scraps, pork, etc. Cats are less-frequently affected, but the disease can occur in any animal.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms of pancreatitis may include vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, depression, restlessness, and a tender abdomen. The vomitus or stool may appear bloody. The animal may have stopped eating. Sometimes, especially in the early stages, these symptoms may not be present. The disease may be discovered after running blood tests. In either case, an examination and history of symptoms is always the first stem in diagnosing pancreatitis, with blood work or other tests to be decided upon by your veterinarian.

Specifics

The healthy pancreas produces, among other things, useful digestive enzymes. An inflamed pancreas may overproduce these enzymes, and begin to digest its own tissues. In mild cases, the animal may recover. In severe cases, the tissues of the pancreas die and its enzymes leak into the abdomen, causing irritation. Bacteria may invade the area and cause a widespread infection.

The disease can become a chronic, recurring, debilitating condition which may lead to other diseases, such as diabetes and liver disease. If it proceeds unchecked, shock and death may occur.

Treatment

Therapy usually requires IV fluids, antibiotics, restricted activity, and intense monitoring. To enable the pancreas to heal, usually no food, water or medications can be given by mouth. Very rarely, surgery may be required if the patient does not respond to initial treatment.

A low-fat, bland diet is often fed as long as necessary to allow the pancreas time to heal. In some cases, a patient may have to remain on a low-fat diet for the rest of its life. To help prevent recurrence, the animal should be fed only the foods prescribed. Special prescription diets are available from your veterinarian if needed.