Chaparral Veterinary Center News/Education

Canine Pancreatitis

Gina Willborn

CANINE PANCREATITIS What is pancreatitis? The pancreas is a vital organ which lies on the right side of the abdomen. It has two functions: 1) To produce digestive enzymes to assist in food digestion 2) To produce hormones such as insulin When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the disorder is called pancreatitis. It is a disease process that is seen commonly in the dog. There is no age, sex, or breed predisposition. A few dogs that recover from an acute episode of pancreatitis may continue to have recurrent bouts of the disease, which is then called chronic, relapsing pancreatitis. What causes pancreatitis? The cause of pancreatitis is not known; there may be several contributory factors. It is often associated with eating a rich, fatty meal. The clinical signs of pancreatitis are often variable, and the intensity of the disease will depend on the quantity of enzymes that are prematurely activated. What are the clinical signs of pancreatitis? The disease is typically manifested by nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If the attack is severe, acute shock, depression, and death may occur. How is pancreatitis treated? The successful management of pancreatitis will depend on early diagnosis and prompt medical therapy. The mild form of the disease is best treated by resting the pancreas from its role in digestion. The only way to "turn off" the pancreas is to withhold all oral fluids and food. This approach is accompanied by intravenous fluids to maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balance. Most dogs with pancreatitis are hospitalized for two to four days while intravenous fluids are administered and food is gradually re-introduced. Analgesics are administered due to the intense pain pancreatitis often causes. Will my dog recover? The prognosis depends on the extent of the disease when presented and a favorable response to initial therapy. Dogs that present with shock and depression have a very guarded prognosis. Most of the mild forms of pancreatitis have a good prognosis. Will there be any long-term problems? There are three possible long-term complications that may follow severe or repeated pancreatitis. If a significant number of cells that produce digestive enzymes are destroyed, a lack of proper food digestion may follow. This is known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and can be treated with daily administration of enzyme replacement. If a significant number of cells that produce insulin are destroyed, diabetes mellitus can result. In rare cases, adhesions between the abdominal organs may occur as a consequence of pancreatitis. However, most dogs recover with no long-term effects. 