This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. My own best friend and partner and in crime, Molly Doodle, suffers from pancreatitis. It’s a fairly new diagnosis for us and I didn’t know much about the disease before this. Hopefully, the information shared here will help some others seeking to understand the disease a little better.
For some dogs, it can begin slowly; a missed meal here and there, then a day when they seem ‘down’, and suddenly they’re vomiting every day in the morning. In other dogs, it progresses far more quickly; you give your pup a piece of bacon one day, and the next evening they’re shrieking in pain, refusing to touch their food, and having the runs.
A painful but often ‘silent’ disease, pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of an abdominal organ called the pancreas. It’s important to digestion, since it produces enzymes that help break down the fats in your dog’s food, but it also produces insulin, which helps your dog’s blood sugar stay at a normal level by regulating how much is taken up by the cells in their body at one time. Pancreatitis can develop suddenly (called the acute form) or over a long period of time (the chronic form), and it can range from mild cases which may simply need short term care at home, to very serious cases that cause extreme amounts of pain, damage to other organs and even death. Unfortunately, the signs of both the acute and chronic forms of pancreatitis can look very similar, on the surface.
What are the signs of pancreatitis? Although every dog is different, and might not show all the signs of being ill, the symptoms of pancreatitis could include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal (lower stomach area) pain
- Not eating
- Fever
- Lethargic or just not themselves
The acute type of pancreatitis tends to happen more often when our furry friends have eaten especially fatty foods like beef, turkey, bacon, or even garbage, but it could also be caused by some kinds of medication or a bacterial infection. The cause of chronic pancreatitis is even less well known, but Miniature Schnauzers in particular (as well as dogs that have already has the acute type of the illness) are more likely to experience long-term pancreatitis or have several episodes.
Even if you think they don’t seem that uncomfortable, it’s important to take your pet to see their veterinarian if they have any of these signs, since pancreatitis can get worse very quickly. Your dog’s doctor will usually perform an exam and run some tests – often blood work and x-rays – to help them find out if pancreatitis is the cause.
Treatment might not be so straightforward, though – there’s no specific cure for pancreatitis itself, so the goal is to support your dog’s recovery by rehydrating them, controlling their pain, and reducing their nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as much as possible until they resolve. In some cases, your vet might recommend that no food is given for a period of several days to ‘rest’ the pancreas until your dog is feeling better, but in more severe cases that require special care, nutrition is sometimes given through a feeding tube or even directly through a dog’s intravenous line.
Having a dog that’s sick with pancreatitis can be tough for owners, too, since a long-term outcome might be hard to determine. Some bouts of pancreatitis can cause serious damage to a dog’s body, leading to kidney disease, diabetes, or problems with the gastrointestinal system. Many dogs who have recovered from episodes of pancreatitis also need to be fed a lower-fat food – often for the rest of their lives – to help prevent any future problems. With some additional vigilance and care, though, many four-legged family members can still live comfortable, happy lives after recovering from this serious illness.
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