Is Pancreatitis in Dogs an Emergency?
Despite the fact that it generally occurs in dogs who are middle aged or older and those dogs are well cared for, pancreatitis is an emergency, which is why stopping it early on is crucial. If it progresses, it can be fatal in some cases.
There are two forms of pancreatitis: Acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitis, as the name suggests, comes on suddenly with symptoms that are mild to severe. Our dog’s second bout of acute pancreatitis occurred after a fun day of playing, walking, eating his normal meal, and napping. At 10:30 in the evening he suddenly vomited without any warning. Things rapidly progressed from there and we found ourselves at the emergency veterinary hospital a few hours later.
The folks over at DVM360 advise veterinarians with this information regarding cute pancreatitis, “Once you have determined the dog is vomiting rather than regurgitating, the next step is to determine if a self-limiting or life threatening problem is present. This assessment is crucial and must be based on a thorough history, careful physical examination, clinical experience and judgment, and a sound understanding of the differential diagnosis of acute vomiting. Dogs with acute pancreatitis can present with both types of vomiting. Animals should be considered to have a potential life-threatening problem if some of the following are present: Moderate or severe abdominal pain, lethargy, dehydration or pyrexia, enlarged distended bowel, frequent and severe diarrhea, hematemesis, frequent vomiting or increasing frequency of vomiting, signs of systemic disease, or puppies with an incomplete vaccination history. If a clear distinction cannot be reached, it is better to error on the cautious side and consider a potential life-threatening problem.”
Chronic pancreatitis can affect dogs who recover from acute pancreatitis, which is what we are trying our best to prevent in our dog. Many times, dogs with chronic pancreatitis will have a normal blood panel, normal abdominal ultrasound, and may not even have outward signs.
Dogs with chronic pancreatitis may show signs similar to those in acute pancreatitis. In most cases, the symptoms are generally milder and more severe complications are not as prevalent. In the Cocker Spaniel world, a breed known for its predisposition to pancreatitis, we have seen many dogs affected with chronic pancreatitis who are successfully managed.
Typical Causes of Pancreatitis
Like most conditions, pancreatitis can build up over time, with the owner being unaware of the problem (if they do not pick up on the early warning signs). However, it can also progress rapidly, so if you have any suspicion that your dog is in abdominal pain it should be taken to the vets straight away.
The type and frequency of feeding is the main contributor to pancreatitis.
Dogs have evolved to eat a large meal intermittently – many owners now feed their dogs twice or more a day. Indeed some owners leave a bowl of kibble down for dogs to ‘graze’ on. This can have disastrous consequences. A dog’s digestive tract is very short – and its stomach acid is very strong (acidic). Dogs are able to eat and digest a meal even if it is not fresh, with possible high bacterial levels. The food stays in the stomach for a relatively long time; anywhere between 1,2 Hours to 20 Hours (depending on fat, carbohydrate and fibre content, bite sizes, empty or half full stomach etc.) where most of the protein digestion takes place. It is important to know that the strong stomach acid is perfectly evolved to digest proteins but NOT fats and carbohydrates! The strong stomach acid also kills many potentially harmful bacteria.
Once the food leaves the stomach, it enters the intestines, where the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and bile to complete the digestive process. The dog’s intestines are very short in comparison to humans and herbivores (poor cats have it even shorter).
The food is designed to exit the body as quickly as possible once it has left the dogs stomach, so this means that there is very little time left for digestion of carbohydrates and fats! If the fat and / or carbohydrate content is too high then the pancreas has to work overtime to try and break the food down.
Here lies one of the main problems. A dog is designed to eat small prey animals such as a rabbit. A wild rabbit has very low-fat levels (unlike many farmed rabbits) – typically 7 – 15% fat. The only carbohydrates that a dog would eat in the wild are those that are already partially digested in the stomach and gut of their prey, and some grazing on fruits and vegetation when needed. Alas most modern dog foods are highly processed and many contain very high levels of carbohydrates and / or fats. Even many raw feeds contain very high fat levels. Many commercialy produced animals used for pet food have much higher fat levels due to the way they are kept and fed than their wild counterparts. High fat levels slow down the breakdown of proteins and also the absorption of water-soluble vitamins such as B vitamins. As such, when a high fat food is fed, much of the protein remains undigested, and the pancreas has to produce excess enzymes and bile salts to digest the high fat levels. Over time this means the pancreas is working much harder than it should do, which causes problems and inflammation. The pancreas literally tires, and cannot therefore function properly leading to malfunction and pancreatitis and often diabetes.
If the food fed is high in carbohydrates, again the pancreas has to work very hard to produce enough juices and enzymes to break these down – leading to the problems described above. From a financial point of view many pet food companies use high carbohydrate levels, as they are the cheapest way of providing high energy foods. Alas, a dog simply can’t digest high amount of carbohydrates. However, as the dog is very adaptive, many owners can feed inappropriate diets for long periods without realising the harm they are doing. Eventually the body will reach a tipping point and problems will show, but by that time it is harder to rectify!
Knowing how to recognise the symptoms early is key to prevent unnecessary pain and suffering to your dog. Seeing a dog with pancreatitis is extremely stressful for the owner too.
Pancreatitis can be either Acute (sudden) or Chronic (ongoing).
This is the term used when the dog has a ‘sudden’ onset of pancreatitis, without any apparent prior symptoms (in practice there normally are symptoms but they may have gone unnoticed). If a dog has been given different foods, for example at Christmas, with excess fat and carbohydrates, or if the dog / household is stressed, (e.g. if in kennels) this can cause a sudden acute attack.
This is where the dog has developed problems over time, often with the symptoms building up gradually until eventually pancreatitis is diagnosed. Typical symptoms can include:
If you notice any unusual symptoms in your dog it is so important to talk to your vet about it as quickly as possible. Do not just dismiss them. The body gives early warning signs when things are going out of balance so we need to listen.
Your vet can run several blood tests to diagnose pancreatitis, including:
Diagnosis can be done with a proper blood test, both enzymatic tests and complete blood count to investigate if any pancreatic enzymes leach into the blood. Also abdominal ultrasound and x-ray is necessary to assess if there are any foreign objects or any obstruction to the bile duct/gallbladder channels. Your vet would know which tests to do according to the symptoms and condition of your dog.
How is Pancreatitis Diagnosed in Dogs?
According to Entriken, pet owners can play a key role in the diagnostic process. “Clues from your dogs history—such as a middle-aged or older dog with a sudden onset of vomiting, lethargy, reduced appetite, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea, whos had a recent unusual diet change (like getting into the trash or eating high-fat table foods)—may support a diagnosis,” she says. “And a physical examination by your veterinarian may reveal that your dog is dehydrated and has a fever.” Entriken adds that severely affected dogs may exhibit a fever or hypothermia. They can also be disoriented, have difficulty breathing, have an irregular heart rhythm, or collapse.
Entriken says there are a couple of tests that can help your veterinarian make an accurate diagnosis. “Theres a rapid, patient-side test that indicates whether lipase, an enzyme produced by the pancreas, is present in normal or abnormal concentrations in the blood,” she explains. “And a separate or follow-up blood test sent to a diagnostic laboratory to quantify the enzyme can confirm the diagnosis and help indicate the severity of disease.” Abdominal ultrasound can also be helpful in diagnosing pancreatitis, as it can provide evidence of pancreatic inflammation.
Entriken says that treatment options for pancreatitis can include IV fluids to maintain appropriate hydration and correct any electrolyte imbalances, anti-nausea medications, analgesics (pain medications) to alleviate discomfort, and a low-fat diet reintroduced as soon as vomiting is controlled. She adds that although it was previously recommended to withhold food for several days, recent studies suggest that feeding these dogs within 48 hours positively affects the return of their appetite and reduces food intolerance.
If your dog needs to be hospitalized, Entriken says he may be given a nasogastric tube to ensure hes getting important nutrients. “The small tube is placed through the nostril and runs down to the stomach so a liquid diet can be given,” she explains. “Dogs tolerate these tubes well.”
According to Entriken, the recovery time for dogs with mild cases of pancreatitis is around two to four days. “Patients can be discharged from the hospital once theyre stable, not vomiting, and are eating well on their own,” she explains.
For dogs with severe cases of pancreatitis, however, Entriken says hospitalization and recovery may take several days to weeks and require intensive care and monitoring. “Sadly, dogs with life-threatening illness may die from complications associated with this condition, such as systemic shock and organ failure,” she adds.
Pet owners play an important role in prevention, though it isnt always an easy one. Thats because one of the best ways to protect your pet is to avoid sudden diet changes like feeding fatty table scraps and high-fat treats—no matter how much your dog begs. This can be especially tricky to monitor when youre entertaining guests for holidays or parties, so be sure to let visitors know not to share their plates with your pet. Entriken adds that researchers have suggested that obesity may be associated with pancreatitis, so keeping your dog at an ideal body weight through proper diet and exercise could be helpful as well.
Early intervention is the best way to prevent pancreatitis complications, so dont hesitate to call your veterinary office if you notice your dog acting differently—especially after eating something he shouldnt have. You can also schedule a time to visit with your veterinarian about how to get and keep your dog at an ideal weight.
How to comfort a dog with pancreatitis
Pancreatitis in dogs is one of those conditions that owners must be informed about before it strikes because the warning signs may not always be obvious at first, the symptoms might be mistaken for something less serious, and yet it’s potentially life-threatening. The medical definition of pancreatitis is simple: “inflammation of the pancreas.” But like all serious conditions, there is more to it than that.
Because it is dangerous, a suspected case of pancreatitis needs to be addressed by a veterinarian as quickly as possible and not dealt with by “DIY” treatments. As with all medical issues, even the best online resource is not a replacement for the medical guidance from your vet.
Before looking at the details of pancreatitis, let’s take away the “ititis” and explain the small but vital organ itself:
The pancreas is responsible for releasing enzymes that aid in digestion. When the organ is working normally, the enzymes become active only when they reach the small intestine. In a dog with pancreatitis, however, the enzymes activate when they’re released, inflaming and causing damage to the pancreas and its surrounding tissue and other organs. According to the Whole Dog Journal, the enzymes can actually begin to digest the pancreas itself, which causes extreme pain to your dog.