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my pet magazine
uFEATURED ARTICLE
Pancreatitis is more than just a pain in the gut;
it can be a life threatening condition that all
dog owners should be aware of.
The pancreas is a small gland in the abdomen
found just below the stomach and serves
some very important functions in the dog's
body. It's endocrine function is to secrete
insulin into the bloodstream to control blood
glucose metabolism. It's exocrine function is
to release digestive enzymes that digest fats,
carbohydrates and proteins.
Pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes
inflamed and can be either an acute or
chronic condition. Acute pancreatitis has a
sudden onset with severe inflammation of
the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is a long
term ongoing condition with generally mild
inflammation over a long period.
The symptoms of pancreatitis can often be
confused for other conditions making it difficult
to diagnose. Acute pancreatitis symptoms
can vary in intensity and become more
severe as the inflammation increases. Chronic
pancreatitis symptoms are often milder and
can be on and off over a long period of time.
Symptoms include;
Decreased appetite
Depression or lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Abdominal discomfort/pain or distention
Raised temperature
Dehydration
The greatest cause of acute pancreatitis in
dogs is when a dog gets fed a oneoff high fat
meal. This typically comes from being given
human foods, table scraps or eating something
from the garbage. Sometimes a dog will
develop pancreatitis and the cause will remain
unknown. Factors that may increase the risk of
a dog suffering from pancreatitis include;
A high fat diet or ingesting one high fat
meal (like the fat from the ham or sausages),
garbage or an unusual meal.
Diabetes mellitus
Obesity
Pancreatitis in Dogs
