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The pancreas is an important abdominal organ that produces and stores digestive enzymes for the gastrointestinal tract. If inflammation of the pancreas occurs in dogs (pancreatitis), this can have far-reaching effects on their health. In the following article, you can read everything you need to know about this condition.
How dangerous pancreatitis in dogs is depends entirely on the course of the disease. Mild cases are usually only associated with mild symptoms.
However, if it develops into a severe course, there may even be a risk to life for your dog. A chronic inflammation of the pancreas generally requires lifelong treatment.
Symptoms: How does pancreatitis present in dogs?
Inflammation of the pancreas can show itself very differently in dogs. The mild form of pancreatitis often presents with non-specific symptoms such as loss of appetite or restless behaviour.
Dogs that experience pain in the region of the pancreas typically adopt the so-called praying position : the front part of the body lies on the ground while the hind legs remain standing. Although this looks similar to stretching, dogs remain in this position. They do this in an attempt to relieve the pain.
The acute course
In the acute (sudden-onset) form of pancreatitis in dogs, you may observe the following symptoms:
In addition, pancreatitis can also affect other organs such as the liver, heart or kidneys.
The chronic course
In chronic (long-term) pancreatitis, you may observe the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Weight loss
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
non-specific abdominal pain
When should I see the vet?
If your dog shows signs of pancreatitis, you should definitely consult a vet. This is important so that your dog can receive pain relief as quickly as possible and further damage caused by self-digestion of the pancreas can be prevented.
Dogs in abdominal pain often adopt the prayer position (front body down, hind legs standing) to ease discomfort near the pancreas.
Diagnosis: How is pancreatitis in dogs diagnosed?
To diagnose pancreatitis, the vet carries out several examinations. The clinical examination as well as a blood test already provide important indications. If, for example, canine-specific pancreatic lipase (cPLI) is elevated, pancreatitis is likely in your dog.
Good to know: There are now also rapid tests available for severe pancreatitis in dogs. These are carried out directly at the veterinary practice and provide a result within just a few minutes.
Further examinations
An ultrasound examination is also suitable for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. Using an X-ray examination, the vet can also rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
The vet can make a definitive diagnosis by examining pancreatic tissue histologically via fine-needle aspiration. However, this requires a general anaesthetic, which should be avoided in cases of severe pancreatitis.
Treatment: How is pancreatitis in dogs treated?
Treating pancreatitis in dogs involves several measures.
What medication does pancreatitis in dogs require?
Inflammation of the pancreas is extremely painful for your dog. For this reason, treatment with pain relief is one of the most important pillars of pancreatitis therapy. Antiemetics (medications against nausea) can also help your dog to eat better.
Dogs with pancreatitis are often dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhoea, which alters the balance of electrolytes in the blood. Both can be corrected by the vet using infusions – in most cases, a hospital stay is required.
Regular check-ups
If your dog has pancreatitis, you should have their blood values checked regularly and occasionally have an ultrasound scan carried out. This is particularly advisable in severe forms of pancreatitis in order to monitor the various organ systems.
Are there home remedies for pancreatitis in dogs?
Home remedies are treatments that are not prescribed by a vet and, in many cases, have no proven effect.
With a severe and painful condition such as pancreatitis, you should therefore not treat your dog yourself without veterinary advice. The risk that your dog will suffer unbearable pain and that the inflammation will spread to other organs is too great.
The right diet for dogs with pancreatitis
Dogs with chronic pancreatitis benefit from an adapted diet, which you should discuss with your vet.
What can a dog with pancreatitis eat?
Contrary to earlier opinions, veterinary medicine today takes the view that neither withholding food nor water is helpful in treating pancreatitis. Once your dog has stopped vomiting, they can drink water and eat food.
A highly digestible, carbohydrate- and protein-rich, low-fat diet in small portions is recommended. This is important because the inflammation is extremely draining and your sick dog needs energy.
In the initial phase of acute pancreatitis, dogs often do not eat voluntarily. If this is the case, the vet may need to place a feeding tube.
Which food relieves the pancreas in dogs?
Risk factors such as high-fat meals and being overweight should definitely be avoided. When choosing dog food, pay attention to the following points:
look for a moderate fat content in the ration
adjust the portion sizes to suit your dog’s needs
feed high-quality protein that is easy to digest (e.g. chicken)
feed your dog several small meals instead of one or two large meals
give your dog no seasoned foods
also pay attention when choosing treats to a low fat and sugar content
Note: Choosing a suitable diet food can support your dog’s natural bodily functions. However, please note that diet foods can neither cure nor prevent diseases. You should also always discuss your dog’s diet with your vet.
You can find special diet foods in the online shop from zooplus.
Causes: How does pancreatitis develop in dogs?
The pancreas is an organ that produces, stores and releases digestive enzymes. However, these enzymes can also be dangerous to the pancreas itself. Normally, it is protected from self-digestion by various protective mechanisms. Disease only occurs when this protection is breached.
Often, vets are unable to determine the exact cause of pancreatitis in dogs. In such cases, it is referred to as idiopathic pancreatitis.
Prognosis: How long can a dog live with pancreatitis?
How good the chances of recovery are for pancreatitis in dogs depends mainly on the severity of the condition. Mild inflammation has a good prognosis. However, as even mild pancreatitis can develop into a severe illness, regular check-ups are important.
In severe cases, pancreatitis can be life-threatening. Complications are common, especially when other organs are involved.
When does a dog with pancreatitis need to be put to sleep?
To put a dog to sleep is never easy – neither for you nor for your vet. In some cases, however, it is the kindest option to relieve your dog from incurable pain. If your dog with pancreatitis has a poor prognosis, you should therefore talk to your vet about the available options.
Can the pancreas recover in dogs?
Although pancreatitis in dogs can have serious consequences and, in the worst case, be fatal, most dogs respond well to consistent treatment. In many cases, early treatment leads to the inflammation subsiding and your dog feeling better soon.
Mit der Gebetsstellung will der Hund seine Bauchschmerzen lindern.
Prevention: How can I prevent pancreatitis in dogs?
Unfortunately, the triggers of pancreatitis in dogs are often difficult to identify or influence. For this reason, preventive measures are rather limited. An appropriate diet and regular weight checks can, however, make a significant contribution to reducing your dog’s risk of illness.
Table: Key facts about pancreatitis in dogs at a glance
Description:
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is painful for your dog and requires veterinary care.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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