The pancreas is a small but vital organ located near the stomach, usually riding on top of the small intestines. The pancreas has two jobs. It creates digestive enzymes that help break down food for the dog and produces insulin which helps regulate blood sugar.
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It can happen out of the blue, with no apparent reason. Other times, pancreatitis can occur from a known incident, such as when a dog eats something very fatty.
Although most dogs survive, pancreatitis can be deadly. It’s important to know the signs, so you know when it is time to take your dog to the vet.
Signs of Pancreatitis in Dogs
Early signs of pancreatitis include:
- Loss of Appetite
- Weakness or Lack of Energy
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Fever
As pancreatitis progresses, symptoms can get worse. Symptoms of worsening pancreatitis include:
- A belly that appears bloated or feels hard to the touch
- Dog is no longer able to move
- Seizures
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble Swallowing
Causes for Pancreatitis
Although pancreatitis can happen out of the blue, it often occurs due to a specific incident. The most common cause of pancreatitis is being fed a high-fat diet. Dogs who are not used to high-fat foods and suddenly consume a lot of it are particularly vulnerable.
As an example, pancreatitis cases at emergency vets spike the day after Thanksgiving, because the majority of dogs in the USA at least are getting treated to high-fat table scraps.
Although this is the most common cause of pancreatitis, it’s not the only known reason. Dogs who will just gulp down anything, obese dogs, dogs with diabetes or hypothyroidism, or even a severe blunt force trauma like getting in a car accident can bring on a bout of pancreatitis.
Treatment
The good news is pancreatitis is very treatable. You will need the help of a veterinarian for treatment. Pancreatitis is treated with pain medication to ease discomfort, anti-nausea, or diarrhea drugs as needed, and intravenous fluids.
The veterinarian will also fast the dog for 24 hours, which helps give the pancreas a break so it can recover. Finally, the veterinarian will likely recommend a low-fat prescription diet after this as dogs who have experienced pancreatitis are more likely to have it strike again.
Outcome
According to TB Thompson, DVM, the prognosis for dogs that have mild to moderate pancreatitis is good. Unfortunately, about 33% of dogs die from severe pancreatitis. If your dog is experiencing symptoms of pancreatitis, it’s best to take them to see a veterinarian right away for the best possible chance of survival.
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[…] There are lots of ways to prepare a turkey, and one of them is to deep fat fry it in a turkey fryer. This is one case where you may want to skip giving your pet a little taste and opt for a lower fat treat instead. While dogs, like all mammals, need a certain amount of fat in their diet to stay healthy, too much can lead to pancreatitis. […]
Thanks for writing such an important and potentially lifesaving article. I hope it helps people see how important it is to react to any symptoms quickly. I’ve had a few dogs that suffered from pancreatitis, and sadly one died due to veterinary neglect. I’m sure if I had the vet I have now, the outcome would have been a lot different.
Super information, Andrea! One of my dear friend’s pup got pancreatitis many years ago, before I knew her or her pup. I’m told she was a very sick pup for about a week and had to stay at the vet’s office for monitoring. I don’t know why she got so sick. But she did pull through. It seems like such a scary diagnosis. You took the scary out of this issue with the facts. Excellent! I’m sharing with my dog parents.
Pancreatitis is scary! One of our dogs was sick with it after we were attacked by a dog on a walk. She wasn’t hurt (I was) but refused to eat that night and went downhill quickly. She had to stay on IV fluids for 2 days. I had no idea stress could cause it until it happened in our house.
Thank you for such a great post with easy explanation for those that have problems understanding some times, I am sharing as it is a must read for all pet parents, have a great week
Pancreatitis is so scary! I know of a few dogs who haven’t survived it. Holidays are so tricky, it’s not easy to keep those high fat foods away from the dog. Great post.
Excellent post! One of my huskies had chronic IBS, and I’d always worry about pancreatitis. Thankfully, it never was. It can be so scary. Sometimes the early signs can mimic other things, so as you said, so important to call the vet! Sharing this with my readers.