Pancreatitis in Dogs
Pancreatitis is a very painful and serious disease that can come up all of a sudden. For some dogs, an attack can happen very rapidly as a result of eating table scraps or very fatty foods. We often see cases of acute pancreatitis around the holidays, when people unknowingly feed their dog special treats from the holiday meal, like skin or fat trimmings from the turkey.
The pancreas is a large, elongated gland in the body that is found between the upper small intestine, kidneys, liver, spleen, and stomach. The major function of the pancreas is the secretion of digestive enzymes into the small intestine. Pancreatitis is linked to the activation of certain digestive enzymes that lead to the injury of the pancreas.
Symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Lack of Appetite
- Lack of Thirst
- Weight Loss
- Depression
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Abdominal Pain
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
If the disease progresses, you might see these symptoms as well:
- Abnormal Stool Consistency And Color
- Fever
- Swollen Abdomen
- Heart Arrhythmias
- Difficulty Breathing
- Shock
Pancreatitis can be very serious, and requires immediate veterinary attention. The best way to prevent pancreatitis in your dog is to provide a healthy, balanced diet and plenty of regular exercise. If dogs are having chronic, relapsing pancreatitis, the dog will usually require a specific medical diet to minimize the recurrence rate.