Can something be done to make sure it doesn't appear?
If my dog has Canine Pancreatitis, how do I treat it?
For the first question, you should know that only the cases that get to severe stages can become fatal. The other two questions can be answered if you know how the Pancreas works and what it is.
The pancreas is an organ that is shaped in V and quite small, which sits near the duodenum and stomach. The duodenum is a small tube that will get the food to the intestine, from the stomach. The importance of the pancreas comes from the fact that it makes digestive enzymes, which are used to break down the food during the digestion process. From the pancreas, the enzymes are carried to the intestines.
The disease appears when those enzymes leak instead of getting to the intestines. The end result is an inflammation, which as it advances, so does the severity of the disease.
There are a number of causes which make this disease to appear. Below you can see some of the possible causes for Canine pancreatitis:
- a diet with too much fat
- obesity
- a disease of the liver
- traumas
- drug reactions
- giving the pet too many leftover that are fatty
Some of the symptoms that you can expect:
- decreased appetite
- abdomen that hurts
- greasy and yellow feces
- dehydration
- vomit
If the pancreatitis is acute, these are the symptoms that you can expect:
- body wide spread infection
- heart rhythm that is irregular
- organs get inflamed if they're in the vicinity of the pancreas
Another side effect of acute pancreatitis is that the dog might get a disseminated intravascular coagulation. To put it simply, this happens when the white blood cells increase and the blood clots. When the blood begins to clot it can't be reversed and it will kill the dog in most cases.
- giving him fluid therapy
- don't give him water or food for 1-2 days
When the dog doesn't get any water or food, the pancreas has the chance to stop the production of enzymes, so the inflammation isn't stimulated anymore. After one or two days, you can start reintroducing the food, and it should consist of food that is easy to digest, with low protein and fat. If the dog is dehydrated, they can receive fluids intravenously, so they get their electrolyte and hydration balance.
If you have reason to suspect that your dog suffers from canine pancreatitis, you should visit a doctor immediately.
