What are the clinical signs of pancreatitis? The most common clinical signs include nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. During an attack, dogs may take a 'praying position', with their rear end up in the air and their front legs and head lowered onto the floor.
Pancreatitis can present as a sudden-onset (acute) illness or as a more long-term (chronic) illness. A dog that has acute pancreatitis will have more serious clinical signs, such as: Severe lethargy. Abdominal pain.
“To give the most accurate diagnosis possible, your veterinarian will also test for diseases that mimic pancreatitis, such as kidney disease and liver disease.” Steiner recommends giving pets with pancreatitis a low fat diet.
The most common scenario in which a dog develops pancreatitis is after eating a relatively high-fat meal, such as barbecue meat or a holiday ham. The clinical symptoms typically begin within the next 12 to 24 hours.
In the case of chronic pancreatitis, your dog's poop may turn light yellow and have a greasy appearance and foul odor.
Boiled chicken, low fat beef, egg whites, yogurt, barley and cooked vegetables are also considered safe foods for pancreatitis patients.
In milder forms, symptoms aren't quite as obvious but may still include loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhoea. During an attack of pancreatitis, dogs may hunch their back, holding their rear end in the air with their front legs and head lowered onto the floor.
Blood tests for pancreatic enzymes can help diagnose pancreatitis. This includes a very specific test called canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI). However, even these tests might not be accurate in all dogs, so a vet may need to begin treatment based on symptoms alone.
Any diet given to a dog with pancreatitis needs to be highly digestible. Specialists recommend diets that are over 85% digestible on a dry matter basis.
How Long Can Dogs Live With Pancreatitis? Dogs who have a mild bout of pancreatitis can recover fully without any long-term effects. If they remain safe and healthy, they should be able to live a long and full life.
In a dog with pancreatitis, however, the enzymes activate when they're released, inflaming and causing damage to the pancreas and its surrounding tissue and other organs. According to the Whole Dog Journal, the enzymes can actually begin to digest the pancreas itself, which causes extreme pain to your dog.
Prognosis. Most mild cases of pancreatitis recover after 2 to 3 days of therapy and have a good prognosis. The more severe cases have a guarded prognosis and often require a hospital stay of a week or longer.
In addition to dietary changes, dogs that have suffered from pancreatitis may be advised to complete more daily exercise in order to manage their weight, their cortisol levels, and to help to boost their metabolism. Your vet may also advise the addition of digestive enzyme supplements into their diet.
Herbs, such as milk thistle, ginger, and turmeric can help maintain healthy liver function and may thus be useful to support animals with pancreatitis. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy may also be helpful approaches for the pain and nausea associated with the disease.
Pancreatitis has two stages — acute and chronic. Chronic pancreatitis is a more persistent condition. Most cases of acute pancreatitis are mild and involve a short hospital stay for the pancreas to recover. Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly after the pancreas is damaged.
The cPLI is currently considered the best blood test available for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. "If the cPLI is high, there is a 96% certainty that the patient has pancreatitis..."
Lipase is the preferred laboratory test for diagnosing acute pancreatitis, as it is the most sensitive and specific marker for pancreatic cell damage. Additional laboratory testing, such as complete blood count (CBC) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests, are useful to obtain prognostic information.
This means that the pet becomes sick after a meal of something very rich and fatty. I would say that the top five foods I have seen trigger pancreatitis are (in no particular order) chicken wings, steak, rotisserie chicken, barbecue and ribs.
There are a few things to consider when choosing the best food for your dog with pancreatitis. The first is to choose a food that is easy to digest. This means avoiding foods that are high in fat and fiber. Some good options for dogs with pancreatitis include boiled chicken, rice, cottage cheese, and plain yogurt.
For a dog with pancreatitis, it is best to avoid high fat diets. Protein sources such as lamb and beef are usually too high in fat and may cause problems for dogs with chronic pancreatitis. Instead, look for low fat proteins like chicken or turkey, non-oily fish, or even lean game meat.
That said, while the majority of dogs can eat eggs without a problem, there are some exceptions. If your dog has a history of pancreatitis, for example, talk to your vet before offering eggs or any other new food item, since they could cause inflammation.
Chronic (long term) pancreatitis
This is where the dog has developed problems over time, often with the symptoms building up gradually until eventually pancreatitis is diagnosed. Typical symptoms can include: Smelly breath and stool.
Diagnosing Pancreatitis in Pets
Take note of and discuss symptoms like increased drinking, increased urination, changes in energy level, hair loss, and weight changes (loss or gain) with your veterinarian.