Tis the Season — for Pancreatitis

Many dogs get sick from this dangerous condition at holiday time. Here’s how to prevent it.

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At Thanksgiving and Christmastime (not to mention Easter), the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts University sees a surge in cases of very sick dogs who have lost their appetite and are often vomiting as well as having bouts of diarrhea. Moreover, their abdomens are extremely sensitive to touch; any pressure causes pain. The culprit: pancreatitis, a serious disease that can prove life-threatening without treatment.

What’s the connection to the holiday season? People feed a lot of high-fat treats during this time, or dogs simply get hold of them. It’s the excess fat that causes the illness.

How pancreatitis does its damage

The pancreas, an organ near the stomach, aids in digestion by secreting enzymes that break down food in the small intestine so its nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream. But too much fat increases the production of those enzymes, and they actually start digesting the cells of the pancreas itself. That causes inflammation of that organ (“itis” means inflammation). Once the process gets going, it becomes a vicious cycle. More digestion of the pancreatic cells leads to more inflammation.

Arriving at a diagnosis

Intensity of symptoms runs the gamut, from a mild case where a dog does not seem himself for a day or two and vomits just a couple of times, to a severe one that includes unremitting vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, and excruciating pain if, say, the owner goes to pick the dog up by holding his belly. If the situation gets even more dire, a dog might become jaundiced because the inflamed pancreas blocks the flow of bile from the liver. (You’ll see yellow in the whites of a dog’s eyes.) And blood clots and kidney failure can develop. In the middle of the two extremes there’s loss of appetite combined with some vomiting and pain but not episodes of throwing up that won’t quit.

If symptoms are mild, the veterinarian might not even run tests but instead recommend withholding food for 36 to 48 hours, then reintroducing it gradually with a bland diet.

More severe symptoms require an arsenal of tests because lethargy, vomiting, and fever can have a number of causes. Tests recommended might include a complete blood count, a chemistry profile that looks for fat in the blood, and a look at the levels of pancreatic enzymes to see if they are elevated. No one test provides the answer. The doctor has to put all the results together, add in the clinical signs, and make the call from there. If she feels unsure, the vet may add an ultrasound scan to see if she can see inflammation via imaging.

Effective treatment

As mentioned above, mild cases of pancreatitis can be treated on an outpatient basis. A bland diet to help the dog through might typically include rice and skinless chicken breast that has been microwaved or baked. Low-fat cottage cheese can be used as well, or you can choose a low-fat over-the-counter dog food (chosen with the help of the vet) or a low-fat therapeutic diet obtained at the doctor’s office. It depends on what the dog can tolerate. The diet will not have to be fed long-term — just until the dog feels better.

Severe cases are going to require more involved treatment, quite possibly a hospital stay. The dog might need intravenous fluids to correct dehydration along with medication to stop the vomiting. Pain medication is also often part of the treatment protocol.

Preventing a recurrence

The way to prevent a recurrence is simple: no more fatty meat, no gravy, no sweet potatoes or other vegetables made with loads of butter or oil, no heavy desserts. That’s generally all it takes to keep pancreatitis from coming back, although the vet may also ask you about the diet you generally feed your pet and recommend one that’s lower in fat. (Lower-fat diets are also recommended for the rare dog whose pancreatitis flares up a bit now and then even though the owner has stuck to the feeding plan.)

But to avoid getting to that place, keep the trash can tightly sealed as you cook and bake and, as much as you love your dog, don’t show it with morsels of holiday treats. They add up. Play with him and take him for walks instead.

Other causes of pancreatitis

Too much fat is not the only thing that predisposes a dog to pancreatitis. Certain breeds have a predisposition, particularly schnauzers. Terriers are prone, too.

Diabetes and Cushing’s disease in a dog also increase the chance that he will develop pancreatitis, as do certain drugs, including cortisone. Finally, obesity can make a dog more likely to develop the condition.

 

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