How do you treat pancreatitis in dogs

However, there are pancreatic-specific blood tests that can be performed when the veterinarian has a high suspicion of pancreatitis. Abdominal X-rays are also not very helpful in diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. The best method to image the pancreas is via abdominal ultrasound. However, the tissue of the pancreas has to be abnormal enough to visualize using the ultrasound, which is more common in dogs with acute, severe pancreatitis, when compared to those with chronic, mild pancreatitis.

Overall, blood testing and abdominal ultrasound are better in helping to diagnose pancreatitis in dogs when it is acute and severe. Treatment is primarily supportive care regardless of whether the patient has acute or chronic pancreatitis. Patients with severe, acute pancreatitis often require more extensive medical intervention and treatment. Severe pancreatitis patients are often critical and best treated in a specialist practice, such as an intensive hour care facility.

Patients with moderate or mild pancreatitis may be hospitalized for one to a few days for IV fluid therapy to correct dehydration. In a dog with mild pancreatitis, your veterinarian may determine that subcutaneous applied under the skin fluid administration—either at the appointment or at home—will be adequate for rehydration. In general, mild to moderate pancreatitis patients recover in one to two weeks. Treatment can vary with these patients, so the cost varies. A permanent diet change may be recommended, especially in predisposed breeds Schnauzers or dogs with a previous history of pancreatitis.

Many other diseases can cause these symptoms, as such both blood tests and an ultrasound scan of the abdomen are necessary to rule out other conditions and to reach a diagnosis of pancreatitis. An ultrasound scan is very important in making a diagnosis of pancreatitis. In addition, an ultrasound scan can also reveal some potential complications associated with pancreatitis e. Fig 2: A dog with pancreatitis. The pancreas is darker than normal and enlarged.

The surrounding fat is brighter than normal and the intestine seen in cross section is also thickened. What Treatment is Available for Pancreatitis? There is no specific cure for pancreatitis, fortunately though most dogs recover with appropriate supportive treatment.

Supportive measures include giving an intravenous drip to provide the body with necessary fluid and salts and the use of medications which combat nausea and pain. Most dogs with pancreatitis need to be hospitalised to provide treatment and to undertake necessary monitoring, however patients can sometimes be managed with medication at home if the signs are not particularly severe.

At the other extreme, dogs that are very severely affected by pancreatitis need to be given intensive care, ideally in an Intensive Care Unit such as the one we have at Willows. In fact, the day after Thanksgiving is known for more than just Black Friday bargains. Basically, if your dog is showing any signs of abdominal pain, the worst thing to do is feed him a fatty diet.

This is one of many reasons that giving your dog table scraps , as tempting as it may be, is not advisable. As the Merck Veterinary Manual notes, as with any disease, no test should be used in isolation for diagnosis, and all clinical findings should be used in conjunction to arrive at the most appropriate diagnosis.

Acute Pancreatitis An acute attack of pancreatitis means it comes on suddenly, with no previous appearance of the condition before. It can become life threatening to other organs if the inflammation spreads. Chronic Pancreatitis A chronic condition is one that has developed over time, slowly, and often without symptoms.

This condition can result from repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis. The most common treatment and management options are:. That said, some vets believe digestive enzyme supplements with pancreatin can help some not all dogs by reducing the work of the pancreas and inhibiting pancreatic secretion.

These come in over-the-counter strength as well as prescription strength. Fish oil may seem counterintuitive at first, because of its high fat content, but it can actually help lower blood lipid levels. Studies suggest a high level of fish oil about 1, mg.

When supplementing with fish oil, also supplement with 5 to 10 IU of vitamin E. There have been human studies suggesting that vitamin E with selenium , vitamin C, beta-carotene, and methionine may help prevent pancreatitis. Conversely, another human study reveals that probiotics can make acute pancreatitis worse. Caroline Coile, Ph. Pancreatitis is a subject Coile knows well, not only as a professional canine researcher and writer, but because her dog, a Saluki named Beanie, went through the difficult and stressful experience.

Here she shares her story:. Beanie, unlike most Salukis, loves to eat. But one day, after eating his very favorite treat—a flaky biscuit—he vomited it up. He was standing with his back kind of hunched. Many medications are toxic to pets. The costs of treatment are variable, depending on how sick a dog is and whether they need to be hospitalized, as well as whether long-term management is indicated for chronic pancreatitis or concurrent conditions.

This is not a situation where you should wait it out, starting with home treatment and seeing whether or not your dog gets better before scheduling a vet visit. Instead, check with a veterinarian right away, because prompt veterinary treatment means a better prognosis for this potentially life-threatening condition.

Severely ill dogs should be treated at a veterinary hospital. For mild or chronic cases, home or outpatient treatment might be possible. Your vet can advise you as to whether or not this is recommended. Home care for canine pancreatitis usually involves feeding the specific low-fat food your vet recommends, giving medications, and possibly having fluids administered under the skin during an outpatient veterinary visit, or by being taught to administer fluids at home.

Many dogs will fully recover and go on to live normal, happy lives. Prognosis depends largely on how severe the pancreatitis is, whether there are complications or other health conditions that complicate treatment, how soon treatment is initiated, and how a pup responds to initial treatment.