Canine and Feline Pancreatitis

If your pet gets sick, the cause may be inflammation of this tiny little organ called the pancreas.

Our pets are family members. when they are sick,
we worry, we miss work to care for them and we take them to see their veterinarian. What if your pet is diagnosed with pancreatitis? What is this disease? How is it treated? How can it be prevented?
The pancreas is a tiny flat organ located next to the stomach. The pancreas may be small but it is mighty. The pancreas controls secretion of insulin and digestive enzymes. However, sometimes the pancreas can start digesting itself causing severe inflammation which is called pancreatitis.

Dogs can be at a higher risk for this disease due to the following risk factors:

  • High fat diets (bacon/meat scraps/ice cream/holiday left-overs) or if they are eating things outside
  • Obesity
  • Certain breeds are predisposed - Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, and Terriers
  • Other diseases like cushing’s, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and epilepsy can increase the likelihood of pancreatitis

Signs that your dog may have pancreatitis may include acute vomiting, loss of appetite, tired feeling, tummy pain, tremoring/shivering, or even chronic intermittent vomiting.

Cats are at a higher risk for pancreatitis due to the following factors (these differ from dog's risk factors):

  • High fat diets are not a cause
  • Stress
  • Infectious disease such as toxoplasma, herpesvirus, calicivirus
  • Ingestion of insecticides or toxins
  • Other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or cholangiohepatitis

Pancreatitis in cats can be more elusive for pet parents to detect. Cats often become very .

lethargic, stop eating much, but rarely vomit. Against common beliefs, vomiting in cats is never normal. Even once or twice a month is abnormal and pancreatitis could be an underlying cause.
If your pet is sick and you suspect them of having pancreatitis, your veterinarian must run tests to help with a final diagnosis. If you have a progressive veterinarian, they will have a pancreatitis blood test or ultrasound to help make the diagnosis in their hospital and you can usually have results within an hour. Pancreatitis is a serious disease that can be acute and potentially life-threatening illness or become a chronic smoldering disease.
Treatment for pancreatitis is dependent on the significance of the illness in the pet. Some pets require hospitalization for many days and other just require a diet change.
Pancreatitis is increasingly diagnosed as we start into the holidays because dogs tend to get more high fat table scraps and cats get stressed from company in the house.
Veterinarians are here to help and should always be your primary source of information about pancreatitis.