Dog Pancreatitis Symptoms

1. Severe pain when the dogs belly or stomach is touched.

2. Sudden loss of appetite and feeling unwell.

3. Severe vomiting.

What Causes Dog Pancreatitis?

When the word Pancreatitis is broken down it consists of 'pancrea' which means from the pancreas, and 'titis' which means inflammation. With this name and information it's not hard to determine the cause of Pancreatitis, but what causes inflammation of the pancreas?

Well unfortunately it is unknown so far as to what causes this illness but many have come up with guesses and theorise behind it but none of which are without faults.

The pancreas and area that gets inflamed is the area inside you and your dog's body that is attached to the bottom of the stomach and the first part of the small intestines.

The pancreas has two main functions, the first function is to create insulin, and the second is to hold the cells in which produce enzymes to break down and digest the food that passes through.

The problem arises when for some unknown reason (as stated above) the pancreas becomes very inflamed in a short period of time and then swells enough to make it uncomfortable for your dog. This is when your dog will begin feeling sick and start to vomit. As the problem worsens and swelling increases, the enzymes that are created to break down and digest food are accidentally released and attack the cells of the pancreas causing further inflammation and pain for the dog.

This vicious cycle will continue to cause more and more pain to the dog with varied symptoms depending on the severity of the inflammation. As it continues to get worse it may also spread to the liver which is close by and cause extremely painful vomiting.

What Your Vet May Say or Do

X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests are not uncommon for a vet to determine and confirm this illness in your dog. When it has been confirmed your vet will probably stop your dog from eating or drinking for one to three days so that the pancreas enzymes won't be provoked by food or drink being digested.

This will mean your dog will need to be maintained on intravenous fluids via a drip line to stop dehydration or shock, and while the pancreas gets to settle down and for inflammation to subside. Painkillers and antibiotics are also usually given to the dog.

After being kept under supervision, the dogs vomiting will stop and life will start to get back to normal. Ease your dog back onto food by giving him bland foods such as boiled rice, pasta, boiled chicken, turkey or white fish in small portions but given often to your dog. Then ease them back onto normal foods by gradually mixing more and more of their normal food into bland food until they eat only their normal food.



Other Possible Conditions

Dog Food Poisoning
Dog Gastric Bloat
Dog Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Dog Intussusception
Dog with Obstruction in the Digestive System
Dog Parvovirus Infection
Dog Pyometra (uterine/womb infections)