May2011_NEWS FROM DAYBORO VET SURGERY
PANCREATITIS in Dogs.
The pancreas is a pale pink glandular organ just under the stomach and along the duodenum. It is all about secretion, and it has two main jobs:
– The first job is the secretion of digestive enzymes to help us break down the food we eat;
– The second job being secretion of insulin and glucagon to regulate sugar metabolism.
The digestive enzymes are the part of the story that concerns us in pancreatitis.
In pancreatitis, inflammation disrupts the normal function of the pancreas.
Digestive enzymes that are normally safely stored are released prematurely where they digest the body itself.
The good news is that most commonly the inflammation is confined to the area of the liver and pancreas but even with this limitation, pancreatitis can be painful and life-threatening.
In most cases we never find out exactly what causes pancreatitis, but the most common cause that we see is dietary induced.
Many owners who have had their pets get this disease can usually trace it back to a meal that had a high fat content. This includes bone marrow which is VERY fatty.
The classical signs in dogs are appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, painful abdomen, and fever.
There are tests that will detect this disease that can be done at the surgery and this, combined with clinical signs and history from the client, usually gives us a fairly definitive diagnosis.
Treatment consists of high dose intravenous fluids to flush out the toxins; taking the animal off food; medication to stop the vomiting; and pain relief. At times we will also administer antibiotics in case there was an infective cause.
Once an animal has had a bout of pancreatitis they are then more susceptible to further bouts and a strict low fat diet should be adhered to.
This is a very painful and potentially fatal disease and if you suspect that your pet may be suffering from pancreatitis, fast and aggressive veterinary intervention is the key to them making a full recovery.
** Please remember CHOCOLATE is TOXIC to dogs and only a relatively small amount can be fatal.
In pancreatitis, inflammation disrupts the normal function of the pancreas.
Digestive enzymes that are normally safely stored are released prematurely where they digest the body itself.
The good news is that most commonly the inflammation is confined to the area of the liver and pancreas but even with this limitation, pancreatitis can be painful and life-threatening.
In most cases we never find out exactly what causes pancreatitis, but the most common cause that we see is dietary induced.
Many owners who have had their pets get this disease can usually trace it back to a meal that had a high fat content. This includes bone marrow which is VERY fatty.
The classical signs in dogs are appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, painful abdomen, and fever.
There are tests that will detect this disease that can be done at the surgery and this, combined with clinical signs and history from the client, usually gives us a fairly definitive diagnosis.
Treatment consists of high dose intravenous fluids to flush out the toxins; taking the animal off food; medication to stop the vomiting; and pain relief. At times we will also administer antibiotics in case there was an infective cause.
Once an animal has had a bout of pancreatitis they are then more susceptible to further bouts and a strict low fat diet should be adhered to.
This is a very painful and potentially fatal disease and if you suspect that your pet may be suffering from pancreatitis, fast and aggressive veterinary intervention is the key to them making a full recovery.
** Please remember CHOCOLATE is TOXIC to dogs and only a relatively small amount can be fatal.
Here’s to happy healthy pets
From all at Dayboro Vets.
