Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis

Is this diet related or not? Despite what you may have heard, the truth is that nobody truly knows what causes pancreatitis. What is certainly known is that there are a number of factors to consider.

The pancreas has two main functions. It produces digestive enzymes that secrete into the intestines for normal food digestion and it also produces insulin. Disease or injury through trauma can cause the pancreas to minimize the production of enzymes but in a quirky twist, these enzymes may begin to digest the pancreas itself because the enzymes activate within the pancreas rather than in the small intestines.

Unfortunately, the pet owner is not always able to distinguish between signs of pancreatitis and other ailments. For example, the usually calm dog becomes aggressive. While this may be perceived as a personality change, perhaps due to any number of things, it’s also possible that the dog is in pain. Due to pain, the dog may become a fussy eater. In turn, the pet owner tries to tempt the dog with special foods layered on top of the usual dinner. Perhaps some added meat or a nice meat broth will be helpful. However, if pancreatitis is the underlying cause of this sudden “pickiness”, the last thing this dog needs is added fat to his diet. While fat alone may or may not be a cause of pancreatitis, it will certainly take the predisposed dog over the edge.

Pancreatitis can mimic other diseases. It is not uncommon to see a dog with any number of intestinal diseases vomiting now and then. Sometimes, the vomiting may be forceful and the pet owner, accustomed to this behavior now and then, is unlikely to think about pancreatitis being the cause this time. The opposite is also true. A dog vomiting profusely may be doing so for reasons other than pancreatitis.

There are certain conditions that seem to predispose a dog to pancreatitis. Gastrointesinal diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, intestinal obstruction, diabetes and certain medications are considerations. When a dog seems to be uncomfortable, sensitive to the touch, vomiting with force and/or often, your veterinarian should be visited as quickly as possible.

Which dogs are at greatest risk? According to Dr. Jorg Steiner, DVM, DACZIM, DECZIM, Gastrointestinal Laboratory Professor, Texas A&M, Schnauzers top the list. Other breeds such as Cocker Spaniels, Yorshire Terriers and Miniature Poodles also seem to have a genetic predisposition.