After reading this article, pet parents are expected to have a correct understanding of pancreatitis in dogs and cats and the ability to prevent their pets from developing this condition. The article is approximately 2000 words long and should take about 3 minutes to read. OPEN article table of contents: Preface Understanding Canine Pancreatitis 8 Common Causes of Canine Pancreatitis Symptoms of Canine Pancreatitis Treatment Course and Duration for Canine Pancreatitis? What Can Dogs Eat After Recovery from Acute Pancreatitis? How to Prevent Canine Pancreatitis Summary Preface Pancreatitis in dogs is a challenging disease for pet parents. This article will explain pancreatitis in dogs in a conversational manner, summarizing information to inform you of the following points: Causes of acute pancreatitis in dogs Manifestations of acute pancreatitis in dogs Treatment of acute pancreatitis Continued observation after recovery from acute pancreatitis Most importantly, how to prevent acute pancreatitis When dogs exhibit vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, and body curling, it is crucial to pay special attention to their health! Understanding Canine Pancreatitis 8 Common Causes of Canine Pancreatitis High-fat diet (common cause: suddenly eating too greasy food) Previous improper diet (or eating things dogs should not eat) Overweight (planning a dog weight loss program is necessary if they are too fat) Hypothyroidism (or other endocrine diseases) Severe trauma Dogs with diabetes or hyperadrenocorticism are prone to induce pancreatitis (chronic diseases induce) Drug-induced (anti-epileptic drugs… etc.) Prone dog breeds (Boxers, Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, etc., are high-risk groups for hereditary pancreatitis) Reference: Pancreatitis in Dogs – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Feb 22, 2021 Pancreatitis in dogs refers to an inflammatory response in the pancreas, leading to the pancreas and surrounding organs being digested by the enzymes produced by the pancreas itself. Even mild canine pancreatitis can cause a systemic inflammatory response, and the most severe cases can lead to multiple organ failure, making it a very dangerous disease for dogs! The occurrence of pancreatitis is closely related to a dog’s diet. Dogs that eat human food have a much higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those that eat pet food. Even if human food is rinsed with water, it still contains more fat than the normal intake. If a dog is used to a low-fat or normal-fat diet but suddenly eats high-fat food, it can also lead to pancreatitis. Intaking too much fat is very likely to cause pancreatic problems or chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is divided into acute and chronic pancreatitis. Generally, acute pancreatitis is more common in middle-aged dogs and cats, but younger or older cats and dogs also have a chance of developing pancreatitis, such as mixed breed cats, Miniature Schnauzer dogs… etc., are prone breeds. Large dogs, Labradors, Huskies, or dogs with excessive weight and less exercise are also prone to pancreatitis. A constant high-fat diet often makes older dogs and dogs with less exercise unable to bear the load, leading to acute pancreatic inflammation and other problems. Pancreatitis is generally thought to be more common in obese animals, and a low-protein, high-fat diet is likely to induce the occurrence of pancreatitis. Reference: Pancreatitis in Dogs – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Feb 22, 2021 Symptoms of Canine Pancreatitis Pet parents, please pay special attention! Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include: curling up in a corner and not moving, walking with an arched back. Persistent vomiting, with white foam or yellow bile in the vomit. Swelling and pain in the upper abdomen. Praying-like posture with chest on the ground and buttocks raised (abdominal pain). The director reminds: The praying posture in dogs is particularly obvious in symptoms. If dogs exhibit the above situations, they may indicate that the dog has pancreatitis and needs to see a doctor as soon as possible! Dogs and cats cannot express physical discomfort in words, so pet parents should be more vigilant! Treatment Course and Duration for Canine Pancreatitis? Common pancreatitis checks include several items: blood tests (cPL test), abdominal ultrasound, X-rays, with professional veterinarians judging the organs involved and the severity, then controlling the dog’s diet and water intake, and maintaining nutrition through appropriate intravenous drips. Generally, for mild acute pancreatitis, the treatment method taken by professional veterinarians may be fasting, and if the condition is severe, fasting for a longer time. And intravenous drips are used to prevent dehydration in dogs, as well as medication to prevent continued vomiting. Moderate to severe acute pancreatitis requires professional veterinarians to monitor the condition at all times, and severe cases may even require surgery. Acute pancreatitis in dogs can be fatal and should not be ignored. What Can Dogs Eat After Recovery from Acute Pancreatitis? Dogs with mild symptoms of pancreatitis can see significant improvement in their condition in a short time through treatment by professional veterinarians. After the acute pancreatitis condition is controlled, dogs can be given a very small amount of water to drink for testing. If they can swallow water, then a low-fat diet, high in carbohydrates, should be provided. After the initial recovery, adhere to small but frequent meals, and do not feed a large amount of dog food at the start. In addition to avoiding most of the fat in food, high-fat dog snacks should not be fed. Pet parents should note: high-fat human food and pet snacks are things that dogs should avoid when they first recover from pancreatitis! If successful feeding is achieved and the dog does not continue to vomit or have abdominal pain, gradually the pancreatitis has been controlled, and after professional veterinarian assessment, the dog can be taken home to recuperate! The diet should be maintained under veterinary instructions for one to two weeks, then return for a follow-up examination. 4 Dog Food Purchasing Suggestions, Feeding Doubts Solved at Once The director reminds: Some dogs may evolve from acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatitis. When it becomes chronic pancreatitis, a veterinarian is needed to help control the pet’s dietary condition in the long term. Dogs that have just recovered from a serious illness, when the pancreatic function has not fully recovered, should still maintain small but frequent meals until the veterinarian confirms that they can eat normally! How to Prevent Canine Pancreatitis Here is the important information the director wants to convey to pet parents! Among all prevention items, the most important is dietary control. It is crucial to provide dogs with an appropriate amount of carbohydrates, low protein, and low fat diet, and avoid high-fat human food, especially for older, less active, and obese dogs that require special attention from pet parents. As dogs age, how to see aging? Actually, dog age can be converted in this way! Generally, chronic pancreatitis is a disease that is more difficult to detect. Thanks to advances in medical diagnostic technology, pancreatitis can be more quickly and accurately detected than in the past, especially for older dogs with less exercise. They should regularly go to the hospital for a complete check-up. Older dogs at home should pay more attention to their physical and dietary conditions, with appropriate exercise and a low-fat diet! In summary, dogs cannot choose their own food, so pet parents should take the initiative to study which foods are suitable for dogs, care about what nutrients their pets should supplement, and avoid letting dogs and cats eat things they should not eat! A comprehensive list of dog feeding taboos? Can dogs eat chocolate? Generally, acute pancreatitis in dogs often occurs in older dogs. Older dogs have less exercise and poor metabolism, so special attention should be paid to diet and physiological conditions! Frequently paying attention to a dog’s dietary condition is the right way. If you have collected articles and information about these diseases, even if your dog has a condition at night and cannot see a doctor immediately, you can judge and handle the condition correctly, at least to avoid pancreatitis or disease worsening. The director says: Pet parents should pay attention that in the care of older dogs, special attention to details is needed. Especially high-fat diets, if the pets have less exercise, do not often feed them too fatty foods, which is a good way to avoid pancreatic inflammation! The companionship of pets is a journey of several decades, and careful care for their physical and dietary conditions is needed to make them grow happily! Below is the director’s latest article, hurry up and have a look! [Cat Posture Meaning] 3 seconds to understand 18 cat body languages 2023-02-03 [What to do if cats fight] Prevent cat fighting + multi-cat family must-read emergency mediation guide 2023-01-26 New dog owners must know: 7 essential items for dog owners, care knowledge, and essential related knowledge 2023-01-23 [What to do if the cat keeps meowing] 3 minutes to help you understand the reasons for the cat’s constant meowing and how to handle it? 2023-01-08 Thank you all for watching. 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