Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas caused by leakage of active digestive enzymes into the pancreatic tissue. This causes various clinical signs but most pets affected by acute pancreatitis have abdominal pain, depression and decreased appetite or lack of appetite. Vomiting and diarrhea occur in many dogs with pancreatitis. In severe cases of pancreatitis there may be signs of shock or total collapse. Chronic pancreatitis in dogs may occur, with similar but less severe symptoms. The signs of acute pancreatitis similar to those seen in dogs are not as common in cats and probably account for less than 25% of the cases of pancreatitis among felines. Cats are more likely to have chronic pancreatitis, characterized by a decrease in appetite, lethargy, loss of weight, chronic vomiting and low body temperatures. Cats sometimes have diarrhea or difficulty breathing.
High fat diets, when combined with low protein intake contribute to the development of pancreatitis. A single high fat meal may cause pancreatitis in a pet whose normal diet is moderate or low in fat. Our local vets always report an increase in cases of pancreatitis around Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. This is primarily because of all of the high fat table scraps that people are tempted to give their pets after large holiday meals. Our furry friends love the taste of these leftovers, which makes them very difficult to turn down if put in front of them.
"Pancreatitis can be very serious," says Dr. Mary Labato, DVM, internal medicine, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA. "It can run the gamut from mild with vomiting to life threatening and the cause of rapid death."
Pancreatitis is a painful condition and pain management is not only humane but important in recovery. Untreated pain affects the immune system and increases mortality. Injectable pain medications, and even continuous drips can be used effectively to control pain. Additional medication to control nausea are also commonly used in the management of this condition. Antibiotics are often used because, even though pancreatitis is not a bacterial disease, bacterial invasion from the diseased intestine is a common occurance.
The moral of the story is, keep those tasty looking scraps away from away from Fluffy and Bowser on Turkey Day and let your friends and relatives eat the leftovers instead. But If you find yourself at the vet faced with a diagnosis of pancreatitis, Pharmacy Innovations may be able to help your pet if they are suffering. Alternative dosage forms and flavors may help your pet more easily take their medication. You can always contact us with questions!