Pancreatitis in dogs, as in humans, is inflammation of the pancreas, which is located in the abdominal cavity, near the stomach and duodenum. The gland carries out two main purposes - the production of digestive enzymes, which then enter the duodenum, as well as the production of a chain of hormones and insulin that enter directly into the blood.
Causes of Pancreatitis in Dogs
Circumstances that may lead to the onset of the disease:
- overweight and too fatty foods;
- sudden change in diet in a pet of more mature years;
- a condition that is accompanied by an increased amount of fat in the blood (hyperlipidemia, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, idiopathic hyperlipidemia of miniature schnauzers, hyperthyroidism);
- increased amount of calcium in the blood (intoxication with vitamin D, malignant tumors and hyperparathyroidism).
A direct factor in pancreatitis may be the use of certain medications, such as:
- Novocainamide;
- loop and thiazide diuretics;
- Metronidazole;
- "Paracetamol";
- estrogens;
- sulfonamides;
- Ranitidine;
- "Cimetidine";
- Azathioprine
- "Tetracycline";
- L-asparaginase.
Other reasons:
- diseases of the bile duct, small intestine and liver;
- damage to the pancreas;
- organophosphate poisoning;
- shock condition (a significant and prolonged decrease in blood pressure).
In most cases, the cause of a disease such as pancreatitis in a dog remains unknown.
Symptoms
In animals infected with pancreatitis, manifestations such as:
- stoop and hunchiness, as pains appear in the abdominal wall;
- bloating (of the stomach itself);
- vomiting after eating;
- loud rumbling of the intestinal tract;
- tachycardia;
- acute pancreatitis in dogs is characterized by skin itching, refusal to eat, lack of stool and a sudden increase in body temperature;
- the appearance of liquid foamed and thick feces with a sour smell.
It should be noted that the initial period of the disease proceeds with a normal temperature and appetite in the pet.
Sharp pancreatitis is primarily diagnosed by the drip of drugs such as Sandostatin in combination with a Hartman solution and Gordox. As a result of their use, the animal’s health is rapidly improving. In this way, pancreatitis in dogs can be prevented.
Symptoms and treatment for chronic pet disease can be:
- the animal eats as usual, but loses weight;
- the dog molts all the time, its coat has an unhealthy appearance;
- permanent pancreatitis therapy should be carried out in compliance with the pet’s lifelong diet.
However, such symptoms may occur with other ailments. That's why, in order to determine chronic pancreatitis in dogs, special diagnostics are required: ultrasound of the pancreas, blood and urine tests, as well as an x-ray.
Treatment
Therapy of acute pancreatitis consists in the proper diet of the animal. A necessary requirement is fasting for at least a day, then you should give your pet food in small doses. Moreover, it should be fed only diet foods with a reduced fat content. If you give food and treat the dog correctly, then it should not get sick again (provided that the nature of the disease is not chronic).
In order for the treatment of pancreatitis in dogs to be quick and effective, it is very important:
- establish the disease on time;
- stick to a strict diet;
- treat your pet with drugs.
Drug therapy
Uncomplicated pancreatitis is usually treated conservatively. To date, there are no drugs whose effect is aimed only at eliminating inflammation in the pancreas. Such drugs as Aprotinin, Dopamine (in minimum dosages), and many others, showed their effectiveness only in the laboratory. When testing these medications on animals, they were ineffective.
What means to give?
The main goal of drug therapy is to prevent pancreatitis in dogs without complications. Symptoms and treatment should be interconnected, that is, therapy is symptomatic. How to deal with the disease?
- Infusion therapy. Performed to remove dehydration and electrolyte disorders. For these tasks, droppers with colloidal and crystalloid liquid are used. If infusion treatment is carried out incorrectly, this can lead to the opposite result and the worsening of the condition of the animal. The use of colloidal mixtures (plasma, polysaccharide solutions and "Dextran 70") for the resumption of fluid volume is the main point in the treatment of the disease.
- Analgesics. Anesthesia is needed to relieve abdominal pain. The most effective analgesic for animals is Butorphanol, which is injected intramuscularly every 8 hours.
- Proton pump inhibitors and H2-histamine blockers. Medicines of this series (Omeprazole and Famotidine) are used to reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
- Antispasmodics. Means of this type are used in order to eliminate the contraction of the muscle of the main pancreatic duct. This makes it possible to reduce pressure in the pancreatic canals. For this, a 2% solution of papaverine hydrochloride, No-shpa and a 24% solution of Eufillin are administered.
- Corticosteroid preparations. They are used if pancreatitis in dogs is accompanied by a shock condition.
- Antiemetic drugs (Cerucal, Serena, and Ondansetron) are prescribed for pets with uncontrolled vomiting.
- Antibiotics. They are prescribed if there is a danger of a bacterial infection. If the animal has clinical and laboratory indications of sepsis, then aminoglycosides, Ampicillin every 8 hours and Penicillin G every 6 hours are used.
In addition, with pancreatitis, it is required to monitor the level of glucose in the blood.
Surgery
In order to treat pancreatitis in dogs with surgery, the following indications are necessary:
- clogging of the bile ducts ;
- the formation of pseudocysts and ulcers in the pancreas.
In most cases, abdominal ultrasound is done to determine such abnormalities. In addition, an operation can be performed when an enhanced therapy of pancreatitis is performed, and the condition of the pet continues to become complicated.
Acute pancreatitis is usually completely reversible, and further treatment is not required.
How to feed a dog with pancreatitis?
There are special nutrition rules that you must adhere to when treating a disease in a pet:
- Small portions of food.
- Frequent feeding (the animal needs to be given food every 3-4 hours).
- All products must be crushed to prevent spontaneous injury to the gastric mucosa.
- The amount of carbohydrate-containing and fat-containing foods in the diet should be reduced.
- The menu should dominate protein foods (fish, cottage cheese and meat).
- It is forbidden to feed a sick pet with fish and rich meat broths.
- All sour foods are excluded from the diet.
- Fried foods are also unacceptable.
- Ready meals should be given not very hot or not very cold.
- With increased pain, therapeutic fasting is prescribed (no more than 2 days).
The main rule of nutrition for dogs with pancreatitis is the reduction of fatty foods in the diet. This is due to the fact that fats give a considerable burden on the work of the pancreas, and pain begins during its inflammation.
It must be borne in mind that even after completion of treatment, the animal may feel uncomfortable when eating fatty foods.
What foods are allowed to give in case of illness?
Dog nutrition for pancreatitis can be carried out with special feeds created specifically for them. The composition of the feed includes all the necessary elements required for an unhealthy pet.
It often happens that an animal, accustomed to tasty and various, but at the same time harmful products, does not want to eat diet food. In such a situation, you must be persistent and not adapt to the dog. In any case, hunger will make itself felt, and the pet will have to eat what they give.
In addition to feed, the animal is allowed to give dietary meat (chicken, turkey or rabbit). It can be boiled, grated with a blender or a meat grinder and mixed with rice or millet porridge. In very small doses, you can feed the dog with crushed vegetables in the form of mashed potatoes. It is allowed to include skim milk products (milk and cottage cheese) in the diet.
Do not forget that giving the pet should be small portions so as not to produce an increased load on the pancreas, and also not provoke another attack of the disease.
What products are banned?
Pancreatitis in dogs involves the rejection of certain foods, namely:
- smoked meats, hot cheeses, sausages;
- fresh rye bread;
- fatty fish and meat;
- beef and mutton fat;
- vegetables (corn, radish, spinach, cabbage, sorrel, greens), cereals and legumes.
The body of any pet is individual, the development of pancreatitis can also be varied. In this regard, it should be borne in mind that only a veterinarian can prescribe a rational diet, its duration and composition. Therefore, you do not need to self-medicate.