What is Pancreatitis?
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis refers to an inflammation of the pancreas. This abdominal organ is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and chemicals for the body, such as insulin to regulate blood glucose.
Digestive enzymes shouldn’t be activated until they reach the small intestine, and, if they activate sooner, they begin to digest the pancreas itself.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
- Lethargy
- Inappetence
- Vomiting
- High or low temperature
- Dehydration
How is pancreatitis diagnosed?
Clinical history is extremely valuable in reaching a diagnosis based on the description of the symptoms your pet is experiencing, so it is important to try and provide as much detail to your veterinary surgeon as possible.
A specific blood test is available to assess the level of an enzyme known as Pancreatic Lipase, which is an indicator of the condition. Diagnostic imaging may also be valuable, and could include abdominal x-rays or ultrasound scanning.
How is it treated?
Pancreatitis is treated primarily with supportive care, such as intravenous fluid therapy, anti-emetics, pain relief and medications which reduce stomach acidity. Early detection of pancreatitis is important as the pancreas is very sensitive to reduced blood supply and blood pressure and the condition can quickly dramatically worsen.
Should my pet have a specific diet when has had a history of pancreatitis?
The most important thing is that they continue to take in high quality nutrients and calories when they return home. Dogs normally benefit from being fed on a low fat diet if they have experienced pancreatitis episodes. Unfortunately for cats, there is no specific evidence that low fat diets help in the same way they do for dogs, although some owners do report it has helped.