Pancreatitis in dogs: symptoms and treatment, nutrition

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pancreatitis in dogs, just like in humans, is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is located in the abdomen near the stomach and duodenum. The gland performs two main purposes - the production of digestive enzymes that then enter the duodenum, as well as the production of a chain of hormones and insulin that enters directly into the bloodstream.

Causes of pancreatitis in dogs

Circumstances that can lead to the onset of the disease:

• overweight and too fatty foods;
• a sudden change in the diet of a pet of more mature years;
• a condition that is accompanied by an increased amount of fats in the blood (hyperlipidemia, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, miniature schnauzer idiopathic hyperlipidemia, hyperthyroidism);
• increased amount of calcium in the blood (vitamin D intoxication, 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 ducts, 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 with pancreatitis, manifestations such as:

• stoop and hunchback, as pains appear in the abdominal wall;
• bloating of the intestines (the abdomen itself);
• vomiting after eating;
• loud rumbling of the intestinal tract;
• tachycardia;
• Acute pancreatitis in dogs is characterized by pruritus, refusal to eat, lack of stools and a sudden increase in body temperature;
• appearance of liquid foamy and thick feces with a sour smell.

It should be noted that the initial period of the disease proceeds with normal temperature and appetite in the pet.

Severe pancreatitis is primarily diagnosed by drip injection of drugs such as Sandostatin in conjunction with Hartmann's solution and Gordox. As a result of theiruse, the animal's he alth improves rapidly. In this way, pancreatitis in dogs can be prevented.

Symptoms and treatment for chronic pet disease may include:

• animal eats as usual, but loses weight;
• the dog sheds all the time, its coat looks unhe althy;
• Permanent pancreatitis should be treated while following the pet's lifelong diet.

However, these symptoms can also appear with other ailments. That is why, in order to determine chronic pancreatitis in dogs, special diagnostics are required: ultrasound of the pancreas, blood and urine tests, and an x-ray.

Treatment

Therapy for acute pancreatitis is the correct 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, you should feed only dietary feeds with a reduced fat content. If the dog is properly fed and treated, 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:

• set 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. Drugs such as "Aprotinin", "Dopamine" (in minimal dosages) and many others have shown their effectiveness only in the laboratory. When tested on animals, these medicines proved to be ineffective.

What funds to give?

The main goal of drug therapy is to resolve pancreatitis in dogs without complications. Symptoms and treatment should be interrelated, that is, therapy is symptomatic. How to deal with the disease?

1. Infusion therapy. It is performed to remove dehydration and electrolyte disorders. For these tasks, droppers with colloidal and crystalloid liquids are used. If infusion treatment is not performed correctly, it can lead to the opposite result and deterioration of the animal's condition. The use of colloidal mixtures (plasma, polysaccharide solutions and "Dextran 70") to restore fluid volume is the main point in the treatment of the disease.
2. Analgesics. Anesthesia is needed to relieve abdominal pain. The most effective analgesic for animals is Butorphanol, which is injected intramuscularly every 8 hours.
3. 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.
4. Anspasmodics. Means of this type are used in order to eliminate the contraction of the muscle of the main pancreatic duct. This makes it possiblereduce pressure in the pancreatic ducts. For this, a 2% solution of papaverine hydrochloride, "No-shpy" and a 24% solution of "Euphyllin" are introduced.
5. Corticosteroid drugs. They are used if pancreatitis in dogs is accompanied by a state of shock.
6. Antiemetic drugs ("Cerucal", "Serenia" and "Ondansetron") are prescribed for pets with rampant vomiting.
7. Antibiotics. They are prescribed if there is a danger of a bacterial infection. If the animal has clinical and laboratory indications of sepsis, then use aminoglycosides, "Ampicillin" every 8 hours and "Penicillin G" every 6 hours.

In addition, pancreatitis requires monitoring blood glucose levels.

Surgical treatment

In order to treat pancreatitis in dogs with surgery, the following indications are needed:

• blockage of bile ducts;
• formation of pseudocysts and ulcers in the pancreas.

To determine such anomalies, in most cases, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is done. In addition, an operation can be performed when enhanced therapy for pancreatitis is carried out, and the pet's condition continues to worsen.

Acute pancreatitis is usually completely reversible and no further treatment is required.

What to feed a dog with pancreatitis?

There are special dietary rules that must be followed whenpet disease therapy:

1. Small portions of food.
2. Feeding frequently (pet should be fed every 3-4 hours).
3. All products must be crushed to prevent spontaneous injury to the gastric mucosa.
4. The amount of carbohydrate-containing and fat-containing foods in the diet should be reduced.
5. The menu should be dominated by protein foods (fish, cottage cheese and meat).
6. It is forbidden to feed a sick pet with fish and rich meat broths.
7. All acidic foods are eliminated from the diet.
8. Fried food is also unacceptable.
9. Ready meals are required to be served not too hot or too cold.
10. With increased pain, therapeutic fasting is prescribed (no more than 2 days).

The main rule of nutrition for dogs with pancreatitis is to reduce fatty foods in the diet. This is due to the fact that fats put a considerable burden on the work of the pancreas, and during its inflammation, pain begins.

It must be taken into account that even after treatment is completed, the animal may feel discomfort when taking fatty foods.

What foods are allowed to be given when sick?

Feeding dogs with pancreatitis can be done with special feeds created specifically for them. The composition of the feed includes all the necessary elements required for an unhe althy pet.

It often happens that an animal, accustomed to tasty and different, but at the same time harmful foods, does not want to eat diet food. In such situationYou need to 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, ground with a blender or meat grinder and mixed with rice or millet porridge. In very small doses, you can feed the dog with chopped vegetables in the form of mashed potatoes. It is allowed to include low-fat dairy products (milk and cottage cheese) in the diet.

Do not forget that small portions should be given to the pet, so as not to produce an increased load on the pancreas, and also not to provoke another attack of the disease.

What foods are banned?

Pancreatitis in dogs involves avoiding certain foods, namely:

• smoked meats, spicy cheeses, sausages;
• fresh rye bread;
• fatty fish and meat;
• beef and lamb fat;
• vegetables (corn, radish, spinach, cabbage, sorrel, herbs), grains 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, there is no need to self-medicate.