What is Pancreatitis?
The pancreas is a pale pink glandular organ that nestles cozily just under the stomach and along the duodenum. As a glandular organ, the pancreas is all about secretion, and it has two main jobs: the first job is the secretion of digestive enzymes to help us break down food, the second job being secretion of insulin and glucagon (to regulate sugar metabolism).
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas often caused by eating fatty meals. We see an increase in cases of pancreatitis around Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter almost every year, presumably due to the ingestion of high fat leftovers from the big meals associated with these holidays. Certain breeds are predisposed to pancreatitis including miniature schnauzers, miniature poodles and cocker spaniels, as are overweight animals and dogs with cushings disease.
Symptoms include
- Appetite loss
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- painful abdomen
- fever
If your pet is experiencing one or several of these symptoms, CALL YOUR VET. Blood work and radiographs may be necessary to make a diagnosis. Treatments such as intravenous fluid therapy, intravenous medications and hospitalization may be warranted. |