Symptoms and Treatment of Pancreatitis in Dogs

If your dog is vomiting, off their food or seems uncomfortable, it may be nothing more than a short-lived upset tummy. But sometimes, these signs can point to something more serious, such as pancreatitis in dogs.

Pancreatitis is a result of an inflammation of the pancreas, which can affect digestion and, in some cases, your dog’s blood sugar control. It either comes on quite suddenly or develops over time, and symptoms can range from mild sickness and tiredness to severe tummy pain, diarrhoea, dehydration and collapse.

Although any dog can be affected, some dogs may be at higher risk of pancreatitis, including those who are overweight, have eaten high fat foods or have certain underlying health conditions.

In this guide, we’ll explain the common clinical signs of pancreatitis in dogs, what can cause it, how vets diagnose and treat it, and when to seek urgent veterinary advice.

What is pancreatitis in dogs?

The pancreas is a small organ in the stomach that plays an important role in the digestion of food. It produces the digestive enzymes that are released after every meal that enable food to be digested. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, this is called pancreatitis (itis = inflammation). The condition is either described as being chronic (develops over time) or acute (appears suddenly).

The pancreas is also the source of the production of insulin which is needed to control blood sugar. If your dog has mild pancreatitis, they should recover in a few days without treatment. However, more serious cases will require hospital treatment and supportive care, but most dogs should recover in a few days to a week.

Causes of dog pancreatitis

In many cases of dog pancreatitis, the exact cause is unknown. However, several things can increase a dog’s risk. A sudden fatty meal, rich table scraps or bin-raiding can sometimes trigger pancreatitis, especially in dogs who are already sensitive. Being overweight may also play a part, as can high levels of fats in the blood.

Other possible causes of pancreatitis in dogs include abdominal trauma, certain medicines, toxins, surgery-related complications and underlying conditions such as excessive adrenal gland function. Because pancreatitis can be painful and potentially serious, speak to your vet if your dog is vomiting, off their food or showing signs of tummy pain.

Some breeds, including Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels and Yorkshire Terriers, seem to be more prone to the condition.

What are pancreatitis in dogs symptoms?

If your dog has a severe bout of pancreatitis, often called necrotising or acute pancreatitis, the symptoms will appear suddenly. Signs of dog pancreatitis include :

• Your dog may vomit, have severe abdominal pain and sometimes jaundice.
• They may adopt a ‘praying’ stance (head bowed over their front legs) as they try to relieve the pain in their tummy.
• They may also have diarrhoea, fever and be off their food.
• In the most severe forms of pancreatitis, the enzymes released from the pancreas may affect other parts of the body resulting in difficulty in breathing and bleeding.

Chronic pancreatitis is milder, affecting dogs for months or years, sometimes with no outward signs.

Your vet may diagnose pancreatitis using blood tests including a specific test for canine pancreatic lipase. Other tests your vet may want to carry out include an abdominal X-ray and an ultrasound scan of the pancreas. An exploratory operation can be required in some cases for a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment for your dog’s pancreatitis

Mild cases of pancreatitis may just need a change in diet. A low fat, high carbohydrate dog food is usually recommended.

Signs of worsening pancreatitis in dogs or dogs with acute pancreatitis will need to be admitted to a veterinary hospital. They may be given drugs to treat the nausea and vomiting and intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. Often, they don’t want to eat so they may need a feeding tube as nutritional support will help their recovery. Dogs that quickly start eating again have been found to have better outcomes.

Pancreatitis can be extremely painful and so your dog will be given pain relief. In very severe cases, intensive care and blood or plasma transfusions may be required.

Damage to the pancreas can mean that the pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin or digestive enzymes and further treatment may be needed to treat these conditions. Treatment would be a care plan of insulin treatment and pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

Will my dog recover from pancreatitis?

Often a dog with pancreatitis will recover within a few days or a week but it will depend on the individual dog and the reasons why they developed pancreatitis. A dog that has had pancreatitis is more likely to suffer another bout of the condition. A low-fat diet may help the pancreas to heal. It is thought that dietary fat may stimulate the pancreas to produce more digestive enzymes and worsen pancreatic inflammation.

Unfortunately, severe cases may have long lasting consequences. If the damage to the pancreas has meant that your dog is no longer able to produce enough insulin, this results in diabetes and your dog will need life-long insulin treatment.

If they can't make enough digestive enzymes, they may suffer from poor food digestion and lose weight. This condition is known as exocrine pancreatitis insufficiency (EPI) and can be treated by supplementation of pancreatic enzymes. Unfortunately, some dogs with severe pancreatitis may not recover.

Pancreatitis can be a painful condition in dogs. Cases can vary from mild to severe with the prognosis also varying. Most dogs will recover within a few days but the outlook for those with the more severe necrotising pancreatitis, where portions of the pancreas are destroyed, can be poor. Recurrence is common and pancreatitis can lead to other conditions such as diabetes mellitus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency which require life-long treatment.

Your vet may recommend that your dog is fed a low-fat diet to help prevent repeated bouts of pancreatitis. There are several specialised dog foods available to try. You'll also need to stop your dog bin-raiding and eating fatty foods and table scraps. It’s no coincidence that holidays and festive occasions are the times when vets see more cases of pancreatitis.

Remember, if your dog is vomiting and is in pain, always ask your vet for advice.

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