Pet Talk: Pancreatitis can spell trouble for family pets

A dog’s health depends on dozens of bodily organs and systems working in tandem with one another, so when even a single vital organ struggles to perform, a pet’s entire lifestyle can be disrupted. When that problematic organ is the pancreas — an important part of the digestive system — a pet can develop a serious condition known as pancreatitis.
Dr. Sue Lim, an assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, shares why the pancreas is important and informs dog owners of the signs and long-term consequences of pancreatitis.
The pancreas is an important organ that creates and releases enzymes for the digestion of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. This organ is also responsible for allowing the body to absorb the vitamin B12, without which, a pet may be at risk for developing additional health issues.
A main contributing factor to pancreatitis in dogs is hypertriglyceridemia — an overabundance of fat in the bloodstream.
In dogs, hypertriglyceridemia may be prompted by:
A high-fat diet
Eating fatty treats, often as table scraps or from the trash
Endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus
Specific breeds, such as miniature schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers, also have a genetic predisposition for developing pancreatitis.
“Veterinarians often try to look for risk factors for pancreatitis. Unfortunately, many patients develop pancreatitis for unknown reasons, and this disease remains challenging,” Lim said. “Because of that, we are also looking at possible genetic reasons for why dogs get acute and chronic pancreatitis.”
Spotting the signs
Recognizing the symptoms of pancreatitis is vital for catching the condition early and ensuring prompt treatment.
Dogs with acute pancreatitis can develop gastrointestinal (GI) signs such as:
•Vomiting
•Lack of appetite
•Lethargy
•Abdominal pain 
•Diarrhea
Occasionally, pancreatitis can also cause a bile blockage from the liver to the intestinal tract, resulting in jaundice that causes a dog’s skin to appear yellow. 
“Dogs with chronic pancreatitis will have less acute signs that wax and wane, such as lacking an appetite when they are feeling uncomfortable,” Lim said.
“The gold standard diagnosis for pancreatitis is histopathology — examining the tissue — of the pancreas,” Lim said. “However, that requires a biopsy of the pancreas, which is very invasive. Therefore, most clinicians use the pet’s history, clinical signs, physical examination, bloodwork, and ultrasound findings to help make a diagnosis.”
Once pancreatitis is diagnosed, your veterinarian can help develop the most effective treatment plan for your pet and your lifestyle.
Treating pancreatitis is primarily supportive, meaning it focuses on managing symptoms until the pet’s overall health improves. This can include: 
•Pain management
•Fluid therapy
•Anti-nausea medication 
•Nutrition
As such, an affected pet will most likely remain hospitalized for the duration of the treatment.
As veterinary medicine advances, researchers are developing new treatment options for the disease, providing hope for dog owners.
“Recently, there has been a breakthrough that led to fuzapladib sodium, an FDA-conditionally approved treatment for acute pancreatitis in dogs,” Lim said. “Early studies have shown that dogs receiving fuzapladib sodium have improvement in their clinical signs faster than dogs not receiving the medication. Because nutrition is an important part of the management of pancreatitis, we are also researching the role of dietary fat in improving pancreatic health, as well as looking at using two different medications to help with reducing inflammation in dogs with chronic pancreatitis.”
Lim encourages owners to ask their veterinarian about treatment options if their dog receives a pancreatitis diagnosis. Whether it’s through a new treatment or supportive care, a veterinarian can help ensure affected dogs find relief and return to a healthy, joyful lifestyle.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.