Pancreatitis case studies

We have chosen to highlight the issue of pancreatitis here and in our most recent clinic newsletter, as we have seen an unusual number of patients suffering from pancreatitis in the past few weeks. We have had 1-2 dogs hospitalized per week with pancreatitis through the months of November and December, and prior to that we were dealing with pancreatitis in a number of cats.

We invite you to read about the patients and information below, and also to visit our Facebook page to find an interesting link to more information on pancreatitis.

Case #1: Foxie   Foxie is an 11-year old Fox Terrier presented to us after suffering with bloody diarrhea for a couple of days. Her owners suspected that she had ingested something unknown outside prior to falling ill; Foxie is known for looking for unusual things to eat while out on walks, but her owners had not ever seen symptoms like this. On our screening tests in hospital, Foxie was found to have pancreatitis and she was hospitalized for three days on IV fluids and injectable anti-nausea medications. Foxie responded well to our treatment plan and is at home looking for more things to eat! We have recommended that she remain on a prescription low-fat diet over the long term in hopes of preventing another bout of pancreatitis.

Case #2: Ryley    Ryley is a 10-year old Springer Spaniel who presented to us because he had not been eating well and seemed uncomfortable at times over a period of a few weeks (the owner was unsure as to where the discomfort was coming from). Blood testing again revealed pancreatitis and Ryley was hospitalized for supportive care. Unfortunately, his condition did not improve the way that we had anticipated, and we proceeded with an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate whether he had any concurrent problems. This ultrasound, as well as additional blood testing, revealed that Ryley was indeed suffering concurrently with a problem called Cushing’s Disease.  This case is an example of how pancreatitis is often diagnosed along with other medical problems. We are currently treating Ryley for both pancreatitis and Cushing's disease and he is off to Florida for the winter. We wish Ryley and his family well in the sunny south!

What is pancreatitis?     The pancreas is a glandular organ, tucked alongside the stomach and small intestine. It contains two types of active tissue and is responsible for: (a) releasing enzymes needed to digest food and (b) producing hormones such as insulin, which is responsible for the regulation of an animal’s blood sugar levels. When the pancreas is inflamed, the condition is called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can occur in both dogs and cats, but is more common in dogs, especially the acute form.  

What do pets with pancreatitis look like?            Pancreatic inflammation can be mild, moderate or severe, and can also occur as an acute problem or as a chronic low-grade problem. This means that there are many presentations of pancreatitis. Our doctors see dogs with very mild clinical signs barely recognizable to the owner, and other cases in which signs are severe and life threatening.   Cats most commonly have the chronic form, and present with very subtle clinical signs, therefore, pancreatitis can be difficult to diagnose and manage in a cat. 

Why does pancreatic inflammation occur?  Certain breeds of dogs (e.g. Schnauzers) are prone to developing it, and dogs that ingest anything abnormal (especially something high in fat) or animals that have underlying intestinal or hormonal diseases (such as diabetes mellitus) are at risk. In the majority of cases of pancreatitis, the cause is never known.

How is pancreatitis diagnosed and treated?   Our doctors will likely recommend blood testing for pancreatitis in any dog or cat that presents with signs of gastrointestinal illness such as a decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or signs of abdominal pain (panting, restlessness, etc.).  As there are many, many other problems that can cause the same signs (some mild and some serious) our testing recommendations become very important. Aside from blood tests, we may also recommend abdominal x-rays, fecal testing for parasites or more specialized testing such as an ultrasound study.

The treatment plan for an animal suffering from pancreatitis will be tailored to that animal and depend on the suspected cause, the extent of illness and the existence of other underlying disease.  All pets who have suffered one bout of pancreatitis are at risk of another at any time, and we will suggest that they eat a diet very low in fat for the remainder of their life.