Pancreatitis in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Treatment

What it is

The pancreas does two main jobs: it makes digestive enzymes that break down food in the small intestine, and it makes insulin to control blood sugar. In pancreatitis those enzymes switch on inside the pancreas instead of the gut and start to digest the organ itself, which is painful and inflamed.

It can be acute, meaning sudden, or chronic, meaning a long-running or recurring problem, and it ranges from mild to life-threatening. Typical signs include vomiting, a poor appetite, belly pain, lethargy, fever and diarrhea. Some dogs hunch their back or stand in a 'praying' position with the front end down and the rear end up. In chronic cases the signs can be subtle.

A fatty meal is the best-known trigger, and emergency clinics see more cases after holidays when dogs get rich leftovers. But the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that often no specific cause is found. Breed risk is unsettled: Merck lists a higher prevalence in breeds such as Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers and Cocker Spaniels, while VCA reports no breed predisposition, so any dog can be affected. Severe cases can lead to shock, and the AKC calls the condition potentially life-threatening.

Causes and risk factors

What you can do at home

Pancreatitis needs a vet's diagnosis, so do not try to treat it yourself. If your dog is vomiting repeatedly, seems to be in pain or will not eat, call your vet that day. Go straight to an emergency clinic if your dog collapses, is very weak, has dry gums or cannot keep water down, because dehydration can become an emergency quickly.

Do not offer rich or fatty food while your dog is unwell, and do not give any medicine unless your vet says to. Vets used to withhold food for days, but the AKC notes that recommendations have shifted and many dogs do better with earlier feeding once vomiting is under control. Let your vet decide the plan.

Once your dog is home, follow the feeding instructions closely. VCA says the diet for mild cases is usually small amounts of a low-fat, easily digestible food. Give no table scraps or fatty treats, and keep the trash securely closed.

Watch for a return of vomiting, hunching, low appetite or lethargy, and call your vet if you see them. Recurrence is possible, especially if the risk factors remain.

What happens at the vet

Your vet will ask what your dog ate, listen to the story of the signs, and examine the belly for pain and your dog for dehydration. Blood tests help, including a pancreas-specific test often called a canine pancreatic lipase test. It can be run in the clinic, but VCA notes that some cases, especially chronic ones, can be missed by these tests. Ultrasound or X-rays can help reveal inflammation in and around the pancreas.

There is no single cure, so treatment supports the dog while the pancreas calms down. Mild cases may be managed with anti-nausea medicine, pain relief and a low-fat, easily digested diet. Severe cases usually need hospital care with IV fluids, stronger pain relief and monitoring, and VCA says most dogs with severe pancreatitis stay in the hospital for two to four days while food is gradually reintroduced. Some dogs need a feeding tube if they will not eat.

Mild cases generally have a good outlook with prompt treatment and often improve within days. Severe or repeated episodes can cause lasting problems such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or diabetes, and dogs who present in shock have a guarded outlook. Some dogs need a lifelong low-fat prescription diet.

Prevention

The best prevention is controlling what goes into your dog. Keep fatty foods, table scraps and rich leftovers out of reach, and use a trash can with a secure lid. Holidays are peak times, so brief your guests on the rules. High-fat foods, including greasy scraps such as bacon, are best left off the menu entirely.

Keep your dog at a healthy weight, since obesity is a recognized risk factor, and schedule regular checkups. If your dog has an underlying condition such as an underactive thyroid, Cushing's disease, diabetes or high blood fats, treating it can reduce the risk of pancreatitis. Ask your vet before starting any new medicine, because some drugs are linked to flare-ups.

If your dog has already had pancreatitis, the AKC says smaller, more frequent meals and a low-fat prescription diet may help, and fish oil or digestive enzyme supplements are worth discussing with your vet. Do not add supplements on your own: the AKC notes that results vary and these products are not right for every dog.

If pancreatitis keeps coming back, ask your vet about monitoring for diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. See our page on diabetes in dogs.