Pancreatitis

Symptoms: Weakness, unsteadiness, lack of appetite, vomiting, fullness in chest and abdomen.

In acute stage: Bloody urine, drop in albumen levels, internal bleeding.

Treatment: Antibiotics (such as Amoxicillin), avoidance of overly fat and rich diet--especially large amounts of fats on meat or questionable quality of fats in some commercial dog foods.

The external portion of the pancreas produces three major pancreatic juice components: digestive enzymes, or their precursors, bicarbonate ions and colipase. The digestive enzymes have the ability to split starch, fats and proteins. These enzymes can potentially damage the pancreas and adjacent organs so they are produced and stored in inactive form. They are not activated until they enter the duodenum. The bicarbonate ions neutralize the stomach acids. This alkalizing of the intestinal contents allows pancreatic enzymes to function and promotes the digestion and absorption of triglycerides by fats. The pancreatic reaction of secreting enzymes is not a constant process but rather the rapid response of the proper digestive stimulus. obviously, without the pancreas, the dog would be in major trouble. (Kerry Brown, DVM.)

Sudden swelling of the pancreas occurs in dogs 2 to 11 years of age, with the average age being 6 years. In mild cases, the signs are obscure and perhaps easily overlooked. There may be loss of appetite, periodic vomiting and diarrhea. The more serious form comes on suddenly as an acute pain in the abdomen with a rigid abdominal wall. The pain is due to release of digestive enzymes into the abdominal cavity leading to auto-digestion of surrounding tissues.If a dog recovers from an acute episode his pancreas may not return to normal. Instead, he may acquire diabetes or a malabsorption syndrome. It is important to distinguish between acute pancreatitis and other causes of painful abdomen such as bloat. Treatment is quite different. (James Carlson, DVM)

Causes: Too much of the wrong kind of fat, which cannot be properly digested and overloads the pancreas.

Holistic veterinary sources recommend: Vitamn E, calcium, and B-Complex to prevent recurrence of the problem.