Pancreatitis in Pets
Indulgences in some forbidden people food, antibiotics, and obesity are all possible causes of pancreatitis in pets. Pancreatitis is defined as an infection of the pancreas and can cause serious health repercussions.
The function of the pancreas in animals, is like that of the human organs, it produces enzymes and insulin. Pancreatitis in pets should be noticed as soon as possible, and treatment given, when any of the following symptoms are noticed.
Symptoms of pancreatitis in pets
If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, follow those symptoms up with a visit to our office:
Lack of appetite – Passing on that regularly scheduled bowl of food could be a sign of worse problems, especially for our food driven companions.
Vomiting – Expulsion of food and bile from his or her belly means their body is trying to get rid of something that it has determined as poison. This can mean even a healthy balanced diet can be interpreted as a foreign substance when it doesn’t have the proper enzymes to digest it.
Abdominal distention – Distention is a tense or almost balloon kind of feeling to their abdomen. This condition can be caused by a buildup of fluids as his of her body is flooding itself in response to the infection.
Dehydration – The expulsion, fluid build-up, and diarrhea can cause dehydration.
Fever – Fever is an abnormal body temperature and can be a sign of sepsis.
Sepsis – Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response with increased heart rate and fever as two of the symptoms of sepsis.
Treatment for pancreatitis in pets
If your loved one has pancreatitis one or more of the treatments listed below may be the solution.
- Rehydration with IV fluids
- Control the vomiting
- Offering a bland diet
- Surgery
- Liquid diet
Be aware of the symptoms
Prevention is the best method of avoidance, a healthy pet takes a bit of outdoor exercise to balance a good diet. In combination with exercise, stay mindful when sneaking table scraps to him or her, especially greasy or sugary treats.
Being aware of the symptoms, potential causes, and treatments of pancreatitis in pets can make it less of a mystery and certainly less scary.
Regardless, of fear for the worst, it’s wise to understand your pet’s health, and bring your pet in to Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital for a checkup and wellness exam.