Inflammation of the pancreas, or dog pancreatitis, is not a condition that should be ignored in your puppy. It’s a fairly common condition in dogs, especially smaller breeds like Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels, and miniature schnauzers, and is often caused by something bad the doggy ate.
It might be hard to notice if it comes with milder symptoms, usually in the form of behavior changes. However, this commonly acute condition can still be adequately managed with timely intervention.
The Maven Pet smart collar is a helpful tool here. It can detect early signs and let you get treatment before the condition worsens. It can track activity levels and log various symptoms, allowing you to react promptly. Let’s see how this works and what dog pancreatitis is.
What Is Dog Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is a term used to describe inflammation or swelling and pain in the dog’s pancreas. The condition is common in dogs, and it’s usually caused by something bad the puppy ate, like a lot of table scraps or a fatty treat. In most cases, it happens as an acute episode.
However, this condition can grow into a serious illness that causes severe discomfort to your dog and may even cause damage to the pancreas or other organs. In such cases, you should take your pooch to the vet immediately, before pet wellness is affected.
With pancreatitis, the pancreas’ enzymes for breaking down food start operating before they enter the stomach. The enzymes can effectively eat away at the pancreas or other tissues, causing organ damage that can even kill the dog.
Thankfully, if treated early, the puppy can recover completely, usually within one or two weeks. However, a less common, severe case that leads to organ failure can also lead to permanent damage and, in some instances, death.
That’s why it’s crucial to catch it early by keeping track of your dog’s behavior or using tools like the monitor Maven Pet offers. It will detect reduced activity, a common symptom of dog pancreatitis, among other symptoms we’ll cover below.
Symptoms of Dog Pancreatitis
Symptoms of pancreatitis in your pooch depend on how severe the condition is. Milder forms don’t have apparent symptoms, only a few changes in behavior like restlessness and diarrhea.
More severe cases have more obvious symptoms, including:
- Belly pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
Moreover, when the puppy has an episode, they’ll usually take the praying position, when their front legs and head are lowered on the floor while the rear is up.
With chronic dog pancreatitis, the symptoms usually include lethargy, decreased or no appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. However, chronic pancreatitis is not common.
If you get the Maven Pet Health Monitor, you can follow your puppy’s behavior and log symptoms within the app. The collected data will help you track recurring patterns and issues. Moreover, your vet can also have access to this information – and this objective data and concrete details lets them make more informed decisions.
Treatment for Dog Pancreatitis
As stated, even though many cases of dog pancreatitis are mild, this is still a serious illness that needs to be treated as soon as it is diagnosed.
If you think your dog has it, take them to your vet immediately. If you’re worried about your dog’s condition and want to stay proactive, you should get the Maven Pet monitor. It will continuously track your dog’s vitals and behavior patterns and alert you of any issues.
Regardless, the main point is to contact the vet because dog pancreatitis is not something you can treat at home. If the pup has acute pancreatitis, the veterinarian will first try to discover the root cause. If it’s something that the dog takes regularly, like a specific drug or food, the vet will find an alternative and treat the symptoms.
The vet will also likely withhold food and water from the dog in the first 24 hours and proceed with one or more treatment plans in the next week or more. They’ll recommend things like:
- Pain medicine to relieve pain
- Intravenous fluids for severe cases
- Fasting periods
- Special low-fat diets
- Medicine for dehydration and vomiting
Diet for Dogs With Pancreatitis
Diets that are helpful with this condition usually focus on low fat percentages. If your pup has acute pancreatitis, the vet will likely recommend prescription low-fat dog food or ultra-low-fat food, which you’ll keep your pup on until they get better.
Unfortunately, in the case of chronic dog pancreatitis, your four-legged best friend will have to stay on the diet for the rest of their lives.
Some dogs won’t eat this food, so if you’re having similar issues you can’t solve, you can talk to your vet about making the food on your own. They’ll help you make food that meets the pup’s current nutritional needs.
Besides low-fat diets, smaller and more frequent meals are recommended for dogs with this condition.
Lastly, here are a couple of recommended foods for dogs with pancreatitis:
- Low-fat meat like chicken breasts and lean beef
- Beef organs like liver and kidney
- Cooked vegetables
- Rice and barley
- Low-fat, plain yogurt without xylitol
Tracking your dog’s dietary habits alongside the symptoms can be beneficial, and just as the Maven Pet monitor allows you to log in symptoms, it also lets you log in nutritional patterns.
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Preventing Pancreatitis in Dogs
Since dog pancreatitis can be pretty severe, it’s a condition that is better prevented than treated. There are several things you can do:
- Avoid feeding your pup fatty treats, table scraps, and high-fat foods
- Keep the pooch on a well-balanced diet recommended by the vet
- Take your dog to regular vet checkups, especially if it belongs to a breed that’s more prone to dog pancreatitis
- Consider supplements like fish oil or digestive enzyme supplements (discuss this with your vet first)
A beneficial component of preventative care is using the Maven Pet health monitoring capabilities. The device tracks your dog’s behavior and activity, alerting you to notable changes that might indicate a health issue like pancreatitis.
Bottom Line
Dog pancreatitis is not a condition to be careless about despite its often resulting in milder cases. Still, it can also become severe and detrimental to your dog’s health and internal organs and even lead to death if left untreated.
It’s crucial to notice it on time and treat it accordingly with the help of your vet, as it’s not a condition one can treat at home.
However, you can still be proactive and heed our tips on preventing the condition. Moreover, you can use the Maven Pet Health Monitor to detect early signs and log the symptoms. At the very least, this should provide peace of mind.
Consider reading more about the monitoring capabilities of Maven Pet and subscribing to get our detailed support in managing your dog’s health.
Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.
