WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANINE PANCREATITIS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Ahhhhhh, the holidays. Thatmagical time of year where days are shorter and colder, but our hearts growbigger and warmer. The future holds Thanksgiving dinners and countless partieswith loads of deliciousfoods andsweets. Between holiday meals and snacks, the average American may consumetwice the number of daily recommended calories. (1) Of course, this isn’t goodfor our health. It’s no wonder the first week of the new year bringsresolutions to lose weight and strong marketing campaigns by health foodcompanies. And, if you’re a regular at the gym, you probably notice that it’sway more crowded than it usually is. Luckily for you (but perhaps unfortunatefor them), that seems to only last about six weeks.
With how much food is aroundduring the holidays, it stands to reason that your fur baby could be getting inon the action. A house full of family and friends all holding plates of yummyfood is an opportunity for your pup to try out his sly begging skills.But just as overeating is unhealthy for us, it can be extremely unhealthy forour dogs—especially if it’s people food!
Many people want to show their doghow much they love them by giving them special treats or table scraps. You seethose sad little eyes staring up at you, begging for one little morsel, just atiny taste, and you give in… but… so do your guests. What you may not realizeis that what seems like an innocent gesture of love and bonding can negativelyimpact their health.
The pancreas is the organ thatproduces insulin and enzymes which aid in digestion. Pancreatitis isinflammation of the pancreas that is usually caused by obesity or a high-fatdiet. It’s most commonly found in older, overweight female dogs. But even ifyour dog isn’t obese or eating a high-fat diet, the introduction of a lot ofhigh-fat foods over a short period can cause acute (sudden) pancreatitis.Veterinarians see a sharp rise in canine pancreatitis over the holiday seasondue to the vast amounts of food that are available—many with large amounts ofsugar. (2, 3)
The best way to treat any ailmentis to prevent it from happening in the first place. Even if you’re doing theright thing and not giving your pup “special treats” or table scraps, yourguests may be. It is best to be aware of the symptoms of pancreatitis, how totreat it, and most importantly, how to prevent it.
Symptoms of Canine Pancreatitis
- Hunched or arched back
- Pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Repeated vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Weakness and fatigue
If just one of these symptomsappears and is infrequent, monitor your dog as it may be a minor, unrelatedillness. But if he is showing multiple symptoms that are repeatedly occurring,call your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can run tests to verify if thesymptoms are caused by an inflammation of the pancreas. As with most healthissues, the earlier the treatment begins, the better the long-term outcome willbe. Knowing the symptoms to watch for is vital.
TREATMENT OF CANINE PANCREATITIS
The initial treatment of caninepancreatitis is hydration, pain management, and fasting, which gives thepancreas an opportunity to rest and slow the production of enzymes. Dependingon the severity of the case, there may need to be a hospital stay to allow forpain management and hydration through IV fluids. For more severe cases withsustained symptoms, your vet may prescribe some different medicines to helpreturn your pup to normal. After this, a low-fat diet will likely beprescribed.
There are not any “at home”remedies for pancreatitis. It can only be effectively treated by your vet. Andeven knowing this, the initial treatment isn’t a one-time miracle cure. Mostdogs who have suffered from acute pancreatitis end up on a specialized low-fatdiet for the rest of their lives.
Some products that can be helpfulin treatment are probiotics, fatty acid supplements, and an all-natural raw food diet. As always, consult withyour vet before changing your dog’s diet or administering supplements.
PREVENTION OF CANINE PANCREATITIS
The best way to avoid caninepancreatitis is to prevent it:
- Don’t feed your dog table scraps or “human food” in general. Onlygive them treats made for dogs, or whole,raw food that is good for dogs such as apples or carrots.
- Set ground rules with guests by letting them know not to feed yourdog.
- If your dog feels left out of the festivities, set out some veggies or low-calorie treatsthat your guests can feed him (but remember, there CAN be too much of a good thing—DON’TOVERFEED).
- Put him in a quiet room during the time that you and your guestsare eating.
- Keep him out of the garbage.
The holidays are a time to gettogether and spend quality time with family, and our dogs are a big part ofthat family. But before the festivities begin, we should keep in mind thehealth of our four-legged children and put some rules in place to protect them.
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