Happy Thanksgiving America! Thanksgiving is a time of food and celebration. While pet owners would like to include their pets in the festivities, there is a danger lurking in the high-fat foods associated with this holiday. A common condition we see at the Animal Emergency Hospital during the Thanksgiving weekend is pancreatitis. In dogs, this condition is associated with the consumption of a fatty meal such as turkey, gravy and all the fixings!
Pancreatitis means the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes which are normally activated in the small intestine to aid in the digestion of food. During a bout of pancreatitis, enzymes are prematurely activated in the pancreas while trying to compensate for an unusual amount of fat consumption, and end up digesting the pancreatic tissue.
Signs of pancreatitis include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- fever
- depression
Treatment of pancreatitis requires prompt medical attention that includes intravenous fluid therapy, fasting to rest the pancreas, anti-vomiting medications and pain relievers. A hospital stay of 2-4 days is expected as food is gradually re-introduced. Once the patient is eating and drinking normally, and the vomiting and diarrhea has subsided, they may return home. The prognosis for pancreatitis is good if treated early enough. There are usually no longer term effects. In severe cases however, certain conditions may arise due to excessive damage to pancreatic cells. These are pancreatic insufficiency conditions and may be medically managed and go into remission once the pancreas is completely healed.
To prevent recurrences of pancreatitis, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to maintain their pet with a healthy, low-fat diet.
