This feeding mistake could kill your dog

Fatty, oily foods are on many people's no-food list because it is not healthy to eat too much of them. But this is not just true for humans, we also need to watch out for our four-legged companions.

Although you don’t have to overthink a healthy dog’s diet, there are certain aspects of it that need to be specifically addressed. One of these is fat, and not only because too much fat can lead to obesity, it can also lead to more serious problems. One such condition, which can be life-threatening, is pancreatitis in dogs, which is mainly caused by inadequate nutrient intake.

What do I need to know about the pancreas?

Before we talk about pancreatitis, it’s important to know what it is that becomes inflamed. The pancreas is an organ, an endocrine gland, which plays a major role in digestion and the regulation of blood sugar levels. The pancreas produces the enzymes needed to digest fats, starches and proteins, namely lipase, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. It also releases hormones into the bloodstream, insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. As we can see, this relatively small organ has many tasks to perform, and its deterioration can lead to serious problems, possibly death.

Pancreatitis

Causes of its development

Inflammation is caused by the digestive juices (enzymes) of the pancreas attacking the organ. This may happen because some factor causes them to be activated while still inside the pancreas, thus triggering the inflammation. What might these factors be? In dogs, it is most often triggered by an inappropriate diet, but it is not just high-fat home-made human food that can cause problems:

• Cushing’s syndrome
• hypothyroidism
• hyperlipidaemia, i.e. high blood fat levels
• kidney disease
• trauma to the organ
• genetic predisposition
• drug side effects
• diabetes

Symptoms

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a serious problem which, if left untreated, can easily cost your pet its life. If you are noticing any of the following symptoms, especially more than one, don’t delay seeing a vet.

• Recurrent vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Hunchback
• Abdominal pains
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Weakness, lethargy
• Fever

Forms

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute means sudden and fast-onset, which in the case of pancreatitis means that it can flare up in as little as an hour and cause high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea in your pet overnight. The condition could soon get worse, and even standing up could be a challenge.

The chronic form has a long course, develops slowly and symptoms often do not appear immediately, even though the damage is severe. Up to 80% of the gland’s tissue can be destroyed and metabolic complications such as urinary retention or liver function problems can occur. Chronic pancreatitis may have the following symptoms:

• increased thirst, drinking lots of fluids and urinating more
• too intense appetite, unusually high bowel movements
• stools have a soft, light brown, sour smell

Treatment of pancreatitis

Pancreatitis in your dog is not a condition that can be treated at home, so get him to a vet as soon as possible! They will do everything they can to make sure your dog’s condition takes a positive turn, and will carry out a number of tests. Urine and blood tests will certainly be done to check the current levels of digestive enzymes, but they can also look at kidney function, along with X-rays, ultrasound or even biopsies to get a fuller picture of your pet’s condition.

As it is more or less impossible to keep fluids and food down, in severe cases the dog is put on an infusion and kept in until the fever, vomiting and diarrhoea have subsided.

Prevent pancreatitis in your dog!

First of all, it is important to pay attention to your pet’s diet. Do not feed it fatty foods regularly or in large quantities at one time. But since it’s not just fatty foods that can cause the problem, we can try to prevent it from happening. It’s important to remember that it’ s a good idea to check with your vet before giving your pet any supplements.

Some people recommend supplements containing digestive enzymes. Many people swear by fish oil, supplemented with vitamin E. Despite its high fat content, it lowers blood lipid levels, so the pancreas is not “overworked”.

Pancreatitis in dogs is a serious problem that can be prevented in most cases simply by following a proper diet. Its acute form often develops around the holidays, which is no coincidence. It has nothing to do with the calendar, but it is linked to Christmas and Easter foods, which are often high in fat. It’s understandable that you want to treat your pet to a tasty snack or two, but preferably not the fattest parts. It’s not only important during the festive season, we need to keep our four-legged friend healthy all year round.