Pancreatitis (veterinary)
| Pancreatitis | |
|---|---|
| Illustration of a dog's pancreas: Alveolus in the illustration refers to the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. The cells form circular clusters. They are the cells which produce pancreatic enzymes needed for digestion of food. | |
| Symptoms | Lethargy, anorexia, emesis, abdominal pain |
| Complications | Hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia, organ failure |
| Usual onset | Middle-aged to elderly |
| Types | Acute, chronic |
| Risk factors | Miniature Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniels, obesity |
| Diagnostic method | Pancreatic lipase assay, ultrasound |
| Treatment | Fluid therapy, feeding |
| Medication | Fentanyl, ketamine, buprenorphine, lidocaine, maropitant, capromorelin |
| Frequency | 0.6% (cats) 0.8% dogs |
Pancreatitis is a common condition in cats and dogs. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that can occur in two very different forms. Acute pancreatitis is sudden, while chronic pancreatitis is characterized by recurring or persistent form of pancreatic inflammation. Cases of both can be considered mild or severe. It is currently undecided whether chronic pancreatitis is a distinct disease or a form of acute pancreatitis. Other forms such as auto-immune and hereditary pancreatitis are presumed to occur but the existence of these forms has not been proven.
Pancreatitis occurs in approximately 0.8% of dogs and 0.6% of cats. Severe pancreatitis is often fatal.