Pancreatitis

G'day Dog Lovers,

I was chatting to the Dogs Life veterinary adviser recently and he mentioned that he'd been seeing a lot of canine patients suffering from pancreatitis recently.

Pancreatitis is a disease that can, in some cases, be quite serious. From the Merck/Merial Manual For Pet Health: 'In the initial stages of the disease, the secretion of pancreatic juice decreases. This is followed by a series of steps that lead to activation of pancreatic enzymes inside the pancreas, rather than the intestinal tract. The enzymes begin to digest the pancreas itself, causing damage within the pancreas and triggering inflammation, which leads to damage in other parts of the body. Loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, dehydration, and diarrhea are the most common signs reported in dogs with severe pancreatitis.'

This all sounds a bit nasty. Has your dog ever suffered pancreatitis? If so, I'd love to hear from you - send me an email at dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au