Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute pancreatitis in dogs: advances in understanding, diagnostics, and treatment.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Mansfield, Caroline
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Science · Australia
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition in dogs that can sometimes be treated successfully, but it can also lead to more severe health issues. This condition involves inflammation of the pancreas and can be influenced by various body systems and substances. Diagnosing pancreatitis can be tricky, as the tests we have aren't always reliable. Recent research suggests that feeding dogs sooner in the course of the disease might help their recovery more than we used to think. Overall, while there is hope for treatment, the effectiveness can vary depending on the severity of the case.
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis in dogs is a potentially reversible condition, but in severe forms it can cause systemic and local complications. These complications are driven by the cytokine, complement, and kinin systems, with the roles of these systems along with other substances such as nitric oxide being increasingly studied. The intestinal tract and altered pancreatic microcirculation also contribute greatly to the perpetuation of disease. Diagnosis remains difficult, because the true diagnostic utility of the current tests available is problematic to establish. Further understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease has opened up new areas of research into optimal treatments. In particular, the role of enteral nutrition has been the focus of much attention, and current recommendations are to feed earlier in the disease than previously thought.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23148853/