Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chronic pancreatitis in dogs.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Watson, Penny
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine · United Kingdom
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Chronic pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, is becoming recognized as a common and important health issue in dogs. Symptoms can range from mild stomach problems that come and go to sudden, severe episodes that look like classic acute pancreatitis. This condition can cause ongoing pain and may lead to serious complications like diabetes or problems with digestion over time. Certain breeds, especially English Cocker Spaniels, seem to be more affected, and the reasons for this are still not fully understood. Diagnosing chronic pancreatitis can be tricky because the tests available aren't always very accurate, but with careful observation, veterinarians can identify more cases and provide treatments that help improve the dog's quality of life.
Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis used to be considered uncommon in dogs, but recent pathological and clinical studies have confirmed that it is in fact a common and clinically significant disease. Clinical signs can vary from low-grade recurrent gastrointestinal signs to acute exacerbations that are indistinguishable from classical acute pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is a significant cause of chronic pain in dogs, which must not be underestimated. It also results in progressive impairment of endocrine and exocrine function and the eventual development of diabetes mellitus or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or both in some affected dogs at end stage. The etiology is unknown in most cases. Chronic pancreatitis shows an increased prevalence in certain breeds, and recent work in English Cocker Spaniels suggests it is part of a polysystemic immune-mediated disease in this breed. The histological and clinical appearance is different in different breeds, suggesting that etiologies may also be different. Diagnosis is challenging because the sensitivities of the available noninvasive tests are relatively low. However, with an increased index of suspicion, clinicians will recognize more cases that will allow them to institute supportive treatment to improve the quality of life of the patient.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23148854/