• "A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue" -Author Unknown
  • "Every boy should have two things: a dog and a mother willing to let him have one." - Anonymous
  • "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." - Gene Hill
  • A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. - Elbert Hubbard
  • "A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." -Bil Keane
  • "A meow massages the heart." - Stuart McMillan
  • "There is more to life than increasing speed." -Mahatma Ghandi
  • "Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it." - J. Petit Senn
  • "If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong." - Pat Parelli
  • "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." - Winston Churchill
  • "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -Roger Caras
  • "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." - Winston Churchill
  • "Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." - George Eliot
  • "To err is human - to forgive, canine."
  • "Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail." -Kinky Friedman
  • "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
  • "I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Unknown
  • "Horses - if God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself." - Author unknown
  • "Are we really sure the purring is coming from the kitty and not from our very own hearts?" - Terri Guillemets
  • "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." - Ben Williams

Pancreatitis is more common than you think....

What are the Symptoms?

The classic signs of pancreatitis include the following:

  • loss of appetite - skip meals
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • painful abdomen
  • fever
  • restlessness
  • hunched appearance

Most pets will not show
all of these symptoms.

You may only see
loss of appetite and vomiting.

shutterstock_37896232What is Pancreatitis?

            Pancreatitis means "inflammation of the pancreas". The pancreas is an organ located near the stomach. It has two main jobs: releasing digestive enzymes to break down food and to secrete insulin. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic, mild or severe. It causes widespread inflammation and can be very painful & even life-threatening.

Who gets Pancreatitis?

            Pancreatitis is a relatively common condition in dogs, most likely due to their indiscriminate eating habits. Cats can also have pancreatitis. In fact, in cats we use the term, "triaditis", to indicate a combination problem of pancreatitis, gastroenteritis and hepatitis.

 Diagnosing Pancreatitis

            Amylase and Lipase are pancreatic enzymes that can be measured with a blood test. Unfortunately, the test does not find all cases of pancreatitis-50% of dogs and most cats with pancreatitis will not have elevated enzymes. A newer test called PLI (pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity) test can be helpful in diagnosing pancreatitis.

Treatment Of Acute Episodes

            Acute pancreatitis can be extremely painful and cause many secondary problems including dehydration, electrolyte / acid-base imbalances, and infections. Hospitalization is often required with pancreatitis in order to administer IV fluids and medications and provide the appropriate intensive treatment and monitoring.

            At Countrycare Animal Complex, we also utilize herbal enema therapy specifically designed for pancreatitis. We feel that these herbal treatments can dramatically improve the treatment outcome.

Treatment of Chronic Episodes

            Chronic pancreatitis refers to a smoldering, low-grade inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms such as vomiting and discomfort after eating may occur intermittently. One may also see depression, a loss of appetite or weight loss. Signs may be subtle and nonspecific such as a 'picky eater', skipping meals or lack of interest in playing. Chronic pancreatitis may also flare up with episodes of acute pancreatitis. Because chronic pancreatitis symptoms are non specific, this condition is not as readily diagnosed, however, it is quite common.

 Causes of Pancreatitis

In most cases, we never find out the specific cause; however there are some factors that may predispose to pancreatitis:

1. Dietary indiscretion-such as eating fatty scraps of human foods.

2. Hormonal imbalances such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease.

3. Certain medications such as sulfa antibiotics, potassium bromide or some chemotherapy

4. Middle aged, overweight and inactive pets

5. Pets with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and food allergies

6. Miscellaneous causes including trauma, infections or pancreatic tumors.

 

             Pancreatitis is a very common and often very devastating disease.  Prevention includes careful selection and control of your pet's diet, diagnosing and treating any underlying problems (such as thyroid, etc.) and keeping your pet fit and trim.          

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