Pancreatitis is a life-threatening condition that is more common in older female dogs. It also can affect certain breeds of dogs, including miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels and miniature poodles. The pancreas is an important organ that helps the body metabolize sugar and produces enzymes to help the body digest food. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed, causing the dog much pain and affecting other organs, including the digestive system.
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Reduced Food Intake
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Your veterinarian might stop your dog from eating, drinking or ingesting anything orally for at least 24 hours to rest the pancreas. Because the pancreas helps digest food and nutrients, it responds to this by producing less enzymes. Once your dog's symptoms have improved, he will be able to eat small meals consisting of easily digestible food. He might have to stay on a special low-fat diet for the rest of his life, but some dogs also make a full recovery and can return to eating normally.
Intravenous Fluids
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Your dog can't eat or drink anything, but he still will need fluids and nutrients to help his body survive and repair itself. Many dogs with pancreatitis experience vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration. It's important to keep the dog's electrolytes balanced and enable the animal to stay well hydrated, said Veterinarian Mike Richards. This will aid in your dog's recovery from pancreatitis and further prevent health problems from developing.
Pain Relief
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This condition can be incredibly painful for your dog. Veterinarians will usually prescribe pain relief to make your dog more comfortable and reduce the amount of stress he is under. Morphine, meperidine and fentanyl patches are all common methods of treating the pain, although vets might also use a local anesthetic, Richards said.
Antibiotics
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Your veterinarian might prescribe antibiotics if your dog has severe pancreatitis. Although this kind of medication isn't directly necessary for treating the condition, it is used to combat any secondary infections or illnesses. Antibiotics might be administered if your pet has a high temperature or a low white blood cell count. A veterinarian might also prescribe antibiotics to prevent bacteria from the intestines causing infections in other parts of the body, said Veterinarian Ron Hines.
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