The pancreas is responsible for metabolizing sugar and for aiding in digestion, and pancreatic disease, also known as pancreatitis, in dogs can cause many serious problems. Pancreatic disease can disrupt digestion or cause the pancreatic enzymes to attack surrounding organs or the pancreas itself. Correctly identifying pancreatic disease in a dog can lead to swift, effective treatment.
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Vomiting
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Because pancreatic disease affects the dog's digestive tract, it can have serious effects on the dog's ability to keep down food. The dog may vomit immediately after eating or a few hours after eating. Vomiting is a sign that you should take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.
Abdominal Pain
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Pancreatic disease can cause severe pain in the dog's abdomen. The dog may manifest this by being unwilling to allow its stomach to be touched and by being reluctant to move. The dog may stand with an arched back and a tensed abdomen.
Diarrhea
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Pancreatic disease affects the dog's ability to take in food and to receive the nutrition from its food that it needs, and diarrhea can result. The stool may appear grayish in color. There are many issues associated with diarrhea, including dehydration and weakness, and if a dog is showing signs of persistent diarrhea, you should take it to the veterinarian.
Excessive Urination
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A dog affected by pancreatic disease may experience the need to urinate frequently. If the dog is making more requests to go out or if it starts having accidents, pancreatic disease might be a factor.
Listlessness
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A dog affected by pancreatic disease may appear very listless or apathetic. It will no longer want to play the way that it did before, and even if it does want to play, it might tire easily.
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