Causes of PancreatitisAcute Pancreatitis and Pancreatitis DogsCauses of pancreatitis is important to be aware about as some of them, you are in control of. Acute or chronic pancreatitis, get most relevant and best information.
Photo by Per Schonbeck, DVM The reasons behind the acute form of disease has recently changed. This is often the case. New information and statistics or new knowledge from the human side are used in dogs as well. The most updated list concerning acute pancreas is:
Trauma and surgery Severe trauma to the abdomen t x road traffic accidents or fall from heights, has the potential to physical damage the pancreas. If the "capsule" of the organ are damaged the digestive enzymes may leak out. They can digest food, but also digest the body itself. Surgery, well of course you should be careful when handling any organ performing surgery. Traditionally, less careful handling of the pancreas has been regarded as a possible trigger to acute pancreatitis. Now, probably the possible anesthesia-induced low pressure is a perhaps greater risk. Low pressure creates low oxygen and cell stress, and greater risk of leaking of enzymes from the organ.
Photo by Per Schonbeck, DVM Drugs Corticosteroids has long been seen as a potential trigger. In humans this is not longer regarded as being true. In dogs no really connection between any drug and pancreas disease has been established. But, some drugs is still seen as some you should be aware of. These are some diuretics (thiazide), calcium, salicylates (like Aspirin), azathioprine (immune system drug) and l-asparaginase (chemotherapeutic). I am guessing though, this will change in the future. Diet and Hyperlipidemia One big fat meal can sometimes provoke too much activity from the pancreatic organ. a lot of the enzymes in the fat and lipid digestion comes from this organ. If pancreas kind of over reacts, it can turn into pancreatitis. Feeding dogs fat leftovers from our meal can trigger the disease. Hyperlipidemia in some breeds esp mini Schnauzers, can be the main reason why his breed gets this disease more frequent than others. In practice overweight and suddenly too fat meals are the main causes of pancreatitis Genetics May or may not be important as one of the causes of pancreatitis. It could be rather the predisposition to Hyperlipidemia or Obesity in certain breeds (Labradors, mini Schnauzers Dash dogs and Cocker Spaniels) that makes them more phone getting the disease. Obesity and sex This is where you have control. We know the overweight animals are in bigger risk getting this disease. A small tendency towards females more than males are seen as well. Maybe this could be because of neutering. No statistics I have seen can confirm this. It's my own thought. A lot of my spayed female patients are overweight. Again, perhaps hyperlipidemia, seen in obesity patients is the main cause of pancreatitis. Hypercalcemia Naturally occurring hyperglycemia is a pathological raised calcium level in the blood stream. Some nutritional supplementation giving extra calcium - be careful perhaps at least in the special breeds, pancreatitis dogs: Labradors, Schnauzers Dash dogs and Cocker Spaniels.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)Lot less reasons are suspected in chronic pancreatitis. First several spouts of the acute disease can destroy the organ to an extent where it no longer have sufficient active tissue left. Another reason is an inherited atrophy of the exocrine active cells. German Shepherds and Collies (in my practice experience) are the most frequent breeds having this disease. Dog Pancreatitis Relevant Pages
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