Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis

Necrotizing Pancreatitis or acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, is a very serious disease. Lots of pain and discomfort for the dog patient - and for you as the owner.

It's a severe pancreatitis and one of the canine pancreatitis types perhaps having abscess or other complications compared to - let's say, a normal inflamed dog pancreas.

Do you have a dog struggling right now?

If so, do remember that I am not trying to leave you with no hope. Hope is life saving. But a necrotizing pancreatitis is a very serious disease and there are lots of possible complications. I am totally confident that your vet are doing all to save life and remember that every case is unique. Perhaps it's going to be fine again. Keep the hope. OK!

What Is Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is at situation in where the pancreas enzymes are activated to soon. Not in the lumen of the intestines, but inside the gland itself. The enzymes are very power full and the gland reacts to this.

Exact why this is happening we do not know. Sometimes the small canal or tube from the gland to the intestine gets blocked ex a tumor. But often the exact cause is unknown. Perhaps this is the first time having pancreatitis. Perhaps there has been lots of bouts of irritation in the gland before.

But, when it is necrotizing - enzyme reactions are very strong. The gland and the whole area gets inflamed to the extent of cell death.

Protease and other enzymes initiates the body inflammation response. Lots of leukines, and other inflammation mediators are being released fast. The amount of blood increases in the area. White blood cells and more mediators gets to the area - more and more inflammation.

Then...

Pockets of areas within the gland gets in a kind of shock - meaning no blood and oxygen to the cells. This will speed up the negative reaction even more, and tissue starts to necrotizing.

What Can Be Done

General pain and shock treatment is mandatory. Drop, antibiotics and strong painkillers.

No food is given as this will stimulate the digestion and the gland even more. Often the dog patient is in no chance of being able to eat at all. They are far to ill.

In some situations it is attempted to surgically manage the situation. It is inside the abdomen though, and that's complicate it all.

From Real Life

I don't see this patients often. I am very pleased about this. Pancreatitis happens, but not often evolves to a necrotizing pancreatitis. That's good.

Several years ago I remember one patient. It was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It came to my clinic not feeling to good.

Not eating and having pain attacks from the stomach. Took x-rays and blood samples. And one thing I still remember, was the fat in the blood. I have never seen so thick fatty blood before. Lots of triglycerides in it.

I did understand that this was serious. The dog got fast to a big animal hospital and it turned out to have a severe necrotizing pancreatitis. They tried everything.

Despite this it did not pull through - it was too much for this little friend

But I still remember him and his owners - a decade later.