Pancreatitis - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Zeus' Mom · 06-13-2005, 05:46 AM

Hi everyone! I am new to this site and am very impressed with all the support you give to one another! My little one, Zeus, who will turn 2 on June 28, has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. He has never been fed table scraps and only ate Hills Science Diet. 4 months ago, he threw up a yellowish substance and we immediately took him to the vet. She diagnosed him with pancreatitis and put him on antibiotics for 2 weeks. During and after the treatment, he seemed just fine, as if nothing was wrong. We switched him to low fat Canin food and just this past weekend, he had another attack. So, he is now on Hills RD food, since the vet said he needed to be on a diet low in fat and high in fiber. I feel like we are doing everthing we are suppose to, and yet Zeus still gets sick. I am hoping this will work and this will be the last time that we have to go through this. Little Zeus is my heart and I just want to make sure that he has a long and happy life. I would love to hear from any of you who have experienced this and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

red98vett · 06-13-2005, 06:12 AM

Oh honey - that's scary ....I know in humans it's bad..but I don't know about that problem in small dogs -

At least you have a diagnosis and can treat him....I'm so sorry to hear this about your Zeus - I know I'd be feeling the same way you do right now - There are several people on here that really know alot about different yorkie ailments - I think searching the net is a good way to get more info also ....Good LUCK to your baby - I'm very sorry he's having these attacks and I hope the medication helps him,,,maybe it needs...

Well I did go on a search - I found this ...Is this what your vet is saying also ? I was looking to read more about it - it does sound treatable with caution...GOOD LUCK to you and Zues !!!!

Once the patient seems to feel better, oral fluids are given. If no vomiting occurs in 12 to 24 hours, food can be offered in small quantities. Most pets can go home once they are willing to eat and drink again. Bland diets may be beneficial in some patients but we usually recommend returning to the patient's normal diet as long as it wasn't likely to be the cause of the problem due to fat content. Diets moderately high in fiber may be beneficial in lessening the number or severity of attacks in chronic pancreatitis. Weight loss and increasing exercise are also very likely to help prevent future attacks. Keeping your pet away from the table during traditional holiday meals can be very helpful, too.

It is very important to remember NOT to feed your dog when it is showing signs of abdominal discomfort or unexplained pain. It is almost painful to think of the number of times dog owners have said to me "she wouldn't eat, so I gave put a couple of tablespoons of bacon fat on her food...... or gave her a bowl of ice cream...... or a bowl of milk....... or a couple of pieces of ham....... "

This is the worst thing you can do if your dog has pancreatitis. Learn to let them help themselves heal by not eating when their body is telling them it isn't a good idea! This can be the difference between a 24 hour attack of mild abdominal pain and 5 days in our hospital treating severe pancreatitis.

Julie1 · 06-13-2005, 06:18 AM

Did the vet diagnose based on the yellow sustance or do more tests - I ask because it's quite common for dogs to throw up a frothy yellow substance we were told when that happens it's because the dog is hungry and needs smaller more frequent meals.

Zeus' Mom · 06-13-2005, 06:29 AM

Thank you so much! It really is scary, especially when I feel like I have done everything by the book since I've had him. We did have to fast for 24 hours after the vet visits, which was also heart breaking. Like I said, he seems just fine now, but I worry b/c I didn't know there was anything wrong before. He is just the sweetest and most active little boy, he hides it well. Thanks again for your reply. It is nice to have people to talk to who understand what you are going through. Take care!

Zeus' Mom · 06-13-2005, 06:40 AM

Hi! Yes, he was at the vet all day. They felt of his belly and it was swollen and they did blood work. They also did blood work this past weekend when we took him in. I never would have thought it was anything more than an upset tummy, but the vet said that is very serious and common in small dogs. She said that with small dogs, you really have to watch their fat intake. We think it was triggered by peanut butter dog treats, how crazy is that! You think that these treats are safe for all size dogs. So, my little guy can only have greenies now, which he loves anyway. So, we have to just be very careful that he gets into nothing. Like I said, we never fed him table scraps and he has only had dog food. He showed no symptons of being sick, other than the vomitting, but the vet said that he was in a lot of pain and didn't show it. This is a very scary disease and once they have an attack, they are more susceptible to it than other dogs would be.

red98vett · 06-14-2005, 06:33 AM

Good luck with him and please keep us posted ! I wish knew more about it but I know more than I DID ....after searching the net for information - GOOD LUCK with your baby ~!!!

Zeus' Mom · 06-14-2005, 06:45 AM

Thank you so much Red!! I will absolutely keep all of you posted. I would never want someone else's baby to go through this. Zeus seems happy and healthy after his attack this weekend. He is running around and giving kisses like nothing ever happened!! I hope the new diet will do the trick. The vet has him on 1/2 a Pepcid AC twice daily and he hasn't thrown up since, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks to all!!

YorkieRose · 06-14-2005, 04:32 PM

Also, yellow foam is bile. If he does this early in the morning, I would feed him something before bed and feed him early in the am.
Pancreatic problems usually bring terrible diarrhea. I do not remember a pancreatic flame up without diarrhea...but I coudl be wrong.
Greenies give some of my Yorkies stomach upsets..at this point I would give him nothing but his regular food.

Zeus' Mom · 06-15-2005, 06:05 AM

Thank you Pat! I just wanted to let you and everyone else know that my little boy is doing great. He loves his new food and he is as happy and playful as ever. I feel much better too. It just breaks my heart when my little one doesn't feel well. Thanks again for all your support and advice!!

whispersmom2 · 06-15-2005, 03:39 PM

So happy to hear that your baby is better. Did your vet tell you to feed a low fat high fiber diet? I agree with Pat-not oe of my babies tolerate Greenies. Makes me just as happy cause I have read of probs when they were given. Read that one actually died. Mine just had green poop! Keep us posted!!!!!!!!!

Zeus' Mom · 06-15-2005, 05:14 PM

Hi! Yes, Zeus is now eating Hills Prescription R/D. It is low in fat and high in fiber and he seems to love it! I am so happy that he is all better. Thanks again to all!! Zeus sends kisses!

Gizmo's Mom · 06-16-2005, 05:09 AM

Gizmo went thru this a few months ago. The throwing up and bad diarreah turned bloody...helpless and pitiful to watch. We went thru the same blood tests and got the Pancreatitis verdict. Unlike yours, Giizzard was slipped the occasional chicken nugget french fry, or whatever the kids were eating. Vet informed me their little digestive systems were not designed to handle people food and we were actually hurting not rewarding him by this. Was a hard pill to swallow, felt really bad about it. He ate more people food than anything else. (would even cook him his own hamburger patties) he wanted nothing much to do with dog food. After antibiotics and prescription canned food (which he loved) vet said he needed to be on dry dog food and snacks for dogs. Anything greasy I was told would put him back in misery. I kind of cringe when people talk about the things they feed their Yorkies. These dogs are prone to Pancreatitis and dehydrate very quickly. This could have been life threatening....but I digress. Guess you have to have been there for the full impact of the importance sink in. I know it did me. I was actually making my baby sick. Doc said at 10 pounds I could give Giz 1/2 tsp Pepto or even 1/2 tsp Kaopectate but it would only mask symptoms and would get worse. Friends, think twice about anything that goes into that little mouth..it's up to you.

Zeus' Mom · 06-16-2005, 05:17 AM

Hey Denise! I hope Gizmo is doing much better! I am so sorry that you had to go through that. It is very painful for us as well, to see our little ones suffering. It is hard when you think you are rewarding them by giving them treats or people food and you end of hurting them. As I said before, we think his started when we gave him peanut butter treats. The vet said peanut butter is very high in fat and is hard for them to tolerate. So, I agree that everyone should be aware of this disease and its symptoms. Zeus did not have diarrhea, only vomitting twice, but I am sure it is different in all dogs. They do such a good job of hiding their illness. I am just so happy that I found this site to be able to share my experience and learn from all of yours!!

Gizmo's Mom · 06-16-2005, 05:50 AM

We are always just a click away

Have a great day.

06-13-2005, 05:46 AM	#1
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Pancreatitis Hi everyone! I am new to this site and am very impressed with all the support you give to one another! My little one, Zeus, who will turn 2 on June 28, has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. He has never been fed table scraps and only ate Hills Science Diet. 4 months ago, he threw up a yellowish substance and we immediately took him to the vet. She diagnosed him with pancreatitis and put him on antibiotics for 2 weeks. During and after the treatment, he seemed just fine, as if nothing was wrong. We switched him to low fat Canin food and just this past weekend, he had another attack. So, he is now on Hills RD food, since the vet said he needed to be on a diet low in fat and high in fiber. I feel like we are doing everthing we are suppose to, and yet Zeus still gets sick. I am hoping this will work and this will be the last time that we have to go through this. Little Zeus is my heart and I just want to make sure that he has a long and happy life. I would love to hear from any of you who have experienced this and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

06-13-2005, 06:12 AM	#2
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	Oh honey - that's scary ....I know in humans it's bad..but I don't know about that problem in small dogs - At least you have a diagnosis and can treat him....I'm so sorry to hear this about your Zeus - I know I'd be feeling the same way you do right now - There are several people on here that really know alot about different yorkie ailments - I think searching the net is a good way to get more info also ....Good LUCK to your baby - I'm very sorry he's having these attacks and I hope the medication helps him,,,maybe it needs... Well I did go on a search - I found this ...Is this what your vet is saying also ? I was looking to read more about it - it does sound treatable with caution...GOOD LUCK to you and Zues !!!! Once the patient seems to feel better, oral fluids are given. If no vomiting occurs in 12 to 24 hours, food can be offered in small quantities. Most pets can go home once they are willing to eat and drink again. Bland diets may be beneficial in some patients but we usually recommend returning to the patient's normal diet as long as it wasn't likely to be the cause of the problem due to fat content. Diets moderately high in fiber may be beneficial in lessening the number or severity of attacks in chronic pancreatitis. Weight loss and increasing exercise are also very likely to help prevent future attacks. Keeping your pet away from the table during traditional holiday meals can be very helpful, too. It is very important to remember NOT to feed your dog when it is showing signs of abdominal discomfort or unexplained pain. It is almost painful to think of the number of times dog owners have said to me "she wouldn't eat, so I gave put a couple of tablespoons of bacon fat on her food...... or gave her a bowl of ice cream...... or a bowl of milk....... or a couple of pieces of ham....... " This is the worst thing you can do if your dog has pancreatitis. Learn to let them help themselves heal by not eating when their body is telling them it isn't a good idea! This can be the difference between a 24 hour attack of mild abdominal pain and 5 days in our hospital treating severe pancreatitis. __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!

06-14-2005, 06:33 AM	#6
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	Good luck with him and please keep us posted ! I wish knew more about it but I know more than I DID ....after searching the net for information - GOOD LUCK with your baby ~!!! __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!

06-14-2005, 06:45 AM	#7
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Thank you so much Red!! I will absolutely keep all of you posted. I would never want someone else's baby to go through this. Zeus seems happy and healthy after his attack this weekend. He is running around and giving kisses like nothing ever happened!! I hope the new diet will do the trick. The vet has him on 1/2 a Pepcid AC twice daily and he hasn't thrown up since, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks to all!! __________________ Farrah, Zeus, Enja & Riley

06-14-2005, 04:32 PM	#8
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	yellow bile Also, yellow foam is bile. If he does this early in the morning, I would feed him something before bed and feed him early in the am. Pancreatic problems usually bring terrible diarrhea. I do not remember a pancreatic flame up without diarrhea...but I coudl be wrong. Greenies give some of my Yorkies stomach upsets..at this point I would give him nothing but his regular food.

06-13-2005, 06:18 AM	#3
Julie1 YT Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 333	Did the vet diagnose based on the yellow sustance or do more tests - I ask because it's quite common for dogs to throw up a frothy yellow substance we were told when that happens it's because the dog is hungry and needs smaller more frequent meals.

06-13-2005, 06:29 AM	#4
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Thank you so much! It really is scary, especially when I feel like I have done everything by the book since I've had him. We did have to fast for 24 hours after the vet visits, which was also heart breaking. Like I said, he seems just fine now, but I worry b/c I didn't know there was anything wrong before. He is just the sweetest and most active little boy, he hides it well. Thanks again for your reply. It is nice to have people to talk to who understand what you are going through. Take care!

06-13-2005, 06:40 AM	#5
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Hi! Yes, he was at the vet all day. They felt of his belly and it was swollen and they did blood work. They also did blood work this past weekend when we took him in. I never would have thought it was anything more than an upset tummy, but the vet said that is very serious and common in small dogs. She said that with small dogs, you really have to watch their fat intake. We think it was triggered by peanut butter dog treats, how crazy is that! You think that these treats are safe for all size dogs. So, my little guy can only have greenies now, which he loves anyway. So, we have to just be very careful that he gets into nothing. Like I said, we never fed him table scraps and he has only had dog food. He showed no symptons of being sick, other than the vomitting, but the vet said that he was in a lot of pain and didn't show it. This is a very scary disease and once they have an attack, they are more susceptible to it than other dogs would be.

06-15-2005, 06:05 AM	#9
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Thank you Pat! I just wanted to let you and everyone else know that my little boy is doing great. He loves his new food and he is as happy and playful as ever. I feel much better too. It just breaks my heart when my little one doesn't feel well. Thanks again for all your support and advice!! __________________ Farrah, Zeus, Enja & Riley

06-15-2005, 03:39 PM	#10
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	So happy to hear that your baby is better. Did your vet tell you to feed a low fat high fiber diet? I agree with Pat-not oe of my babies tolerate Greenies. Makes me just as happy cause I have read of probs when they were given. Read that one actually died. Mine just had green poop! Keep us posted!!!!!!!!!

06-15-2005, 05:14 PM	#11
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Hi! Yes, Zeus is now eating Hills Prescription R/D. It is low in fat and high in fiber and he seems to love it! I am so happy that he is all better. Thanks again to all!! Zeus sends kisses! __________________ Farrah, Zeus, Enja & Riley

06-16-2005, 05:09 AM	#12
Gizmo's Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,490 Blog Entries: 7	Gizmo went thru this a few months ago. The throwing up and bad diarreah turned bloody...helpless and pitiful to watch. We went thru the same blood tests and got the Pancreatitis verdict. Unlike yours, Giizzard was slipped the occasional chicken nugget french fry, or whatever the kids were eating. Vet informed me their little digestive systems were not designed to handle people food and we were actually hurting not rewarding him by this. Was a hard pill to swallow, felt really bad about it. He ate more people food than anything else. (would even cook him his own hamburger patties) he wanted nothing much to do with dog food. After antibiotics and prescription canned food (which he loved) vet said he needed to be on dry dog food and snacks for dogs. Anything greasy I was told would put him back in misery. I kind of cringe when people talk about the things they feed their Yorkies. These dogs are prone to Pancreatitis and dehydrate very quickly. This could have been life threatening....but I digress. Guess you have to have been there for the full impact of the importance sink in. I know it did me. I was actually making my baby sick. Doc said at 10 pounds I could give Giz 1/2 tsp Pepto or even 1/2 tsp Kaopectate but it would only mask symptoms and would get worse. Friends, think twice about anything that goes into that little mouth..it's up to you.

06-16-2005, 05:17 AM	#13
Zeus' Mom Enja's Mom too! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,765	Hey Denise! I hope Gizmo is doing much better! I am so sorry that you had to go through that. It is very painful for us as well, to see our little ones suffering. It is hard when you think you are rewarding them by giving them treats or people food and you end of hurting them. As I said before, we think his started when we gave him peanut butter treats. The vet said peanut butter is very high in fat and is hard for them to tolerate. So, I agree that everyone should be aware of this disease and its symptoms. Zeus did not have diarrhea, only vomitting twice, but I am sure it is different in all dogs. They do such a good job of hiding their illness. I am just so happy that I found this site to be able to share my experience and learn from all of yours!! __________________ Farrah, Zeus, Enja & Riley

06-16-2005, 05:50 AM	#14
Gizmo's Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,490 Blog Entries: 7	We are always just a click away Have a great day.