Jackie had pancreatitis due to stress?

[brendarash]

I had a foster maltese this month for three weeks. His name is Dallas. Well, Dallas was a 15 month old puppy. He had more energy then a power plant. LOL All 6 of my pups were not a big fan of Dallas, he wanted to play at 3 am and they did not. Jackie was the one that had a real hard time with him, She would go and lay some where out of his reach. After about 3 weeks, I woke up to Jackie acting like she was sick. She would whine and then whimper. So, I had to wait until the vets office opened so I could take her in to see the Doctor. They know how I am with my dogs, They said bring her right in. After a exam and blood test she was diagnosed with Pancreatitis. I was shocked. I had a yorkie 20 years ago that has pancreatitis but the dog sitter feed him table food with fat in it, so that is what caused it. I said to the vet I do not understand that, I watch what she eats, how did this happen? He did not know what to say. Well the next day Jackie had to go in and have fluids at the vet. This time she saw another vet in the same office. I said I am so careful with there food she did not have fat. The vet said, They are finding that dogs that have sensitive systems, Like Jackie. Reactions to shots, bee stings, reflux, ect tend to get pancreatitis with some stresses. She said has there been any stressors in Jackies life lately? I said yes, Dallas. I told her about the puppy and she said that was the cause. I had a second blood test done and it confirmed
pancreatitis but the fat level in her blood was normal, unlike most cases when food is the reason, the fat level is high as well. I was shocked to here that. But wanted to pass the info on. Dallas found his new home and Jackie is back to normal. Thank goodness.

[yorkieusa]

I wasn't aware of it, but just about every article I looked at did mention stress as a cause. The is one article:

Acute Pancreatitis (inflammation)
The chief causes of acute pancreatitis may be caused from an on-going or long-term viral infection, poor diet, stress and from certain medications. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis are similar to chronic pancreatitis.

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Weakness
Anxiety
Fever
Abdominal fullness, gaseous
Abdominal indigestion
Chills
Fatty stools
Anxiety
Weight loss

Pancreatitis And Alternative Solutions

[107barney]

Interesting.

[JosselleandLola]

Last month Lola had pancreatitis due to stress. I am also very careful about what she eats and that week we made a trip in our car from NYC to NH, the ride was very stressful for Lola and the next morning she was throwing up and had bloody stools for 3 days. When I took her to the dr. They told me it was pancreatitis due to stress. He was on antibiotics for 5 days

[Joyce Adams]

Very interesting, I have always been careful with what my dogs eat and have never had to deal with pancreatitis, now I feel lucky that Yoshi doesn't have it b/c of stress from dealing with Miss Priss. She sure has made a lot of changes in our household.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I am curious as I've never had a dog with this. What test/tests indicates it is pancreatitis and what about the test indicates the pancreas is inflamed?

[gracielove]

What is the test that confirms pancreatitis in a dog? The only experience I have had with it is when a family member's dog had severe vomiting and diarrhea after eating some chicken skins which are obviously very fatty.

Is it inflammation that they are trying to confirm? How do they treat this type of pancreatitis?

[Sandysbabies]

I watch closely at what mine eat too and I am wondering if stress caused Dudley's ulcer. He is so afraid Kayla is going to get his food they just fuss and have gone after each other over food. She has never hurt him, just a more gripping and nippy thing. I feed her in the laudry room for that reason. Lexi, never bothers him or at least he doesn't seem bothered by her. Stress can cause alot in them too, I guess. I lost my first schnauzer to pancreates. He had diabetes and it horrible.

[brendarash]

They did a blood test I think they said CBC not sure then they sent a sample off to confirm Pancreatitis. It then came back positive. I had never heard stress causing it. What a shocker to me. I just knew I did not give her anything that would of caused it as far as food anyway. Now that I know that I often joke with my husband saying, We do not want to stress Jackie out, or she might pull a pancreatitis on us.LOL My poor baby. It is funny how she is such a sensitive little girl, always having a reaction to shots, and tummy problems and things like that. The most important thing is she is much better now. But Know I know she needs to be watched a little closer.

[yorkieusa]

MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS

A reliable blood test has been lacking for this disease until recently. Traditionally, blood levels of amylase and lipase (two pancreatic digestive enzymes) have been used. When their levels are especially high, this has been felt to be a reasonable sign that these enzymes have leaked out of the pancreas and pancreatitis is present but, still, these tests are not as sensitive or specific as we would prefer. Amylase and lipase can elevate dramatically with corticosteroid use, with intestinal perforation, kidney disease, or even dehydration. Some experts advocate measuring lipase and amylase on fluid from the belly rather than on blood but this has not been fully investigated and is somewhat invasive.

A newer test called the “PLI” or “pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity” test has come to be important. As mentioned, lipase is one of the pancreatic digestive enzymes and only small traces are normally present in the circulation. These levels jump dramatically in pancreatitis and the diagnosis can be confirmed with a less expensive and non-invasive test. A regular lipase level measures all forms of lipase, not just those of a pancreatic source; this is test is specific for pancreatic lipase. The problem is that technology n eeded to run this test is unique and the test can only been run in certain facilities on certain days. Results are not necessarily available rapidly enough to help a very sick patient.

More recently a new test called the SPEC cPL (“specific canine pancreatic lipase”) test has come to be the test of choice. This test is a newer generation immunological test for canine pancreatic lipase and can be run overnight by a reference lab. This test is able to detect 83% of pancreatitis cases (the test is 83% sensitive) and excludes other possible diseases in 98% of cases (i.e. the test is 98% specific for pancreatitis). There is no comparable test for the cat at this time.

Radiographs can show a widening of the angle of the duodenum against the stomach which indicates a swelling of the pancreas. Most veterinary hospitals have the ability to take radiographs but this type of imaging is not very sensitive in detecting pancreatitis and only is able to find 24% of cases.

Ultrasound, on the other hand, detected 68% of cases and provides the opportunity to image other organs and even collect fluid from the belly easily. Since pancreatitis can be accompanied by a tumor in the vicinity of the p ancreas, ultrasound provide the opportunity to catch complicating factors such as this.

In some cases, surgical exploration is the only way to make the correct diagnosis.

Canine Pancreatitis

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS

A reliable blood test has been lacking for this disease until recently. Traditionally, blood levels of amylase and lipase (two pancreatic digestive enzymes) have been used. When their levels are especially high, this has been felt to be a reasonable sign that these enzymes have leaked out of the pancreas and pancreatitis is present but, still, these tests are not as sensitive or specific as we would prefer. Amylase and lipase can elevate dramatically with corticosteroid use, with intestinal perforation, kidney disease, or even dehydration. Some experts advocate measuring lipase and amylase on fluid from the belly rather than on blood but this has not been fully investigated and is somewhat invasive.

A newer test called the “PLI” or “pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity” test has come to be important. As mentioned, lipase is one of the pancreatic digestive enzymes and only small traces are normally present in the circulation. These levels jump dramatically in pancreatitis and the diagnosis can be confirmed with a less expensive and non-invasive test. A regular lipase level measures all forms of lipase, not just those of a pancreatic source; this is test is specific for pancreatic lipase. The problem is that technology n eeded to run this test is unique and the test can only been run in certain facilities on certain days. Results are not necessarily available rapidly enough to help a very sick patient.

More recently a new test called the SPEC cPL (“specific canine pancreatic lipase”) test has come to be the test of choice. This test is a newer generation immunological test for canine pancreatic lipase and can be run overnight by a reference lab. This test is able to detect 83% of pancreatitis cases (the test is 83% sensitive) and excludes other possible diseases in 98% of cases (i.e. the test is 98% specific for pancreatitis). There is no comparable test for the cat at this time.

Radiographs can show a widening of the angle of the duodenum against the stomach which indicates a swelling of the pancreas. Most veterinary hospitals have the ability to take radiographs but this type of imaging is not very sensitive in detecting pancreatitis and only is able to find 24% of cases.

Ultrasound, on the other hand, detected 68% of cases and provides the opportunity to image other organs and even collect fluid from the belly easily. Since pancreatitis can be accompanied by a tumor in the vicinity of the p ancreas, ultrasound provide the opportunity to catch complicating factors such as this.

In some cases, surgical exploration is the only way to make the correct diagnosis.

Canine Pancreatitis

Thank you for all of the information. Now I've got a little basic knowledge to start with and ask my vet about if this comes up with Tibbe. I've been on YT over a year now and sort of subject-by-subject trying to learn so much more but hadn't gotten to pancreatitis yet. I hope I never have to face this with Tibbe. I've seen some medical art showing a rendering of an inflamed pancreas and it looks angry, swollen and painful! Do they typically treat the dogs for pain symptoms too? There I go on pain again but I so hate to think about dogs hurting with conditions that humans get pain rx for and it seems the subject of pain is almost never mentioned in so many treatments of dogs' various problems. Thanks again for all of the info.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Thank you for all of the information. Now I've got a little basic knowledge to start with and ask my vet about if this comes up with Tibbe. I've been on YT over a year now and sort of subject-by-subject trying to learn so much more but hadn't gotten to pancreatitis yet. I hope I never have to face this with Tibbe. I've seen some medical art showing a rendering of an inflamed pancreas and it looks angry, swollen and painful! Do they typically treat the dogs for pain symptoms too? There I go on pain again but I so hate to think about dogs hurting with conditions that humans get pain rx for and it seems the subject of pain is almost never mentioned in so many treatments of dogs' various problems. Thanks again for all of the info.

I think they do in the immediate moment, but I forget for sure. The link I gave has a picture of an inflamed pancreas. It does look painful and I know they do have abdominal pain. They also give an antibiotic for secondary infections. They used to give a pancreatic supplement for daily use, but I don't know if they still do this.

[brendarash]

I know the pain of pancreatitis I had it myself and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I had a gallstone that got lodged in my pancreas. i was so sick and in so much pain. So I really feel for these poor babies when they get it.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS

A reliable blood test has been lacking for this disease until recently. Traditionally, blood levels of amylase and lipase (two pancreatic digestive enzymes) have been used. When their levels are especially high, this has been felt to be a reasonable sign that these enzymes have leaked out of the pancreas and pancreatitis is present but, still, these tests are not as sensitive or specific as we would prefer. Amylase and lipase can elevate dramatically with corticosteroid use, with intestinal perforation, kidney disease, or even dehydration. Some experts advocate measuring lipase and amylase on fluid from the belly rather than on blood but this has not been fully investigated and is somewhat invasive.

A newer test called the “PLI” or “pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity” test has come to be important. As mentioned, lipase is one of the pancreatic digestive enzymes and only small traces are normally present in the circulation. These levels jump dramatically in pancreatitis and the diagnosis can be confirmed with a less expensive and non-invasive test. A regular lipase level measures all forms of lipase, not just those of a pancreatic source; this is test is specific for pancreatic lipase. The problem is that technology n eeded to run this test is unique and the test can only been run in certain facilities on certain days. Results are not necessarily available rapidly enough to help a very sick patient.

More recently a new test called the SPEC cPL (“specific canine pancreatic lipase”) test has come to be the test of choice. This test is a newer generation immunological test for canine pancreatic lipase and can be run overnight by a reference lab. This test is able to detect 83% of pancreatitis cases (the test is 83% sensitive) and excludes other possible diseases in 98% of cases (i.e. the test is 98% specific for pancreatitis). There is no comparable test for the cat at this time.

Radiographs can show a widening of the angle of the duodenum against the stomach which indicates a swelling of the pancreas. Most veterinary hospitals have the ability to take radiographs but this type of imaging is not very sensitive in detecting pancreatitis and only is able to find 24% of cases.

Ultrasound, on the other hand, detected 68% of cases and provides the opportunity to image other organs and even collect fluid from the belly easily. Since pancreatitis can be accompanied by a tumor in the vicinity of the p ancreas, ultrasound provide the opportunity to catch complicating factors such as this.

In some cases, surgical exploration is the only way to make the correct diagnosis.

Canine Pancreatitis

I guess I don't understand if they can tell if the pancreatitis is caused by stress or by diet? Do any of the tests reveal that information?

[brendarash]

The vet told be that if the lab test come back with large volume of fat in the blood it is from diet it if it is normal, then more than likely it is stress.
In Jackie's case I knew she did not have anything out of her normal diet. And she had a very active puppy here driving her nuts.