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-   -   Pancreatitis - Other causes than high fat in diet? (https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sick-injured-emergencies-talk/137091-pancreatitis-other-causes-than-high-fat-diet.html)

BarbaraM 07-07-2008 09:33 AM

Pancreatitis - Other causes than high fat in diet?
 
Hi everyone,
Just picked up my Ted this am from ER hospital. He spent the night on IV and meds for pancreatitis. I took all three of my "kids" in yesterday due to stomach problems of one sort or another.
I thought Ted was fine. Just wanted to be sure the black tar poo wasn't serious. It is. That was the only symptom he has. He is active, playing, eating, doing fine other than the BLACK TAR poo.
The blood work and xray performed confirmed the pancreatitis dx.
I picked him up this morning and was to take him directly to my vet to continue on fluids and my vet is out of town. During the phone conversation Ted licked his catheter out of his arm - a head's up would have been nice - I didn't realize he still HAD the catheter!! I scooped him up and took him to the nearest vet hospital/clinic where he is now. Stable.
He only eats Spot's Stew for Dogs. ONLY and tomatoes for a treat. Organic grape tomatoe in slices. That is IT. No other food.
Could he be eating bunny rabbit turds?? We have a baby bunny in back yard? I am going crazy. Thanks for all the help !!!

Ellie May 07-07-2008 09:41 AM

Infection, metabolic disorders and hypercalcemia can also cause pancreatitis (but sometimes it just happens).

nvnvgirl 07-07-2008 10:41 AM

When Max had it, the vet wasn't sure if he might have gotten into something (like out in the yard) or if it was b/c of his diet and being a little overweight. I think that they pick up a lot of things that we don't know about and some things can make the pancreas work overtime, so they just get it.

On a positive note, Max hasn't had a problem with it since the original incident (he was put on prescription food and NO people food, he gets a few low fat, low calorie treats or apples), so hopefully, Teddy will do just as well once he's fully recovered! All the best and big hugs to Ted!

Ladymom 07-07-2008 10:52 AM

According to this, Yorkies are prone to pancreatitis:

"Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, or dogs who 'steal' or are fed greasy 'people food' seem to have a high incidence of the disease."

Pancreatitis (Inflammation) in Dogs

This is the first time Ted has had pancreatitis, right? If he has another attack, you may want to consider switching him to special diet. Repeated bouts of pancreatitis can cause other problems including diabetes like Lady has.

yorkieusa 07-07-2008 12:55 PM

To add to the list, I have read that high sodium can cause pancreatitis as well.

GoofyBritt 07-08-2008 01:21 PM

Pork products have a high risk of causing pancreatitis. We found that out because my grandmother's dog was being fed hot dogs and other pork products and she always got really ill with vomiting, diahrea and bad siezures. NEVER feed any pork products to your dog.

BarbaraM 07-08-2008 02:10 PM

Thank you everyone! Ted says thank you too.
 
Ted is HOME. woohooo. Lots of meds and Hill's I/D diet for all three. His vet really wondered why all three came up with stomach problems. I need to watch them very closely outside.
The vet mentioned to me that his dog had some problems after eating Bunny turds, that they are sweet to dogs. WHAT??? I have a baby bunny that I have been feeding. Could it be? (Note to self: Do not feed the bunnies )
Ted was not vomiting at all. His white cell count was normal. So, did he have it or not? It's a toss. My vet says no. But he does have an inflamed stomach and irritated intestines, etc. Possibly bunny buttons. But why are the other two not feeling well too? More investigations, I suppose. My poodle turned up her nose at the I/D and she has GOT to be hungry, so I will keep a watchful eye on her. The bichon is doing well. He was the one throwing up.
Thank you for all the information - I am reading all of it!:D I am hopeful the amoxicillin, carafate, and metronidazole/flagyl and cetring? helps. And the new I/D diet. And no more Bunny Buttons!!!
Quote:

This is the first time Ted has had pancreatitis, right?
Yes. And I am considering a diet change, anyway. Maybe the Halo Stew is just too high in fat or carbs?? I am sure it's not the tomatoes for treats (organic, sparingly) and that is all he/they get! I don't ever want to have to have him in the hospital for two days every again. Never.
And thanks for the info on the pork - I heard turkey skin is bad with fat too.
:aimeeyork:aimeeyork

GoofyBritt 07-08-2008 02:17 PM

I'm not sure if it's teh high amount of fat that causes it or the chemical makeup of the pork. Yes I've heard turkey is bad, too, but I'm not sure if they meant the skin or the actual turkey. So I avoid giving turkey to my furbaby as well as all pork products. I hope your babies are back to normal soon. I know it's scary. :/ HUGS

Brittany and Bentley

Gizmo's Mom 07-08-2008 04:08 PM

Barbara, I am sooo glad to hear that Ted is home along with your other babies. If there is a problem feeding the i/d, remember rarely will a dog turn down rice with boiled chicken(white meat). The carafate will keep the tummies coated. Hoping all are tip top in no time.:)

Gizmo's Mom 07-09-2008 03:29 AM

Hoping the babies are still doing better this morning.:)

BarbaraM 07-09-2008 04:57 AM

They are hungry!! Poodle isn't eating all that well tho. Bichon is doing better. TeddE cries and cries, poor baby. He is on 1/4 c of I/D a day for awhile and ice cubes (along with meds).
I wish I could be certain that Ted DID or DOES have pancreatitis. I wish they would have REPEATED the blood work. All numbers are fine here except the Amyl (2039) and the Lipa (3569), high RBC, high HCT, and high HGB?? Then she did the cPL Snap Test and claims it was abnormal= Positive for pancreatitis.
So, I don't know. My vet says he is unsure of the diagnosis due to Ted NOT vomiting and the white cell count being Normal. The dog acted fine. I almost didn't take him to ER. I was more concerned with Poodle. How can you tell if there is something wrong. The black stool indicates a very irritate intestinal tract and his stomach was inflamed (xray) and that is all. He played, ate, ran around, stole toys, etc. I took him along only because of the black stool. ????
What is the indication or a symptom, if he is not vomiting? His appetite was good. But he was very gassy. ??? Now, I will be running him constantly to have blood work for I will not know. Poodle's blood work was all normal. Did not have Bichon blood work done, he was given subQ fluids and meds for vomiting. I am so confused.

Houston, we have poopoo. I am running it to vet now. Darn TeddE, that's alot of doodoo!!!

JesStang 07-09-2008 06:00 AM

My Yorkie got pancreatitis about 3 years ago & had to stay at the vet 4 days. :( The vet said not to give him anything w/ a lot of fat in it. We don't give him soft doggy treats anymore because those can be fattening. We never feed them people food anyway but we definitely make sure he doesn't get any now.
Just make sure you watch what your dog eats & gets into. Mine likes to get into whatever he can. :dizzy:

yorkieusa 07-09-2008 11:06 AM

The pancreas is a V-shaped organ located behind the stomach and the first section of the small intestine, the duodenum. It has two main functions: it aids in metabolism of sugar in the body through the production of insulin, and is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by producing pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes help the body promote the digestion and absorption of fats. Acute pancreatitis is a sudden onset of pancreatic inflammation.

Causes

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, or dogs who 'steal' or are fed greasy 'people food' seem to have a high incidence of the disease.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of the acute form of pancreatitis in dogs include a very painful abdomen, abdominal distention, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, a 'hunched up' posture, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow, greasy stool. Fever often accompanies these symptoms. Animals with more severe disease can develop heart arrhythmias, sepsis (body-wide infection), difficulty breathing, and a life-threatening condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which results in multiple hemorrhages. If the inflammation is severe, organs surrounding the pancreas could be 'autodigested' by pancreatic enzymes released from the damaged pancreas and become permanently damaged.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of pancreatitis is made through information obtained from the history, the physical exam, and laboratory testing. Dogs with pancreatitis generally have an increased blood levels of the pancreatic enzymes called amylase and lipase. If the liver also becomes inflamed, liver enzymes as measured in the blood may be increased. A rather new test, serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity, may prove to be a valuable diagnostic aid. The white blood cell count is generally increased in acute pancreatitis. Radiography (x-rays) and ultrasound can also help in making the diagnosis. Biopsy can result in a conclusive diagnosis, but is not commonly performed.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to rest the pancreas, provide supportive care and control complications. Treatment always begins with a withholding of food, water, and oral medications for at least 24 hours. The lack of oral intake stops the stimulation of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Depending upon the animal's response, food intake can be started again after a few days. The dog is generally fed small meals of a bland, easily digestible, low-fat food. Over the course of a week or more, the size of meals and quantity of food fed are increased. The dog may need to stay on the special diet for life, or it may be possible to gradually reintroduce the former diet.

The second major component of treatment is fluid therapy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are common in dogs with acute pancreatitis, and water intake is often restricted so fluid therapy is usually needed. Fluids are either given subcutaneously or intravenous.

Dogs who are experiencing severe pain can be treated with pain relievers such as meperidine or butorphanol. Antibiotics are often administered prophylactically to protect against infection.

If the pancreatitis was caused by a medication, the medication should be stopped. If it was caused by a toxin, infection, or other condition, appropriate therapy for the underlying condition should be started.

In rare instances, where there are intestinal complications or the development of a pancreatic abscess, surgery may be necessary.

Long-term management and prognosis

Pancreatitis can be a very unpredictable disease. In most cases, if the pancreatitis was mild and the pet only had one episode, chances of recovery are good, and avoiding high fat foods may be all that is necessary to prevent recurrence or complications. In other cases, what appears to be a mild case may progress, or may be treated successfully only to have recurrences, sometimes severe.

Dogs with severe pancreatitis can recover, but may also develop fatal complications. The risk of developing fatal pancreatitis is increased in dogs who are overweight, or have diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal tract disease, and epilepsy. Pets who have repeated bouts of pancreatitis may need to be fed low-fat diets to prevent recurrence. Even so, some animals develop chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic insufficiency, also called 'maldigestion syndrome.'

In pancreatic insufficiency, the nutrients in food are passed out in the feces undigested. An animal with this disease often has a ravenous appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Even though he is eating, he could literally starve to death. Treatment for pancreatic insufficiency is lifelong and expensive, but is possible. The pet's digestive enzymes are replaced through a product processed from pancreases of hogs and cattle which contain large quantities of the digestive enzymes. A change in diet with added nutritional supplements may also be necessary.

Summary

Acute pancreatitis can be a life-threatening condition, and early recognition and treatment can improve chances of recovery. In dogs, fever, lack of appetite, depression, and vomiting are the most common signs. Treatment is based upon stopping all oral intake to rest the pancreas, correcting the dehydration and maintaining proper fluid and electrolyte balances, and treating any complications or underlying conditions.

http://www.swiftwaterfarms.com/swift...ncreatitis.htm

BarbaraM 07-10-2008 08:35 AM

Thank you so much - Everyone.
 
I have another appt today with a vet (# FOUR) I once used for my very old yorkie and the poodle. I am hopeful she can do an ultrasound on Ted. My vet is still out of town - and I need to know now! He seems ok. Still no vomiting. The stools looked dark again last night. He eats. Then sleeps. Same with the other two. I have not seen any stools from bichon or poodle today at all. They seem out of it as well.
All they have had is a couple Tablespoons of the I/D twice a day and water. Ted is on the meds and I have been giving the carafate to all three. They will prolly be fine and I will just crack up. I am on my way. Worry. worry. worry. I wish they could SPEAK.
What have they picked up? The poodle and Ted's stool was checked yesterday at the vets and they said all clear but maybe have a sample sent to a lab for really thorough testing. Yes something is getting to all three. I have gone outside with them every time. They are not getting into anything outside.
I have changed/washed bedding. Steamed floors. Disinfected paper area they go on when I am not home. I am going to change the stainless steel water dish to a ceramic dish. The plates they eat off of are corelle and washed in dishwasher. I don't know what else? But they are not snapping back. It has been a week. It has to be something else. Purdue is the next stop. I can't take this. I need a conclusive diagnosis--I am running out of local vets.
Thank you for all the info. Please keep it coming. I read it all and make notes and try to remember things they may have gotten into. Thanks again. B. Sam/Ted/Zell thanks you too!!

yorkieusa 07-10-2008 10:06 AM

Good luck Barbara. I posted that last one in case it would help you. I'll keep my eye out for an update. By the way, you must be exhausted after all of that cleaning.:D


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