Pancreatitis-need advice from those with experience

[HShanks]

Thanks so much to you all!

I'll get the results from my vet tomorrow and post them asap.

She seems to be feeling better bit by bit. Greeted my daughter with a wagging nub and lots of yorkie kisses when she woke up this morning. Hope the worst is behind us.

[HShanks]

I am feeding Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice formula little bites. She has been on this for several months without problems. She has allergies to what I suspect is corn and after trial and error this is one of the few foods that she seems to be able to tolerate without itching. Have also noted that since she has been eating the boiled chicken she has been itchy and is grooming her feet alot the past couple of days. Wondering if the chicken is the culprit? Maybe that is why she is able to tolerate the lamb protein source, hmm?

Here is the nutritional info:
Protein 21%
Fat 12%

Doesn't sound like excessive fat to me. My sister-in-law and 2 nieces were here visiting for the weekend prior to the illness. They left on Monday and Abbie became sick for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Can't help but wonder if my nieces ages 6 and 4 didn't give her "treats" or something. I will be the first to admit that I am guilty of giving her table food off of my plate so I'm guessing it was a combo of fatty food, possible treats, and the stress of 2 little ones here at the house.

Thanks so much for listening to me rant. Sometimes we just need to get it out before we feel better

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by HShanks

I am feeding Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice formula little bites. She has been on this for several months without problems. She has allergies to what I suspect is corn and after trial and error this is one of the few foods that she seems to be able to tolerate without itching. Have also noted that since she has been eating the boiled chicken she has been itchy and is grooming her feet alot the past couple of days. Wondering if the chicken is the culprit? Maybe that is why she is able to tolerate the lamb protein source, hmm?

Here is the nutritional info:
Protein 21%
Fat 12%

Doesn't sound like excessive fat to me. My sister-in-law and 2 nieces were here visiting for the weekend prior to the illness. They left on Monday and Abbie became sick for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Can't help but wonder if my nieces ages 6 and 4 didn't give her "treats" or something. I will be the first to admit that I am guilty of giving her table food off of my plate so I'm guessing it was a combo of fatty food, possible treats, and the stress of 2 little ones here at the house.

Thanks so much for listening to me rant. Sometimes we just need to get it out before we feel better

lamb is more fatty but 12% does not seem to be horrible so i would just treat her with kibble and could be from stress or treats from girls - no more table food just feed her the food only and use it as treat from now on since she is prone to pancreatitis you know now you have to be super strict

[HShanks]

Just spoke with the vet and here is the info on the test that they used to confirm dx of pancreatitis along with elevated lipase and amylase:

In 2007, IDEXX introduced the SNAP cPL, a version of the Spec cPL test that can be done in-house by your veterinarian and return results in 10 minutes. The result is a color spot that is either lighter than the reference spot (normal range), the same as the reference spot (intermediate range, comparable to 201-399), or darker than the reference spot (consistent with pancreatitis). If the SNAP cPL test results are abnormal, IDEXX recommends that you follow up with a Spec cPL test to establish a baseline cPL concentration and to monitor treatment.

I'm guessing I did remember correctly when I said our vet reported the results as being over 400 as this is consistent with the above range. Now that I know they used a rapid SNAP test I'm considering going back to request a Spec cPL later in the week to establish a baseline so I know what I'm working with and to be sure that the inflammation is in fact subsiding.

Thanks again to everyone! Abbie slept well last night and has not had a bowel movement (loose or otherwise) yet as of 11 AM. It has been a scary road and I'm appreciative of all comments and concerns.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by HShanks

Just spoke with the vet and here is the info on the test that they used to confirm dx of pancreatitis along with elevated lipase and amylase:

In 2007, IDEXX introduced the SNAP cPL, a version of the Spec cPL test that can be done in-house by your veterinarian and return results in 10 minutes. The result is a color spot that is either lighter than the reference spot (normal range), the same as the reference spot (intermediate range, comparable to 201-399), or darker than the reference spot (consistent with pancreatitis). If the SNAP cPL test results are abnormal, IDEXX recommends that you follow up with a Spec cPL test to establish a baseline cPL concentration and to monitor treatment.

I'm guessing I did remember correctly when I said our vet reported the results as being over 400 as this is consistent with the above range. Now that I know they used a rapid SNAP test I'm considering going back to request a Spec cPL later in the week to establish a baseline so I know what I'm working with and to be sure that the inflammation is in fact subsiding.

Thanks again to everyone! Abbie slept well last night and has not had a bowel movement (loose or otherwise) yet as of 11 AM. It has been a scary road and I'm appreciative of all comments and concerns.

yeah the snap is new and not all vets carry it so glad yours does that is great. One of ours does and one does not but i like this test as the normal cpli test takes about 2-3 days to come back and i like knowing right then what is going on. How high were the amylase and lipase numbers on cbc panel? did they do that inhouse as well? I agree i would have done inhouse and also asked them to send to lab on top of it myself just to be 100% as sometimes those inhouse ones are not 100% like per and post bile acid I definitely would not recommend snap for that as it is a stressful test doing two blood draws and then the numbers only go to 30 so never recommend snap for bile acids but i like it for cpli as the lab results take too long and amylase and lipase are not always accurate as they were normal when dex acted sick but high when he acted normal which is why i am not real satisfied with amylase and lipase testing only

[ladyjane]

Amylase and lipase are elevated with pancreatitis; but they can also be elevated for other reasons. That is why the CPLI.

[HShanks]

I don't have the results of the amylase and lipase. I just made a quick phone call to the vet this morning and requested the info about the cPL. Being a nurse, I want to see the complete blood panel with my own eyes. I plan on going by tomorrow and picking up copies. I had planned on doing that today by my daughter broke out in hives at 10 PM last night (when it rains it pours, huh?). I spent the night sandwiched in between my pup and my daughter. I was awake all night making sure that I didn't need to use my Epi pen on my daughter and making sure that my pup didn't have any diarrhea or vomitting

I didn't sleep all night-but they both slept like logs. They worry me to death sometimes but I sure do love 'em.

Abbie is doing well today. Lots and lots of energy. She did throw up around 11 AM but I think it was because she is so darn hungry and every time I put a couple of bites of chicken on her plate she gobbles them up too fast. No diarrhea but no poo at all yet. Will keep you updated. Praying for a formed stool soon.