Keeping the Pancreas Peppy During the Holiday Season
The holidays are once again right around the corner, which means it will soon be time for a lot of gatherings filled with food, fun, and pets if they’re excited to meet new people!
Chances are the ones who like to meet new people may also like to meet new foods they haven’t had before, like the ham on the dinner plate, the goat cheese that is falling off of the table, or the butter-glazed stuffing that the one relative is DETERMINED to feed them no matter how many times you ask them not to.
Although it may seem very tempting to feed them these high-fat treats (how can ANYONE resist those giant eyes of a sweet plea for more food?!), it is best to avoid doing so for several reasons, including the possibility of pancreatitis.
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that secretes insulin and glucagon, two hormones that control the ebbs and flows of blood sugar. It also secretes digestive enzymes, including lipase and amylase, to break down food during normal digestion. Therefore, this organ, although often forgotten about, is obviously very important to keep them happy and healthy!
When a dog (although both animals are susceptible to this, dogs seem to be more eager to eat those high-fat treats whereas cats seem to just know a little better) eats a food that is high in fat, this is a very new thing to their body. This new, high-fat food causes their pancreas to become agitated and run into somewhat of an inappropriate state. In this state, the pancreas starts releasing too much of the digestive enzymes and/or hormones all at once.
Clinical signs of pancreatitis
Clinical signs of pancreatitis are similar, if not more exacerbated, than a normal upset GI tract. They usually vomit and have a decreased appetite, but oftentimes, pets with pancreatitis can be EXTREMELY uncomfortable, especially where the pancreas is located, which is a little behind the stomach where it empties into the beginnings of the small intestine.
Sometimes, they can be a bit more subtle by just not acting like their normal self. The BIGGEST indication, however, is usually a recent history of eating fatty food or just normal human food that we think is not high in fat but may be for them.
Diagnosing pancreatitis is not as easy as it may seem. Bloodwork can show non-specific indicators such as inflammation or an increase in certain enzymes produced by the pancreas. However, a LOT of conditions can cause these signs, including an upset GI tract in general. There are specific tests for dogs (not as much for cats) that help diagnose it as well. Abdominal ultrasound is another way that is helpful in diagnosing this uncomfortable disease.
Treatment Options
In mild forms, pancreatitis can be treated like an upset stomach with anti-nausea medications, fluids, and an easily digestible diet for several days. However, severe cases can require hospitalization to bring the discomfort and inflammation down as well as to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition in an appropriate manner.
Not all animals are susceptible to pancreatitis, which is why some may eat high-fat food and have no issues at all. However, why risk the possibility of learning about pancreatitis from a personal perspective? It is just better to try your best to avoid getting to this position by not feeding them a diet that may set them off.
Although they may seem sad they aren’t eating what you are eating, they actually don’t know what they’re missing. And, if you really feel guilty, keep some of THEIR normal treats or food at the table and have that persistent relative feed that to them all night long — although they may gain a temporary few pounds, that definitely beats getting pancreatitis!
Written by Dr. Harris Fitzgerel