It takes major strength to be able to defy the pleading eyes of a begging dog while you are tucking into a delicious meal. You can almost feel those eyes boring a hole into your face. But before you start to feel bad and cave in, there is a good reason it is not recommended to feed your pup from the dinner table. That reason? Pancreatitis.
Follow along as we explain what pancreatitis is, what red flags pet parents should look out for, and how AVSG Internal Medicine & Urgent Care can help.
What is Pancreatitis?
The pancreas plays a crucial role in digesting food and producing insulin. When the pancreas becomes inflamed due to ingesting high-fat foods like turkey skin, bacon, or ham and cannot perform its job, pancreatitis sets in, and your pet’s health begins to deteriorate.
Ranging from mild to severe, pancreatitis can quickly turn into an emergency if not taken seriously. Without a veterinarian’s diagnosis and treatment, this disease can lead to organ damage, dehydration, and diabetes. In the most severe and prolonged cases, pancreatitis can be fatal.
Pet parents should watch out for the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Inappetence
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Bring your pet to our Urgent Care if they have been experiencing diarrhea or vomiting for 24 hours. Additionally, if your pet has not eaten or taken a drink from their water bowl in over 24 hours, this could signal a severe reaction and should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
How to Avoid Pancreatitis
Though your pet will not understand why you are ignoring their begging, they will thank you in the end for keeping their health in check! A bout of pancreatitis can be avoided by following these simple tips:
- Keep an eye on your pet’s eating and potty habits throughout the day.
- Do not feed pets foods they should not be eating like turkey and chicken skin, greasy foods, seasoned foods, drippings, or cheeses.
- Here are a few human foods that are safe to share with your pet.
- Educate your house guests and let them know not to give your pets any food from the table.
- Train your pets not to beg for food or keep them in a safe place while cooking, eating, and cleaning up.
- Keep garbage bags securely tied and trash bins shut tight to avoid any wandering noses.
Urgent Care and Internal Medicine Services
Pancreatitis is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests and abdominal ultrasound—both of which are available here at AVSG Internal Medicine & Urgent Care. With our Urgent Care services, you have an emergency room alternative when your primary care veterinarian is unavailable. While no appointment is necessary, we ask that you call us before you come over so we can prepare for your visit.
At the helm of our Internal Medicine department, you’ll find Victoria Vorathavorn, DVM, DACVIM (Board-Certified Veterinary Internist) and Michelle Cieplucha, DVM (Residency Trained in Internal Medicine), who can help diagnose and treat pancreatitis and many other diseases or conditions that impact your pet’s internal body functions.
Our Internal Medicine services are available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., by appointment. Please call 949.653.9300 to schedule.
We are located inside the AVSG building and have long-standing relationships with other practices with immediate access to veterinary specialists in surgery, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, oncology, ophthalmology, and more.