My dog threw up a little food after dinner a week ago; I thought he had eaten too much and ignored it. Two hours later he suddenly vomited bright red, very watery blood. We rushed to the hospital for an X-ray, which ruled out a foreign object. CP L 223.75, amylase 471, lipase 71, creatinine 90.2, BUN 10.66, canine C-reactive protein 12.5. The vet said mild pancreatitis and gave an injection. On the third day an abdominal ultrasound showed an enlarged pancreas; CP L 88.48, amylase 456, lipase 62, creatinine 52.5, BUN 484, canine C-reactive protein 19.2. At first the dog had slight abdominal pain, the belly felt a bit hard but pressing caused no pain. No arched-back posture, appetite very good, stools normal, even a bit dry. No fever, very energetic. Now after stopping injections we feed small meals and a prescription diet, but every morning on an empty stomach he vomits thin brownish-yellow water, then is normal, with very good appetite and energy and normal stools. Do I need more tests?
Expert Answer
Canine pancreatitis is when the digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas, due to inflammation and other causes, digest the pancreas itself and even surrounding organs, causing lesions in the pancreas and nearby organs. Dog pancreatitis is divided into three types: acute, chronic, and relapsing.
Specific treatment should follow the veterinarian’s advice directly. The symptoms of dog pancreatitis are similar to acute gastroenteritis and may include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Pancreatitis is a complex disease that threatens a dog’s life, and not every dog is guaranteed to be cured; chronic pancreatitis lasts a lifetime.
So during the recovery period, pay attention to the diet ratio, strictly control feeding, and give low-fat, easily digestible food. Most importantly, return to the hospital regularly to recheck pancreatitis markers to assess improvement and whether continued medication is needed, and follow the vet’s instructions for treatment and care.