Pancreatitis in Dogs: Signs, Causes and When to Call the Vet

Pancreatitis in dogs is inflammation of the pancreas, the organ near the stomach that helps digest food. It can start suddenly and range from mild to very severe, so if your dog is being sick, seems to have a sore tummy and is off their food, speak to your vet promptly.

At a glance

• What it is: inflammation of the pancreas. It can be a single episode (acute) or keep coming back (chronic).
• Who it affects: any breed can be affected, though older dogs, overweight dogs and some breeds appear more prone.
• Urgency: as soon as possible. The PDSA says to book a vet appointment ASAP.
• Vet needed? Yes. The PDSA warns it can cause severe illness and even death if left untreated.

Signs to look for

The PDSA says signs often start suddenly and can include vomiting, eating less or not at all, diarrhoea and weight loss. A dog with a sore tummy may adopt a “prayer position”, with the front end stretched down and the back end up. Not every dog has every sign, and some show only one or two.

The Kennel Club also lists weakness and a high temperature, and says tummy pain may make a dog look bloated or hunch their back. The MSD Veterinary Manual adds that milder cases may show only vague signs, such as tiredness. Many of these signs overlap with vomiting and gastroenteritis, so it’s a job for your vet to work out which is which.

Causes and risk factors

Often nobody finds a clear cause. The Kennel Club says the cause is often unknown, but eating a large amount of high-fat food in one sitting is a common trigger. The MSD Veterinary Manual likewise says most cases have no identifiable cause, and names eating rubbish or large amounts of table scraps as a common risk factor. The PDSA lists being overweight (see our page on obesity in dogs), being unwell, recent surgery and recently eating high-fat foods such as pork, cheese or butter.

Breed is where the sources add detail. The PDSA says it is very common in Miniature Schnauzers, and UFAW (Science for Animal Welfare), a UK animal welfare science charity, describes the breed as predisposed, linking this to high levels of fats (triglycerides) in the blood. The Kennel Club also lists Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Border Collies and Cocker Spaniels, plus terriers and other small breeds, as possibly at higher risk.

A UK 2007 study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice examined the pancreas of 200 dogs after death and found chronic pancreatitis was common and probably underestimated, with higher relative risk in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Collies and Boxers. It also found overweight dogs were affected more often, but being overweight did not significantly raise the risk, so treat the lists above as a guide, not a guarantee.

When to call your vet

Speak to your vet as soon as possible if your dog has these signs or you suspect pancreatitis, especially if they’ve had it before. The PDSA says to book an appointment ASAP, and the Kennel Club says not to wait and see whether your dog improves. If you need a practice, our vets database can help. Our sick dog symptoms guide and our page on dogs not eating enough cover the wider picture.

How vets diagnose it

According to the PDSA, after a full examination a vet may use blood tests, X-rays and/or an ultrasound scan. The MSD Veterinary Manual adds that your dog’s history, such as whether they’ve raided the bin or had fatty scraps, plus vomiting and tummy pain, can point a vet towards it, and that blood tests help confirm it. Your vet decides which tests are needed.

What vets generally do about it

The PDSA says mild cases may be treated with anti-sickness medication, strong pain relief, rest and small, low-fat meals through the day. Severe cases may need a few days in a veterinary hospital with fluids into a vein, nursing care and careful feeding, sometimes through a stomach tube if the dog won’t eat. The Kennel Club says mild cases may need several days of monitoring and severe cases a week or longer. Treatment is always decided by your vet.

The PDSA says most dogs fully recover with veterinary treatment, though some have repeated episodes. The MSD Veterinary Manual says the outlook is good for mild cases but less certain for severe ones, and that dogs with long-term pancreatitis should be watched for complications such as diabetes. The PDSA says that in very rare cases pancreatitis can lead to diabetes, and the Kennel Club adds that chronic pancreatitis can be managed but not cured.

Living with it and prevention

For dogs that have had pancreatitis, the PDSA suggests a low-fat diet, ideally a prescription diet from your vet, because some low-fat shop foods may still contain too much fat. It recommends only low-fat treats (avoid cheese and pork) and considering pet insurance early. The Kennel Club suggests keeping fatty foods out of reach and avoiding fatty treats and table scraps. Ask your vet what suits your dog, particularly before changing their diet.

Related conditions

• Vomiting in dogs
• Diarrhoea in dogs
• Gastroenteritis in dogs
• Diabetes in dogs
• Obesity in dogs
• GDV (bloat) in dogs

Back to the A to Z of dog illnesses and conditions.

Sources

• PDSA Pet Health Hub: Pancreatitis in dogs
• The Kennel Club: Pancreatitis in dogs
• MSD Veterinary Manual (pet owner version): Pancreatitis and other disorders of the pancreas in dogs
• Watson PJ et al. (2007), Journal of Small Animal Practice 48(11): Prevalence and breed distribution of chronic pancreatitis at post-mortem examination in first-opinion dogs
• UFAW / Science for Animal Welfare: Miniature Schnauzer, pancreatitis and hyperlipidaemia

This page is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, speak to your vet. Written by Georgiana & Figo, who are dog owners, not vets. Have a look around Calmshops for everyday dog essentials.