Seven Contributing Factors Of Canine Pancreatitis
Officially, the cause of occurrences of pancreatitis in dogs is still unknown. However, there are still many contributing factors that have been shown to greatly increase a dog's chance of being afflicted with pancreatitis.
1. Obesity
Several veterinary studies have proven that dogs classified as obese are much more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatitis. Not every obese dog will be affected by pancreatitis, but obesity greatly increases their chances. This contributing factor is directly related to the increased risk of pancreatitis with dogs that are consuming a diet that contains a high fat content.
2. High-Fat Diet
Not all dogs that consume a high-fat diet are classified as obese.
However, diets that are high in fats have been shown to increase the likelihood that a dog will come down with pancreatitis.Constant ingestion of fats causes the release of pancreatic lipase in the pancreas, which is responsible for digesting fats.
When these fats are digested, harmful fatty acids are released into the bloodstream. This leads to the pancreas releasing more lipase, while becoming inflamed because of the high-level of digestive enzymes present. This is a self-fueling condition, and without medical care, the digestive enzymes will eventually start to damage the pancreas.
3. One-Time Ingestion Of a High Fat Substance
Even if a dog is fed a healthy diet, one high-fat meal or snack can cause the condition known as pancreatitis. This is a very common cause of pancreatitis that occurs around the holidays, since many dogs are fed high-fat leftovers from holiday meals. This is also common in dogs that have gotten into a bag of chocolate, or other high-fat substance. The extreme level of fats being digested causes a rapid increase in the amount of digestive enzymes that are released by the pancreas, which induces the swelling of the pancreas, and subsequent pancreatitis.
4. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are a type of steroid that is naturally produced by the adrenal glands. However, synthetic drugs with effects mimicking corticosteroids are commonly used for treating various conditions (such as canine arthritis, allergic reactions, hepatitis, inflamed bowels, and many others).
When this drug is used frequently, or over a long period of time, it has been shown to cause pancreatitis. The exact connection is unknown, but corticosteroid drugs promote release of excessive digestive enzymes from the pancreas. This causes subsequent inflammation, and eventually induces pancreatitis.
5. Trauma
Because of the fragility of the pancreas, a severe abdominal injury may induce pancreatitis. Significant trauma to the abdomen can rupture the pancreas, causing leakage of digestive fluids. This will result in subsequent inflammation of the pancreas, causing the condition classified as pancreatitis.
6. Hyperlipidaemia
Hyperlipidaemia is a condition that occurs when there are high levels of fat in your dog's bloodstream. Though this can result from ingestion of foods that are high in fats, hyperlipidaemia can also result in a dog whose system has trouble successfully removing fats from the bloodstream. This causes the pancreas to produce excessive amounts of digestive enzymes in an attempt to remove the fats, inducing the chain reaction that leads to pancreatitis.
7. Diabetes
The pancreas is responsible for producing an important hormone called insulin. Insulin helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels by facilitating the transfer of glucose in the bloodstream into individual blood cells. In a dog with diabetes, not enough insulin is produced to successfully transfer glucose into the blood cells.
Canine diabetes can occur either before or after the onset of pancreatitis, and has been positively linked to the condition. In many cases, dogs will develop diabetes after significant damage to the pancreas by pancreatitis. Diabetes is also a condition that can develop in overweight dogs, which is another contributing factor in pancreatitis.
Next Article: Symptoms Of Pancreatitis In Dogs
