Symptoms And Diagnosis Of Canine Pancreatitis
I. Symptoms
1. Refusal Of Food, Vomiting
Though this alone is not a telltale sign of pancreatitis, it is still cause for concern. Dogs with pancreatitis will be in significant pain, and will have lost their ability to properly digest their food (due to damage of the pancreas).
2. Depression, Lethargy
Damage to your dog's pancreas, as well as surrounding organs, will take a lot out of your dog. Some dogs affected by pancreatitis seem constantly fatigued, and tend to lie down more than normal. This symptom is also exhibited because any movement will most likely result in pain in your dog's abdomen.
3. Swelling Of The Abdomen
Because of the damage to the pancreas and surrounding organs, your dog's body may have a severe inflammatory response. This will result in your dog's abdomen to appear distended, or larger than normal. This symptom can appear gradually, or not at all.
4. Diarrhea
Canine diarrhea is one of the visible signs of pancreatitis, because your dog's stools will have a significant change in appearance. Dogs affected by pancreatitis will produce a thin, yellow, greasy stool, which will be a very visible sign that something is wrong. This is a result of improper digestion, as well as the presence of undigested fats in your dog's system.
II. Diagnosis
A positive diagnosis of pancreatitis requires three separate confirmation tests to form the diagnosis.
The first of these is based on the clinical signs of pancreatitis. A positive clinical diagnosis would mean that your dog is exhibiting all of the classic physical symptoms of pancreatitis.
The second test is based on laboratory results. Lab work will usually show an elevated count of white blood cells, though this alone could be caused by conditions unrelated to pancreatitis. Laboratory tests may also show a high concentration of pancreatic enzymes in a blood test, though this is not always the case.
The third type of test for pancreatitis is an ultrasound examination. An ultrasound will be able to positively identify any swelling of your dog's pancreas, which will mean that your dog is being affected by pancreatitis.
Next Article: Treatment Of Pancreatitis In Dogs
