What Happens When A Dog's Pancreas Stops Working Like It Should?

What Happens When A Dog's Pancreas Stops Working Like It Should?

An important but often ignored organ, the pancreas plays a crucial role in ensuring the digestive process goes smoothly and food gets digested properly.

It does this by releasing all sorts of enzymes that digest fats and starches, in addition to secreting hormones such as glucagon and insulin to manage blood sugar levels.

What Happens When It Goes Wrong?

Sometimes, the pancreas doesn’t work like it should. While the causes can vary, the process is always the same – inflammation causes the organ to release the digestive and metabolic enzymes way too early. This results in the pancreas literally digesting itself.

Once these enzymes leave the pancreas, they start damaging other nearby organs as well, such as the liver. This makes pancreatitis a disease that can rapidly grow out of hand.

What Can I Do?

Your vet will look for the following symptoms:

1. Abdominal pain.

2. Fever.

3. Vomiting.

4. Appetite loss.

5. Diarrhea.

If something is suspect, your vet will run a variety of tests to rule out other possible causes first. Then, they will run further tests to confirm whether it is pancreatitis or not.

What Happens Next?

Your vet will place your dog on supportive care. After that, further treatment will depend on the severity of your dog’s case. Consult your vet to better understand your dog’s situation.

Feature Image Source: Pixabay

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