Pancreatitis: What Causes It?

The most common and well know trigger is a fatty meal(s) or table scraps.

That’s why veterinary emergency clinics are very busy with cases of pancreatitis during the holidays.


But is the answer really that simple?

How does that explain why one dog can regularly raid the garbage and gorge on fatty bits and never get pancreatitis, while another gets a little piece of steak or nothing at all and becomes severely ill? How does it explain why you can have two dogs of the same breed in the house, eating exactly the same stuff, and one of them stays perfectly healthy while the other one dies from severe acute or chronic pancreatitis?

The truth is that while we are familiar with risk factors for the disease, we don’t fully understand its true cause(s).

Why can one dog’s pancreas can deal with anything that gets thrown at it and another breaks down? What makes one dog more vulnerable than the other?

So what are the known risk factors, beside fatty meal(s) or table scraps?

Trauma to the pancreas or a tumor

Anything that disrupts normal pancreatic tissue can cause the inflammation that is at the heart of pancreatitis.

Reflux of duodenal contents

The duodenum is the first section of small intestine, into which bile and pancreatic enzymes are secreted. Pancreatic enzymes are created in an inactive form and get activated once they enter the duodenum. If, however, duodenal contents get backwashed into the pancreas, the digestive enzymes will be prematurely activated.

Breed does play a role.

Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels get pancreatitis more frequently than other breeds, but any dog is at risk.

Hyperlipidemia, an excessive amount of fat molecules (lipids) in the blood, is associated with episodes of pancreatitis.

Interestingly, it doesn't seem to be always clear what comes first, the chicken or the egg—or in this case, hyperlipidemia or pancreatitis.



Hyperlipidemia most commonly occurs as a result of other disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, some liver diseases or kidney disease.

Some breeds are more predisposed to primary hyperlipedimia where no such underlying disorder can be identified. These include as Miniature Schnauzers, Beagles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Briards, Rough Collies and Poodles.

Hyperlipedimia can also occur after a meal of high-fat foods.

Obesity

Yes, folks, here it is again. In particular, pancreatitis is more prevalent in overweight spayed females.

There is a higher incidence of pancreatitis in dogs with diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism.

These diseases are all associated with metabolic changes and hyperlipedimia (see above).

Hypercalcemia

Excessive levels of calcium in the blood can activate stored (inactive) digestive enzymes.

Hypercalcemia is typically associated with some cancers, parathyroid dysfunction, kidney failure, Addison’s disease or vitamin D poisoning.

Certain drugs or toxins increase the risk of pancreatitis

Drugs that can predispose dogs to pancreatitis are certain antibiotics, anti-seizure medications and some chemotherapy agents. The role of corticosteroids is controversial. To my thinking, though, if Cushing’s can be a risk factor, so can corticosteroids.

Exposure to certain organophosphate insecticides has also been implicated.

Stress

High stress can be a contributing factor too. Think about it. Flight or fight response leads to major metabolic changes in the body, which includes release of high levels of cortisol.

Autoimmune

Some new studies seem to be showing that chronic inflammation can drive the immune system  to destroy the pancreas.

Antioxidant deficiencies

Some studies in humans show that antioxidant deficiencies might play role in chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreas is not an island

In chronic cases, the function of other organs, particular digestive organs, needs to be evaluated. IBD and liver, gallbladder and kidney disease can play a role.


Here is a rare one for those who live in relevant geographic areas, scorpion stings.

Scorpion venom can also trigger inflammation of the pancreas.

And then there are dogs who get pancreatitis and nobody ever figures out why as well as those dogs who live with low-grade pancreatitis that never gets diagnosed.

And, of course,  there is Cookie who got pancreatitis after getting into horse feed.

Pancreatitis is not a simple problem.

But before you give your dog some fatty scraps, please think twice about it. That is the simplest way to help prevent your dog from getting pancreatitis.


Further reading:
Acute Pancreatitis – A Disease That Should Not Be Ignored!

Related articles:
Primer On Pancreatitis 
The Perplexities of Pancreatitis 
The House Is On Fire! Bridget's Pancreatitis
Holistic Look At Pancreatitis
Dog With Pancreatitis In Critical Condition
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal  
Pancreatitis: Cookie’s Blood Work  
Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?
Pancreatitis: Official Veterinary Killjoy Of The Holidays 
Pancreatitis: Bandit's Last Treat 

Comments

  1. Fabulous tips! Thanks for sharing Jana!

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  2. Jana, thank you for this post. I always hear about pancreatitis, but I was never exactly sure what it is or what causes it. I actually planned to search your site for more info, and then here was this post! A friend of mine just went through having pancreatitis herself, and it sounded so painful and awful.

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    Replies
    1. It is very painful and awful and it can be deadly, both in dogs and in humans.

      The frustrating part is that is not much better understood than some other things such as bloat. Yes, fatty meal/scraps can trigger it. But why in some dogs and why not in others? And why some get it in spite of never getting high level of fat in anything?

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