Anyone's dog had pancreatitis? Really worried

[rosieposey]

Hello, my little yorkie cross chihauhau has been at the vets since Saturday morning. He had a snap test come back positive for pancreatitis on Sunday ( after the 1st was negative on sat).

He hasn't really eaten anything since Friday ( apparently he pushed some chicken around plate last night and had a sliver ) but I went to see him today and he seemed so poorly and sad.

The vet called me a couple of hours after I visited and said he had gone backwards a little today so they were putting him on a special drip to try and get his gut moving.

Has anyone's dog had this and we're they ok? I am just worried that. He will never eat again and eventually die - he's only six and we've had him since he was an 8 week old. Some reassurance would be nice- do dogs die from this? It was caught really early?

[Aked]

I always hesitate to give an opinion on a lot of these threads as it is easy to be wrong without knowing the full picture. Also, for the record, I am a VN and not a vet.

I would say a majority of these patients do recover, with the right management. Yes, there are potential complications and a variation in severity, but it is actually quite commonly diagnosed nowadays. We generally always have a case in (but we are a big hospital!).

Now he has had it once, there will be a chance of recurrence, and your vet will probably recommend a low fat diet for him for the future.

Fingers crossed for your little one, hope he turns a corner and feels better soon:)

[rosieposey]

Ah thank you - I had a look about online and the general consensus seems to be that they do get better but he is little ( smaller than our cat) and it seems an awfully long time to be going without food?

Yes a low fat diet is the way forward I believe - happy to do all I can to ensure his future health, just sent to see him eating and wagging his tail again. He did look in a sorry state this morning

[Aked]

Dogs can actually go without eating for about a week before they start to suffer complications (in a cat it is about 3 days). Plus I guess he will be on intravenous fluid therapy, this will provide him with fluids and elctrolytes and support his organs, plus keep him hydrated all the while he isn't eating or drinking.

Poor little sausage:(

[Aked]

*electrolytes

[coffeetofunction]

I don't really know anything about it but my friends chitzu (can't spell sorry) has had it twice. She had it very resently, she was sent home with meds, only are a small price of chicken I gave her in 3 days but she picked up & now she's fine. Last time she had it she was extremely ill, at the vets for 8 days, she did get better tho so try to be positive

[rosieposey]

Just spoke to the vets for a progress report, he is apparently a bit brighter and wanting cuddles :) they have had him on a max dose of a special medicine drip and the vet seems to be thinking its making his tummy more comfortable.

He mentioned that they are syringe feeding him too it's just that he won't eat of his own accord. Tbh the chihauhau in him makes him a bit of a princess about food anyway ( he's always been the same ) so maybe he just doesn't want to eat there iyswim?

Thanks for the words of encouragement - I miss him and it's so bloody quiet without him barking at the neighbours! never thought I'd say that.

[furbaby]

I am sorry for the poor little fellow .
our late staffy had it when he was about 6 ,
he was very ill and on a drip at vets for 3 days .
We were worried sick :(
He made a full recovery and had a low fat diet for the rest of his life .
hope alls ok

[WandaWitch]

Hi - my gorgeous Lhasa (who we only lost last year age 19) had this repeated times, it seemed to weirdly enough always kick in about this time of year and we never worked out why. (We're next to fields and wondered if it was somehow related to crops of something at this time of year - don't know though). He'd stop eating and stop bouncing around, vet would test him - blood test - levels through the roof, he'd go on a drip and antibiotics for about two days and no food (staying in at vets), it always looked precarious, and each time after a couple of days he'd start to perk up, vet would be amazed and he'd come home back to his normal self.

I think he had about ten or more bouts over his life, the first few were close together (every couple of months) and then it dropped to one a year, then it seemed to stop when he was about 13. He was on Hills I/d dog food and trypilase (enzyme powder) for life. He had many tests and ultrasounds etc, to check him and were told several times that it was touch and go when he was having a bout but each time he pulled through - he was a stubborn little bugger!!

By the end we knew the signs so well, that we'd have him down the vets in a couple of hours of the first sign and they'd have him straight on a drip and medication before blood results even came back - each time results when they did come back, proved it was that again. By getting him on quicker after the first few goes, he used to get over it quicker - first time was in for about 5 days, as I said by the end was about 2 each time.

He ended up being one of the oldest dogs the vets had on their records and they all knew him - we lost him to cancer in the end, so I know it's worrying, but he's in the right place and it is recoverable from and as my gorgeous boy proved livable with for about 15 years in the end (first dose was when he was about 4)!

Typing all that and thinking about him, has just set me off sniffing again - we have other dogs who I love but he was "the one" - enormous personality, determination, stubborness, loyalty and strongest will in the world all in a small fluffy body - he walked and acted as though he were a Great Dane (and no-one would dream of telling him any different). He's the one I will never get over losing! I do hope your boy is ok, I'm sure he will be - small dogs are amazingly resilient and I'm sure their stubborn personality helps!

[Aked]

Ahh yes, not the first chihuahua to be a bit of a princess! A lot of dogs prefer to eat for their owners, so that might be a factor. Glad to hear he has perked up a bit :)

[Aked]

How is he today Rosie?

[rosieposey]

Just a quick update, they might send him home this afternoon he ate most of what was pushed in front of him last night and he is apparently very keen to get out of his kennel/cage this morning.

They just want him to eat today and I should be able to pick him up this afternoon