Pancreatitis in dogs and Cats - 10 Things to help
Got a cat or dog with. . . .
Abdominal pain and/or swelling
Severe lethargy or weakness
Chronic vomiting
Severe dehydration
Collapse and sometimes shock
Decrease or no appetite at all
Diarrhea
Fever
If so, your dog or cat’s body might be struggling with something called
“Pancreatitis.”
What Does The Pancreas Do?
Before we dive into one of the most commonly diagnosed digestive problems, we want to explain two distinct but equally important functions the pancreas has.
The pancreas is part of the body’s digestive system and it has two important functions
1) It secretes something called enzymes which help the body break down foods in the small intestine
AND
2) It produces hormones, which are mighty chemical messengers. One of those hormones is called insulin. Insulin is delivered directly to the blood which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
These functions are vital to the health of your dog or cat.
What Is Pancreatitis?
When it comes to the standard medical system any diagnosis that ends with the letters “itis” means inflammation.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.
Inflammation is commonly misunderstood though and typically it is something the standard medical system tries to put a stop to.
Inflammation is the body’s way of bringing fluids and heat to a part of the body where healing needs to take place.
This process is how the body goes about accelerating healing to take place.
It is a necessary and self-healing mechanism built into the body.
What Causes Inflammation To The Pancreas?
Depends on who you ask.
Here’s a list of a few things we’ve heard are to blame ~
Obesity
Bacteria
Genetics
Breed Dispositions
Underlying medical conditions
What Doesn't Cause Pancreatitis?
We like to dig deeper though.
Here’s why we know none of those things cause pancreatitis ~
Obesity, why NOT?
Obesity plays a part to health. However, obesity alone is not the cause of pancreatitis or any other disease.
Obesity is a symptom NOT a cause.
Bacteria why NOT?
Our society is focused on placing blame that bacteria and parasites are the cause of symptoms.
We’ve learned microorganisms such as bacteria are nature’s clean-up crew.
Think of them like “janitors” that consume different forms of waste.
When there is too much waste, bacteria do their part and clean up the mess.
Genetics Why NOT ~
Although genetics can play a part into health, genetics are not to blame entirely for ailments.
Sadly, many still don’t know about something called “Epigenetics” (the study of gene expression.)
Epigenetics has shown there are two types of genetics.
One gives orders such as “You will have blue eyes”
AND
the other makes suggestions.
Suggestive genetic weakness do not have to manifest as a disease, unless the laws of nature are violated.
Breed Dispositions Why NOT ~
French bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, YES, different forms of breeding have caused some body structures to become misaligned.
Short noses, big eyes, deep chest, etc. can come with some potential health challenges.
This can certainly play a part in disease but, it will not be the sole reason for disease.
If it was, you would see the health problem at the time of birth.
Underlying medical conditions Why NOT ~
Obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, high levels of triglycerides, cholesterol issues, etc.
These things are all symptoms.
Placing blame on one or more disease’s doesn’t provide an answer to the underlying cause.
What's The Root Cause of Pancreatitis?
Our knowledge and experience in working with hundreds of dogs, cats and humans has led us to know that for the most part, pancreatitis is the result of a poor diet and harmful chemicals.
Improper diet ~
Most if not all commercial pet foods as well as improperly combined homemade diets and cooked meals are difficult for the body to digest.
They also have little or no mineral-rich foods (alkaline foods) and they lack enzymes.
In lab tests, mice that lived on an enzyme less diet had twice the size of a pancreas than that of their wild cousins who ate an enzyme rich diet.
Harmful chemicals ~
What your dog and cat eats, drinks, breathes, and has put on his/her skin plays a HUGE part on how their body functions.
Improper foods, city water, drugs, poor air quality, etc. can contain things that deteriorate health and are known to cause damage to the pancreas and other organs in the body.
A number of drugs for instance have been associated with pancreatitis such as tetracyclines, sulfa drugs, valproic acid (for seizures) and diuretics.
10 Things to Help a Dog or Cat with Pancreatitis
Ten things we recommend to help a dog or cat with pancreatitis ~
Pancreatitis is always tied to poor digestive, liver and kidney health as well as nutrient deficiencies.
All these systems are tied intricately together and what affects one system affects the other.
The body works as a whole.
1) Strengthen your dog or cat’s immune system.
This is the body’s primary defense against all diseases.
One of the best ways to build your dog or cat’s immune system is to give probiotics.
Probiotics can also help several pancreatitis symptoms like abdominal swelling, excessive gas and vomiting.
It’s important to give human grade, high quality, plant-based probiotics that do not include harmful ingredients.
Most do not use the right probiotics and do not give them at effective levels so it’s best to have us help you with this.
2) Give your dog or cat a diet that is easy to digest and that is rich in nutrients, minerals and enzymes.
We recommend plenty of raw vegetables such as zucchini, celery and cucumber and summer squash and very little meat.
It is also best to juice the veggies or turn them into a mushy substance.
3) Remove internally and externally as many things as possible that deteriorate the health of the body.
4) Do not give your dog or cat tap water.
Most city water contains organic hydrocarbons that can result in saturating the pancreas with toxins.
5) Help your dog or cat’s body increase its oxygen.
Take them out walking and allow them to stop and sniff.
6) Make a serious effort to help your dog or cat’s body detoxify itself because it will greatly enhance the body’s ability to heal itself.
Hydrotherapy and enzyme therapy are PAWriffic ways to do this.
Reach out to us and we can help you with this.
7) Reduce as many forms of stress as possible to your dog or cat and make sure they are getting uninterrupted sleep.
8) Increase your dog or cat’s digestive enzymes.
We recommend human grade, high-quality, plant-based enzymes that do include minerals and without fake vitamins, chemicals and ingredients that are an irritant and a hazard to your dog cat’s health.
It’s best to take the burden off the pancreas not further overwork the pancreas.
The right high-quality plant-based enzymes will do this.
9) Give your dog wild-crafted microalgae because of its incredible nutrient profile, especially the carotenoid family.
Carotenoids are potent antioxidants needed to enhance the health of the digestive system, especially the intestinal lining.
Any nutrients that will enhance the health of the digestive system will help support the pancreas to heal.
10) Stay positive.
We believe a PAWrents mindset is important when it comes to PAWriffic health.
Are you Interested in our full-length article on this?
Need help? Reach out to us.