As the holiday season approaches it is always a great time of the year for everyone to get together with family and celebrate.  This is usually done around large meals that we all look forward to.  As we are eating these great meals, how many times does our best friend look up at us with those sad eyes and say “How about me?  Where is mine?”  With a kind heart and good intentions we give our dog some of the food not thinking of whether or not it is good for them.

The problem is that many times it is not good for your dog.  Most people think dogs can eat anything and some dogs almost can, but many dogs are very sensitive, and given the wrong food, can develop a condition called pancreatitis.  Pancreatitis in dogs is an inflammation of an organ called the pancreas.  Dog pancreatitis can be a life threatening disease for dogs if not treated early and aggressively.

The Pancreas

The pancreas is a V-shaped organ located behind the stomach and first section of the small intestine, the duodenum.  The pancreas has two main functions: it aids in the metabolism of sugar in the body through production of insulin and is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by producing enzymes that promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.

There are many causes for dog pancreatitis, but we are going to focus on a few that we can easily prevent.  Obese dogs are more prone to pancreatitis as are Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers.  High fat foods can cause acute pancreatitis especially when it is something the dog is not used to eating.  So when we give that food from the table that is high in fat we are potentially causing great harm to our dog.  I am a firm believer that dogs accept what their environment offers them.  If they are fed one kind of food every day, they will be very content with that for a lifetime.  They do have a great sense of smell and of course will smell the food we eat but if we don’t feed from the table, they won’t beg for it.

Clinical Signs

Clinical signs of pancreatitis in dogs can include:

• Pain in the abdomen;
• Vomiting and/or lack of appetite;
• Abdominal distention;
• Severe lethargy; or
• Dehydration.

A clinical exam and history, blood work, urinalysis and possibly x-rays and/or ultrasound can diagnose pancreatitis.  The treatment consists of correcting dehydration, which can involve intravenous fluids and hospitalization, providing pain relief, controlling the vomiting, and providing nutritional support without feeding the dog.  The prognosis depends on the severity of the condition.  Mild cases respond quickly, but more serious cases can be very time consuming and expensive for the owner

The next time you look at those sad eyes looking at you and you start to feel guilty for not giving your dog something to eat, remember the biggest favor you can do for your dog is not give him any table food at all.  Going from a kind act to a potentially deadly disease and the pain your dog would have to go through and not to mention the cost to the owner, why give them table food?  Remember dogs aren’t people and although the food we eat may not be that healthy for us, feeding it to your dog can have serious health consequences.  Always pick a good dog food that is low in fat and keep your dog on a consistent diet at all times.