Health and Lifetime Course for Dogs Chapter 13
Pancreatitis is a common and sometimes fatal disease in dogs that can be successfully treated or prevented with drug-free, natural holistic methods.
In a previous chapter of the Health and Longevity Course for Dogs, I wrote about the energy channels leading to the organs and how they affect their function. If you missed this chapter, you can learn more here.
How does the pancreas work?
The pancreas is an exocrine (enzymatic) and an endocrine (hormonal) organ.
Pancreatic secretions contain enzymes for digesting all three main types of food – proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Pancreatic juice contains the enzymes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, amylase and lipase. It also contains sodium bicarbonate, which plays an important role in neutralizing the acidic contents of the stomach that are poured into the small intestine.
The pancreas produces three hormones:
- Glucagon, which increases blood glucose.
- Insulin, which lowers blood glucose.
- Somatostatin, which inhibits the secretion of insulin, glucagon and growth hormone from the anterior pituitary, as well as gastrin from the stomach.
Causes of Pancreatitis
From a holistic perspective, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is caused by many factors. However, this condition is more common in dogs fed processed kibble.
Anatomically dogs are designed for digesting meat, bones, organs and some plant material. Nature never intended for dogs to eat a heavily processed, grain-based diet. Processed food activates the pancreas and it becomes inflamed.
Inflammation can activate digestive enzymes prematurely, which can trigger the process of ‘self-digestion’ of the pancreas. This can result in pancreatic enzymes leaking into the abdominal cavity, damaging the lining of the stomach and other organs. Pancreatitis is a serious and often life-threatening condition that needs to be taken seriously.
Symptoms
Chronic pancreatitis is the most serious form and the onset occurs suddenly. Symptoms include loss of appetite and vomiting, diarrhea (may or may not be present), signs of dizziness, dehydration and the abdomen may appear hard and tender to the touch, especially in the front part of the stomach The pancreas is closely related to the stomach and is in the same place.
Chronic pancreatitis usually presents with no symptoms. The only sign is a slight increase in pancreatic enzymes.
Diagnosis
The best way to confirm your dog’s diagnosis is with a blood test, which consists of a CBC, chemistry panel and pancreas-specific enzyme tests, such as lipase. In recent years, a new test has been introduced called dog-specific lipase, which is usually done separately and is more reliable than a simple lipase level. An ultrasound or x-ray test can help confirm the diagnosis and also help rule out other causes of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dizziness.
Over the past few years, I have seen many dogs misdiagnosed with pancreatitis, especially very healthy animals on a natural diet. These dogs tend to have higher healthy levels of pancreatic enzymes and do not have pancreatitis. The reason is the crowd Veterinary labs use reference values that are ‘normal’ for animals that eat processed food and have less understanding of normal values for raw fed dogs.
Pancreas and energy flow
Injuries resulting in congestion of energy flow at the thoracic-lumbar junction is a lesser known, but very common cause of pancreatitis. The area where the thoracic spine transitions to the lumbar spine energetically supplies the stomach and pancreas. When this segment is injured or constricted, the pancreas weakens and pancreatitis is more likely to develop.
To determine if there is a problem with the stomach/pancreas association point, you can feel along the region of the spine where the last rib begins to check for any signs of energy flow congestion, such as increased sensitivity, warmth or muscle pain. This area can be a predisposing factor for pancreatitis and gastric dilation volvulus, or stomach bloat, in dogs.
Other possible causes of pancreatitis
The swallowing garbage or swallowing a large amount of harmful foods can also cause pancreatitis. While some people say that a high fat diet causes pancreatitis, I see carbohydrates and mainly grains as a more common cause.
Mineral and nutrient deficiencies is a common and often underestimated cause. No organ can function properly without the availability of essential minerals and other nutrients and the pancreas is no exception.
In general, the quality of processed food is very low and deficiencies are common. We live in a time where soils are depleted of minerals because they have been overused and nutrients are not returned to the soil.
Without minerals, the pancreas cannot function and the body cannot heal.
Treatment of pancreatitis
The treatment of pancreatitis should consist of the following steps:
- Stop feeding processed food as it is not appropriate for the species and is, in fact, the main cause of pancreatitis. Learn how to eat a healthy natural diet.
- Detox, cleanse and nourish GREENMIN.
- Provide a high quality certified organic multivitamin – SOULFOOD.
- Use a dog-specific probiotic formula – BOY SENSE.
- Give FeelGood Omega, an essential fatty acid supplement.
- Treat back muscle tightness or damage to the thoracic-lumbar junction. It’s a good idea to see a chiropractor, physiotherapist, osteopath or experienced massage therapist monthly. Repetition of treatment is important.
- Let your dog fast for at least 48 hours in case of acute pancreatitis to rest the pancreas. Most dogs can fast for longer than a few days. After fasting, start a 50/50 mix of squash or pumpkin and lean meat, and then introduce a raw or cooked diet.
Frequently asked questions
Is IV therapy necessary?
Although most textbooks recommend complete fluid withdrawal, I have found that if the case of pancreatitis is moderate, the above steps should be sufficient and dehydration and IV are not necessary fluid therapy.
Your vet may say that the situation is critical and you can’t go wrong with IV therapy. If you agree to this treatment, you should insist that your dog is supervised 24/7 because there are still clinics that leave hospitalized patients unattended at night, which in my opinion is unacceptable.
Are antibiotics needed?
I have mentioned before that the most important part of treating any disease is getting rid of what is not in the body and giving the body what it needs.
As far as I know, pancreatitis is not caused by antibiotic deficiency. Antibiotics are toxic substances that kill bacteria when necessary, but they are also toxic to the body, including the pancreas. During a bout of pancreatitis, any additional toxic burden can impair the outcome of treatment. Pancreatitis is not caused by bacteria.
Some people advocate that antibiotics should be used to prevent secondary sepsis or bacterial spread. I have found that antibiotics are often detrimental to the outcome of pancreatitis because our goal should be to cleanse and support, not add additional toxins to the body.
What about Metacam?
Anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids and Metacam seriously block the body’s efforts to heal because they put the natural defenses to sleep. It’s no different than taking sleeping pills after finding out your house is on fire. I feel that many more dogs with pancreatitis could have been saved if they had not been poisoned during the course of treatment.
Is a low protein diet good?
In my opinion, a high-quality protein diet is better for dogs suffering from pancreatitis than starch, rice or a grain-based diet. I do not recommend a low protein diet.
What about low fat?
I recommend lower fat meat for dogs with pancreatitis. Chicken, turkey, rabbit and eggs are good examples of low-fat foods. I do not recommend fatty meats, such as duck or lamb. I also do not recommend large animal red meat (beef, buffalo or bison) for dogs with pancreatitis.
I hope that this article will be the answer to many questions and above all, that it will save many dog lives. Thanks for sharing this article with others!
If you want to learn more about natural treatment and prevention of pancreatitis, click the link below to watch our Facebook Live presentation.
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© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
