Articles with pancreatitis

Pancreatitis in Dogs: The Perplexities of Pancreatitis

If your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, it may seem like you didn’t get straight answers to your questions. The disease can be confusing, and not just for owners but for the veterinarians who treat it as well. Pancreatitis can be no more serious than a mild “tummy ache,” or it can be a killer. It may be a…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Unhealthy Gut—Unhealthy Dog: Mandy’s Story

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis in dogs is the ingestion of a fatty meal or table scraps. It is by far not the only cause. Further, the picture gets more complicated with chronic pancreatitis. Anything that disrupts the tissue of the pancreas can trigger panccreatitis. The list of all potential causes is quite long and includes: breed predisposition…

by Jana Rade

Severe Acute Pancreatitis in a Dog: Bandit’s Last Treat

The pancreas fulfills two essential functions. It produces digestive enzymes to help break down food and it makes insulin, which controls storage and delivery of insulin. Severe inflammation of the pancreas is not only extremely painful but it can be fatal. If enough of the pancreas is destroyed, it can compromise both of its functions. That can lead to malnutrition,…

by Jana Rade

Acute Pancreatitis in a Dog: The Project That Is Cookie—Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. One of the jobs the pancreas has is the production of enzymes essential for food digestion. When these enzymes go rogue, they begin digesting the pancreas itself. Further information: Pancreatitis in Dogs Cookie’s story Vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Combination of symptoms that sent us to the vet, yet again. I had dogs vomit…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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