From the Vet's Files: How Treats From the Frying Pan Turned Into Pancreatitis

PetSmart - Katherine George, DVM / Banfield, The Pet Hospital®

We always had a concern about Rosie, a 5-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, whose owners consistently fed her table foods. On one occasion recently, they gave her a piece of ham. Twenty-four hours later, she was vomiting.

When she was brought in to us for a workup, we diagnosed pancreatitis–an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. We started her on supportive therapy that consisted of intravenous (IV) fluids, IV antibiotics and anti-nausea medication. After three days of treatment, Rosie was only minimally getting better and was still vomiting five to 10 times a day. She was referred to Upstate Veterinary Specialists (UVS) for an ultrasound and further workup (we happened to be closed for two days during this time).

Rosie was then diagnosed with an abscess of the pancreas due to chronic low-grade pancreatitis. The culprit: eating people food for so many years. She is feeling better now, but as of this writing, she was still hospitalized at UVS.

In the long term, this pet will be on a low-fat food diet, will likely take pancreatic enzymes to supplement what her diseased pancreas can no longer make, and is at increased risk of developing diabetes or recurring pancreatitis. Her owners will have to monitor what food she eats, avoid steroid use and keep an eye on Rosie’s stress level as any of these can cause a relapse.

The important lesson to be learned here is that people food is for people and not for your pet.

Katherine George, DVM, is a vet at Banfield, The Pet Hospital® in Spartanburg, SC

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