FATAL
SCRAPS--
By
Kim Heath, BS,RN,MSW-A&B
Table
scraps killed our dog. He was lucky, however, that the fatality was not immediate. Acute pancreatitis kills many dogs each
year with the first attack. Our miniature schnauzer, Pepper, suffered chronic pancreatitis for nine years before his suffering
became too unbearable for all concerned. We extended the productive years of his life with the daily practice of being ever-mindful
of what went in his mouth. And we also learned ways to get him through the bad spells. He was never treated by a veterinarian,
for there wasn’t much that could be done for his chronic pancreatitis beyond what we were already doing. (Acute
pancreatitis can sometimes be salvaged by a vet if you act promptly.)
What is
pancreatitis? Most mammals, dogs and people included, have an organ in their abdomens called a pancreas. Seated next to the
stomach, it aids in the metabolism of sugars by the production of insulin, and in the digestion and absorption of fats by
producing enzymes. The pancreas usually protects itself from being digested by its own enzymes, but when something goes wrong
those same enzymes can affect it, inflaming it, and this is called pancreatitis. The damage may or may not be permanent but
in severe cases other surrounding organs can also be damaged, leading to liver or kidney failure, then death.
The signs
of pancreatitis are highly variable, making diagnosis frequently difficult. The most common symptom is abdominal pain, manifested
as restlessness, or reluctance to move, and rigid muscles. Your pet may have some or all of these other symptoms:
1. thirst,
with an inability to keep water down which leads to dehydration (the mouth will be very dry and the eyes may appear sunken
in);
2. frequent
vomiting, especially after eating food high in fat (blood may or may not be present);
3. diarrhea
(sometimes bloody or greasy yellow);
4. lack
of appetite (a refusal to eat with the look of “I don’t feel well”);
5. irritability
or lassitude;
6. weakness
or trembling of the hindquarters;
7. high
temperature at first leading to an abnormally low temperature latter on and the mouth could look pale;
8. rapid
heart rate with rapid breathing (you might see redness of the gums and tissues around the eyes).
The exact
cause of pancreatitis is usually unknown, but there are many contributing factors, primary of which is an over-load of fatty
food at a meal. This is especially the case if your pet is predisposed to hyperlipidemia (a metabolic disorder in which fat
is inadequately handled by the blood stream). Suspect variables include: obesity, the eating of spoiled or contaminated food
or water, lack of exercise, diabetes or pancreatic cancer, trauma (injury to the abdomen as when hit by a car), and shock.
Other possible causes can include hypercalcemia and the use of corticosteroids or other medicines.
Some breeds
are more predisposed than others, like miniature schnauzers and yorkshire terriers. Labrador retrievers and miniature poodles have the lowest risk. Other high risk factors
include:
1. obesity,
2. a
high intake of fatty foods,
3. animals
who already have diabetes,
4. hypothyroidism,
5. a
history of frequent gastrointestinal inflammation,
6. hyperadrenocorticism
(Cushing’s Syndrome),
7. liver
disease and/or nephrotic (kidney) disease, and
8. age
(pancreatitis is most common in dogs over four years old).
Acute
pancreatitis is defined as the sudden onset of severe symptoms (very common after
holiday meals where Fido gets his “fair share” of your food). The first attack can be rapidly fatal so it’s
vital to handle the situation wisely. This includes taking your pet to the vet as soon as possible and WITHHOLDING food, water,
and oral medications in the meantime. Early medical treatment can increase your pet’s chances of survival.
Chronic
pancreatitis differs from acute pancreatitis in that the attacks recur throughout the animal’s life. Each additional
attack causes further damage and can lead to other conditions like diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic insufficiency. The
frequency and severity of those attacks can be minimized with appropriate life-style changes.
It is
amazing how effective life-style changes can be in adding years to your dog’s life. I started taking walks with our
dog (we both needed the exercise) and learned that treats can come in many forms. Our doughnut hound learned to enjoy carrots
and apples, even raw broccoli! You wouldn’t believe the things I conned that dog into eating, things like low-fat yogurt
instead of ice cream and a peeled/sliced cold boiled egg served up with uncooked rolled oats. We got him off meat-based dog
food and found a vegetarian based kibble that he tolerated for several years before tiring of it. No more pizza for Pepper,
even though he barked and barked at us for eating it in front of him. But watch where you put your plate! One evening after
work I was sitting in front of the TV with a plate on my lap, concentrating on the program, my food temporarily forgotten.
A minute later my cheesy burrito grew legs and ran behind the sofa. Other pitfalls include:
1. well-meaning neighbors and friends who love to treat dogs too (get them involved in your new program or
prevent your dog from accessing that neighbor),
2. and other sources of high-fat food the animal might find
a. like cat food left out (placing the cat food on a higher level where the cat can jump up to but the dog
can’t solves this problem),
b. and garbage cans that need a new lid.
Even though
high fat foods are the enemy now, you cannot delete them from your pet’s diet entirely. Dietary fat is as necessary
for canine survival as it is for humans, just follow the same rules: serve the “good” fats not the “bad”
ones (a little unsweetened peanut butter in the dish can make a bland diet taste more human). The same applies for high fiber
in the diet--share a salad with your pet, just don’t give him dressing, croutons, bacon, or cheese--and you’ll
both be healthier for it.
The last
year of Pepper’s life was the roughest. His attacks were frequent and severe. His regular diet at that point consisted
of Milk Bone brand biscuits, boiled eggs, and raw fruit and vegetables. During an attack we withheld all food and water until
the symptoms subsided. Then began feeding again very carefully. I found egg-drop soup to be a life-saver, literally. Bring
two cups of water to a boil, crack one egg open over it and stir rapidly with a fork; remove from heat and stir in a shake
or two of salt (vomiting and diarrhea depletes electrolytes in dogs too), and allow to cool (never serve warm food to dogs).
Once cool, this is the first thing you should feed your dog once the attack is passed. If he gets sick again, continue withholding
all food and liquids until several hours after the attack passes. If this first meal goes down well, the next meal can be
of peeled/sliced cold boiled egg with a Milk Bone or two. Once fully recovered, continue with your previous preventative routine.
If you use a veterinarian’s counsel during this time, follow his advice.
For mild
attacks giving Tums antacid tablets or enteric coated baby aspirin can help your pal feel better (give no more pills than
you would to a child of the same size). But be careful of other medications. I made the mistake of ordering arthritis pills
on-line for Pepper. His worst attack ever came after just one dose. There was no warning on the package, either, but one of
the ingredients was shell-fish. The only animal products Pepper kept down in all of those years with chronic pancreatitis
were the boiled eggs and low-fat yogurt.
Consistency
seems to be a key factor in keeping this kind of dog alive. Establish a routine of a balanced diet and timing of servings,
and keep it. Multivitamins are a good idea. And so is a constant supply of fresh water.
It’s
difficult to break the habit of sharing your food with a beloved dog. There is a psychological bonding that occurs with this
daily routine, and the dog doesn’t understand when you suddenly break the pattern. But you can make up for it by rewarding
with good treats, lots of praise, and the giving of attention in other forms. Tricks like serving the dog his food at the
same time as the rest of the family can help as long as the dog doesn’t get anything unhealthy from the table. We often
pretended that his food was ours and Pepper gobbled it up to keep us from getting it. When this didn’t work we gave
Milk Bones, and if he wouldn’t eat Milk Bones, we didn’t push, realizing that he might not be feeling well and
the last thing he needed was the wrong food on his tummy.
On holidays
Pepper would get a special treat of peaches, which he adored. We miss him now, but we cherish those last years because they
were special, just like our dog.
