Most cases of canine pancreatitis require hospitalized treatment for a minimum of three to four days, and sometimes much longer. There are several goals to the treatment of pancreatitis in dogs. First, the overall blood volume and circulation of blood within the pancreatic gland must be maintained. The prevention of stimulation of the pancreas that causes it to secrete enzymes is also essential. Additional goals include the removal of circulating activated enzymes from the blood, the management of abdominal pain, and treatment of acute or chronic complications of the disease.
Intravenous fluid administration is used in treatment as needed. The veterinarian may try to allow the pancreas to "rest" by keeping the dog off food, water, or oral medications for three days or more. The use of medications to decrease vomiting and control pain, and occasionally antibiotics, also may be indicated. A veterinarian also will treat diseases caused by the pancreatitis.
Dogs that fail to respond to medical therapy may require surgical exploration of the abdomen. Dogs with pancreatitis are considered to be at a higher risk for anesthetic and surgical complications, but they may have little chance of recovery without the operation. Typical conditions that require surgical intervention include pancreatic or bile duct obstruction, severe inflammation of the pancreas and abdominal cavity, and a pancreatic abscess or mass of some other type.
