Pancreatitis in dogs.

Pancreatitis in dogs may be acute or chronic. Acute canine pancreatitis appears to be more common in obese, middle-aged bitches. Clinical signs include vomiting, anorexia, pain in the cranial abdomen, and the adoption of a prayer-like posture. The first signs of discomfort often follow the ingestion of a fatty meal. Diarrhea, which may be bloody, is sometimes present.

Radiologic signs of Pancreatitis in dogs

Pancreatitis in dogs causes an area of increased soft tissue opacity in the right cranial abdomen resulting from associated peritonitis. Normally the right cranial abdomen is relatively more radiopaque than the left, and care is necessary in evaluating this area.

Swelling of the pancreas in dogs causes the duodenum to be displaced toward the right and sometimes dorsally or ventrally, with the pylorus being displaced to the left. This may give the duodenum a C-shape appearance.

The duodenum shows reduced peristalsis with slow passage of barium through it. It may be dilated.

The duodenal wall may be thickened, with a static gas pattern.

The pyloric antrum may be displaced toward the left.

If the left lobe of the pancreas is involved, the transverse colon will be displaced caudally.
Granular mottling in the region of the pancreas has been reported, as have corrugation and spasticity of the duodenal wall.

- Hepatomegaly, resulting from fatty infiltration, is a common finding.

There may be a loss of serosal detail of the abdominal viscera well beyond the immediate area of the pancreas as a result of an associated peritonitis and effusion of fluid.

Changes associated with pancreatitis may be subtle in dogs, and a negative finding on ultrasonography does not rule out the presence of disease. Differentiation between pancreatitis and neoplasia in dogs (or localized peritonitis) is difficult. With inflammation a mixed echogenic mass, local epocheoic areas, or nodules are seen. The appearance varies with the stage of the disease. Biliary obstruction may also be present, with distention of the bile duct and gallbladder.

Pancreatic abscess has similar characteristics to other abscesses in dogs. Varying amounts of cavitation, fluid, and echogenic particulate material may be seen within the abscess. It can be a sequel to pancreatitis in dogs.

Canine pancreatitis diagnostic plan:

History
Physical examination
Blood work
Urinalysis
Abdominal X-Rays

Canine pancreatitis treatment:

fluid therapy
No oral medication or food
Antibacterial
Drugs to suppress vomiting

Canine pancreatitis dietary plan:

When resuming enteral nutrition, small portions of a diet low in fat and residue. After the initial episode, manage hyperlipidemia if necessary. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.


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Enlargement of the liver | Hepatomegaly in dogs and cats

Enlargement of the liver in dogs and cats may be the result of cardiac incompetence (passive congestion), Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, primary or secondary neoplasia, inflammation, abscess or cyst formation, hyperplasia, infiltrative diseases such as lipidosis or amyloidosis, or engorgement with bile.

The radiologic signs of liver enlargement in dogs and cats.

Generalized enlargement is associated with rounding of the caudoventral edge, particularly that of the left lateral lobe on the lateral view.

There is a visible increase in size. The caudal liver edge projects farther beyond the costal arch than usual.

Displacement of structures related to the liver is seen.

The stomach is displaced caudally and dorsally on the lateral view and caudally and more often to the left on the ventrodorsal view. The cranial duodenal flexure, right kidney, stomach and transverse colon are displaced caudally. The diaphragm may be displaced cranially and may show reduced excursion on fluoroscopy.

Localized masses within the liver, depending on their size and location, can cause a variety of displacements of adjacent organs. In general, masses in the right side of the liver tend to displace the stomach and duodenum to the left and dorsally, and left-sided masses tend to displace the stomach and spleen to the right and dorsally. A mass originating in the right side of the liver can displace the tail of the spleen and the right kidney caudally. Liver masses can also displace the small intestine caudally.

Occasionally, discrete or diffuse mineral opacities are seen in the liver of dogs and cats. They may be associated with neoplasia, granulomatous diseases, or parasites. Dystrophic calcification may be of no clinical significance.

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Oral Pain
1. Fractured bones or teeth.
2. Trauma.
3. Periodontitis or caries (especially cats).
4. Osteomyelitis.
5. Other causes (Retrobulbar abscess/inflammation, various othe abscesses or granulomas of the oral cavity, temporal-masseter myositis).
6. Stomatitis, glossitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis, tonsillitis, sialoadenitis.
7. Immune-mediated disease.
8. Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, leukemia virus or immunodeficiency virus.
9. Lingual foreign objects, other foreign objects, granulomas.
10. Tooth root abscess.
11. Uremia.
12. Thallium.
13. Caustics.

Oral Mass
1. Tumor (malignant or benign).
2. Eosinophilic granuloma.
3. Sialocele.

Oral Trauma
1. Fractured bones.
2. Soft tissue laceration.
3. Hematoma.

Neuromuscular Disease
1. Oral, pharyngeal, or cricopharyngeal dysfunction.
2. Various cranial nerve dysfunctions.
3. Rabies.
4. Tetanus.
5. Localized myasthenia.
6. Temporal-masseter myositis
7. Temporomandibular joint disease.

Urethral obstruction, either functional (e.g., reflex dyssynergia, urethral spasms) or anatomic (e.g., urolithiasis, granulomatous urethritis, neoplasia), usually causes pollakiura, dysuria-stranguria, or both, with an attenuated or absent urine stream. A urethral catheter will pass relatively easily in patients with a functional obstruction, whereas an anatomic obstruction will result in “grating”, difficult passage, or the inability to pass the catheter. If a complete urethral obstruction exists, the degree of postrenal azotemia and hyperkalemia should be assessed immediately. Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac arrythmias and should be treated promptly.

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