{"id":3439,"date":"2021-10-04T18:13:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T22:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dupontvet.com\/blog\/?p=3439"},"modified":"2024-03-11T10:38:48","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T15:38:48","slug":"pancreatitis-in-pets-how-to-prevent-and-treat-this-pain-in-the-tummy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dupontvet.com\/blog\/pancreatitis-in-pets-how-to-prevent-and-treat-this-pain-in-the-tummy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pancreatitis in Pets: How to Prevent and Treat This Pain in the Tummy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The pancreas, for most people, is a bit of a nebulous organ. Most of us know that we have one, but not very many people really understand what the pancreas actually does. When it becomes angry, though, the pancreas is not an organ to be forgotten. Pancreatitis in pets (and people, too) is an extremely painful condition that Dupont Veterinary Clinic<\/a> wants you to better understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mysterious Pancreas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The pancreas lives in the abdomen, nestled just below the liver, and behind the stomach. It is long and flat and very delicate, composed of glandular tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The pancreas serves two important functions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insulin production\u2014<\/strong>The body needs insulin to regulate blood sugar (glucose). The pancreas produces this important hormone to help regulate how the body utilizes food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digestive enzyme production\u2014<\/strong>The pancreas also produces enzymes that help to break down food during the digestive process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Good Pancreases Go Bad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pancreatitis is a fancy word used to describe inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is known for being a somewhat delicate, temperamental organ, and what causes it to become inflamed isn\u2019t always anything major. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the pancreas is so heavily involved with the digestion of fats, though, sometimes we can pinpoint a heavy or overindulgent meal as an inciting cause. Other times, things like trauma, obesity, tumors, or a hormonal imbalance can play a role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the pancreas is inflamed, the production and release of the digestive enzymes it normally regulates becomes disrupted. This can lead to a variety of clinical signs, which can range from very mild to life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n