Pancreatitis is a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas in dogs. Dietary management and prompt treatment are central to welfare and recovery.
Acute pancreatitis causes severe abdominal pain that profoundly affects dog welfare. Affected dogs may cry, pant, adopt a "praying position" with forelegs down and hindquarters raised, and refuse movement. Hospitalization with IV fluid therapy and pain control is typically required for moderate to severe cases. Inadequate pain management during pancreatitis — historically common — represents a welfare failure. Early nutrition via feeding tubes, if a dog is not eating voluntarily, speeds recovery and reduces complications. Recurrence risk means dietary management must be lifelong in predisposed dogs; high-fat foods must be permanently avoided. Dogs with chronic pancreatitis may develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), requiring ongoing enzyme supplementation.