Pancreatitis causes severe abdominal pain in dogs and is one of the most common causes of acute hospitalization, with prevention achievable through dietary management.
Pancreatitis causes intense, acute abdominal pain that is one of the most distressing conditions in veterinary medicine. Dogs with pancreatitis adopt a characteristic "prayer position" — front legs extended and hindquarters raised — as they try to relieve abdominal pressure. They are reluctant to move, eat, or drink, and the pain is continuous rather than episodic. Severe cases involve systemic inflammatory response syndrome that can cause organ failure. The condition frequently occurs after dietary indiscretion — eating high-fat foods like holiday table scraps — making it partially preventable. Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive condition causing ongoing discomfort and repeated acute flares. Treatment requires hospitalization, fluid therapy, pain management, and nutritional support. Dogs who survive severe acute pancreatitis may develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency requiring lifelong enzyme supplementation.