March 12, 2011 in Digestive Dirorders

Pancreas divisum is a congenital defect (present at the time of birth) of the pancreas. The pancreas, which is situated behind the stomach is an organ of the digestive system and plays a crucial role by secreting enzymes useful for digestion. but it can so happen that the two pancreatic ducts would fail to form a single pancreatic duct and remain as two individual ducts.

This problem is sometimes also referred to as pancreatic divisum.

Pancreas Divisum: The exact cause of the this birth disorder is unknown. but as mentioned above, the two pancreatic ducts would remain as two while the baby is still in the mother’s womb. The pancreatic duct is the one through which the enzymes secreted by the pancreas have to flow.

In many, this defect goes unnoticed and would lead a normal life. a select few though, can develop acute pancreatitis.

Symptoms: As mentioned above, most people who possess a pancreatic divisum would go undiagnosed unless and until they develop a severe inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis. Only, one percent of them are known to develop pancreatitis.

People who develop acute pancreatitis suffer from severe abdominal swelling and cramping along with other symptoms like nausea. The pain experienced in the abdomen can also spread to the back on a few occasions. In some, chronic pancreatitis could also develop.

Diagnosis: The most efficient way to diagnose a pancreatic divisum is by using the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) technique. this is an imaging technique that can easily illustrate the presence of the two individual pancreatic ducts. but there is every chance that, this technique may lead to the development of pancreatitis.

Doctors may also choose to use other imaging techniques like MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) and CT scan.

Treatment: The swelling of the pancreatic ducts can lead to a blockage and cause problems in which case doctors may choose to perform a sphincterotomy or stent insertion in people who have a pancreas divisum. but both the options can present some risks.

Week before last when Joshua’s pancreatitis symptoms were presenting themselves, I was unsure of why his behavior was so uncontrollable. he was having bouts of screaming coupled with moaning and groaning. most of the fits were antagonized by the nurse or I trying to do the most harmless acts. many times not even touching him.

Not sure about where this behavior was stemming from, I sat down and had the “Never cry wolf…” speech with him. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t just acting out. Thinking he understood this, I was confident the only screams I’d be hearing were pain derived. So we acted on them, took him in to the ER and thankfully caught his pancreatitis before it go too adanced.

Which brings me to today.

Before I go into the bathroom here in our hospital room to shower, I ask Joshua, “Do you need to go potty?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“No, I don’t need to.”

“OK, I’m getting in the shower, don’t scream at me telling me you need in.”

“OK.”

So, 5 minutes later, guess what I hear? Yep,

“Momma!” like it’s the end of the world.

Same siuation happened the day before only for me to hurry out to find that, “I don’t have to go anymore, it went away.”

This afternoon, I’m in the bathroom again and can once again hear his screams, which this time are loud enough to bring in his nurse. I’m out, sweeping him in the bathroom as quickly as possible. So, the nurse and I are talking about the series of events listed above and I hear this soft voice coming from behind the bathroom door.

“Mom. Are you talking about, Don’t scream at the sheep?”

—–Yep, I can tell he got the gist of my story.

Good to know our children are listening, huh?

Feline pancreatitis is a gastrointestinal disease that occurs in cats. It is characterized by swelling of the pancreas. The pancreas produces insulin and other digestive enzymes. In cats that are affected by pancreatitis, the enzymes spread within the pancreas and other organs of the abdomen. This leads to inflammation of the pancreas. The toxins arising out of an infected pancreas may hamper the production of insulin. Feline pancreatitis symptoms include vomiting and fever. In addition the cat may also experience diarrhea, appetite loss, weight loss, lethargy and dehydration. however these symptoms are not unique to feline pancreatitis symptoms. they may occur in other conditions as well. therefore a proper examination of the affected cat is necessary. Cats affected by hepatic lipidosis are more likely to develop feline pancreatitis.

The main causes of cat pancreatitis are intestinal parasites and infection. Pancreatitis in felines may also result due to the infection that causes feline distemper. Genetic factors could also play a role in the development of this condition. The role of genes is especially strong since it has been observed that Siamese cats are more susceptible to feline pancreatitis. Cats that are exposed to the insecticide known as organophosphate may be vulnerable to this disease.  Diagnosis of feline pancreatitis is done by examining the levels of the enzymes lipase and amylase. when these enzymes are present in high levels, the disease is confirmed.  Swelling of the pancreas seen through ultrasound imaging is also indicative of this illness. Biopsy may also be done to diagnose the condition, although many veterinarians prefer not to do it since the inflammation may be aggravated.

When dealing with pancreatitis in a feline treatment is mainly aimed at reducing the swelling of the pancreas. Symptoms of cat diarrhea may be treated through fluid therapy. In case of vomiting, the cat must be given water regularly. Nausea and pain may be alleviated through administration of medications. The diet may also be modified for a few days. In some cases, digestive enzymes are given to the cat in the form of supplements. It is difficult to cure chronic feline pancreatitis completely. Cats with this condition require a great deal of care. Proper cat diet and medication is necessary to manage the symptoms caused by this disease. In many cases, once a cat survives acute pancreatitis, there are very few chances of it occurring again. For recurring pancreatitis, the vet may prescribe ongoing antibiotic medication.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas which is a gland located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. this gland carries out vital functions that deal with the digestion of food. the Pancreas produces enzymes and insulin which regulates blood sugar. Inflammation can take place quickly and acutely over a period of days (acute pancreatitis) or can take place and reoccur over a period of many years (chronic pancreatitis). Gallstones are normally the cause of acute pancreatitis as well as over indulging in alcohol consumption. But these are not the only causes of acute pancreatitis. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include upper abdominal pain that lasts for a few days.

The sufferer of this condition could experience damage to the gland if the enzymes that are part of the digestive tract achieve a state of premature activation. this means that they become activated prior to experiencing secretion in the region of the duodenum. once this occurs, the enzymes immediately start a full attack on the pancreas. the pain of pancreatitis begins when the digestive enzymes become active inside the pancreas instead of waiting to begin working inside the small intestine. When this happens, the digestive enzymes are essentially digesting the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis conveys a single episode of the self-digestion of the pancreas.

Chronic pancreatitis symptoms treatment begins with knowing the symptoms of pancreatitis. Upper abdominal pain, radiating toward the back area, is indicative of pancreatitis. this pain is difficult to treat with ordinary painkillers or analgesics, especially since some painkillers can mask the consequent nausea and vomiting that also accompany pancreatitis. if not the right treatments are carried out, such pain, including all the other symptoms associated with pancreatitis may exacerbate. Long-term complications may even develop, and such diseases are diabetes, bleeding, anemia, jaundice and the inability to digest food. So in order to stay clear of these additional health problems, pancreatitis symptoms treatment should be conducted easily and efficiently.

Some of these pancreatitis early symptoms may not actually be caused by pancreatitis because other conditions can also make these symptoms occur. a doctor is the best person who will first study your pancreatitis early symptoms and then diagnose whether or not the symptoms are being caused by pancreatitis or by some other health problem. When a person has pancreatic cancer, enzymes that would normally be produced by the pancreas get halted. this is a problem since these enzymes help ensure a healthier digestion. as a result a pancreatic cancer sufferer may encounter digestive problems, especially if the foods they are consuming are high in fat.

Lois Lane is a Jack Russell terrier mix who we adopted from a local rescue in July of 2006. She’s a feisty little girl and one of the smartest dogs we’ve ever had. last July, when she was 4 years old, Lois Lane was diagnosed with severe canine pancreatitis. we never believed she would truly pull through, but she did. it was a very difficult process for her and for us and we hope Lois Lane’s story will help shed some light on pancreatitis symptoms so that your dog may not have to go through what Lois did. Knowing the symptoms and getting help right away will be a huge stress reliever – on yourself, your dog and your wallet.

We first noticed Lois Lane gaining weight, particularly in her belly. Lois is a very food driven dog and would snatch up dog food, cat food or any food she found at any time she could. we began watching her closely at meal times to ensure she was only eating her food in hopes of dropping her down a few pounds. we then noticed that as Lois slept she began twitching a lot and seemed to be distant towards us, which is very uncommon for her social personality. She would still come when called, however it was with the attitude that she didn’t really want to or didn’t really feel like getting up.

This behavior continued and the twitching got worse and would occur in any one of her legs anytime she would lay down – asleep or not. we suspected she may be having seizures. The initial vet trip resulted in a confirmation of seizure activity brought on by epilepsy and a round of Phenobarbital was started. The seizure like episodes continued for the next week with no indication that the medication was helping. 

Lois had gotten to the point where she was not eating much, she was aloof and lethargic and not herself at all. Her little belly was still distended and she began regurgitating what little she did eat. so back to the vet we went, this time seeing a different veterinarian who immediately ordered more blood tests and removed Lois from the Phenobarbital stating she was not having seizures and did not have epilepsy. with the blood results, the veterinarian suspected pancreas problems and asked that we leave Lois over night for observation and for intravenous fluids. when vomiting is severe, treatment begins with withholding of food, water, and oral medications for at least 24 hours. This stops the stimulation of the pancreas and keeps digestive enzymes from being produced. Fluid therapy was also done, as is common practice, to help prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Generally after a day, or sometimes more, food and water intake resumes at a gradual pace, starting with a bland, easily digestible, high carb, low-fat food. over a period of a week or so, the meal size is increased. Some dogs must stay on this special diet for life, others can gradually get back to a normal diet, though all diets should remain low-fat. This was not the case for Lois Lane. Lois continued to get worse and by the weekend needed 24 hour observation and care. She was not eating or drinking at all and continued to vomit at regular intervals.

Because Lois was at our regular vet who only carries week day hours and no after-hour care, it was recommended that she go to the 24 hour care vet, who only take in pets upon veterinary recommendation. Lois was transported to the new facility where she received superb 24 hour care. She was there for two weeks. Her pancreatitis became so bad that her refusal to eat put her at high risk to not pull through and we were at the point of having to make a very hard decision for our beloved girl. After the first week in doggie ICU something drastic had to be done or we were going to lose her. A feeding tube was inserted via Lois’ neck and fed down into her intestines to bypass the stomach, therefore preventing the pancreas from triggering digestive enzymes. She kept the feeding tube for a week before the specialist vet felt comfortable with attempting to remove it in hopes that Lois would eat on her own again. She was still regurgitating, but only in small amounts, and we had to get her off of the tube. She had to eat again – it was her last chance.

The tube was removed and she slowly started accepting the prescription diet and water when offered to her by the vet. After she was eating on her own for a few days, much to our excitement, she was released to come home under a very strict diet of only her prescription food. as happy as she was to be back home, she once again began refusing food. After three days of us trying to coax her to eat we had to do something or she was going to starve to death. we even tried baking the food into treat nuggets, but she even turned her nose up at those. Research was done on other types of extreme low-fat food and we called the vet back with two that we found that we thought would work. The first one we tried gave the same result as the prescription food where Lois would sniff at the food and then turn around and walk away, not even trying a nibble. so we then tried a third food, and luckily the third time was a charm. She took one smell and scarfed the little test amount we had given her. From that point on she’s eaten the food and loves it. we special order it cases at a time to ensure she never runs out due to the store being out of stock.

I’m happy to say that Lois pulled through and is back to her normal, feisty self. it was close though and it was a rough road. She is on medications and diet food for life. She can’t be given any other food, especially any food high in fat. we have to take care that she can’t get into garbage cans, the cat food, or the other dog’s food. when guests are here she must be put up for fear of someone accidentally feeding her table scraps when we have cookouts. But it’s all worth it. our little girl came home and now has a second chance at life.