How You Can Help Prevent Pancreatitis in Your Pets
Wondering if there is anything you can do to protect your pet from pancreatitis? Although it's not always possible to prevent pancreatitis, taking a few precautions can reduce your furry friend's risk.
How Does Pancreatitis Affect Pets?
The pancreas helps regulate blood sugar and makes enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in food. The enzymes usually begin to work once they travel to the small intestine. If your pet has pancreatitis, the enzymes become active too soon and damage tissue in the pancreas.
Symptoms of the painful condition may include:
- Frequent Vomiting
- Appetite Loss
- Tiredness
- Swollen Abdomen
- Fever
- Hunched Position
- Praying Position (Hind end lifted)
- Diarrhea
Any pet can develop pancreatitis, but some pets are more likely to develop the condition than others. Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, sled dogs and Siamese cats may be at increased risk, according to the Merck Manual.
7 Ways to Lower Your Pet's Risk
Your pet may be less likely to develop pancreatitis if you follow these suggestions:
- Offer a Healthy Diet. High-fat food could increase your pet's pancreatitis risk. Look for high-quality pet food that includes moderate fats (10 to 15%), lean protein, and easily digestible carbohydrates, like barley, rice, and oats. If your pet has already had pancreatitis, ask your veterinarian for food recommendations. In some cases, a low-fat diet may be the best choice.
- Don't Share Table Scraps. Your pet may enjoy the tidbits you sneak under the table, but that doesn't mean table scraps are good for your furry friend. Bacon, cheese, butter, fatty turkey or chicken skin, sausage, or fried foods may trigger pancreatitis. Although an occasional piece of cheese may not cause a problem, regularly feeding your pet table scraps may inflame the pancreas. Offer low-fat treats specifically made for pets instead or give your pet cooked, skinless chicken or carrots.
- Take Out the Trash. Your pet could still find a way to enjoy table scraps even if you don't provide them. In fact, dogs and cats don't mind rooting through the trash to find a tasty morsel. Removing trash promptly after meals can protect your pet and your kitchen floor.
- Manage Your Pet's Weight. Overweight or obese pets may be more likely to develop pancreatitis. A research study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2024 evaluated the link between obesity and pancreatitis in cats. The researchers measured pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in the cats to determine if the pancreas was inflamed. Pancreatic lipase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down fats in foods. None of the thin cats, 20% of the overweight cats, and 45% of obese cats had pancreatic lipase levels that indicated pancreatitis.
- Increase Exercise. Inactivity increases the risk for obesity and diseases like diabetes. Outdoor play time and daily walks will help your dog get the exercise it needs. Look for toys that keep your cat pouncing, jumping and running, like remote-controlled mice and dangling toys suspended at the end of kitty fishing rods.
- Keep Underlying Diseases and Conditions Under Control. Your pet may be at increased risk for pancreatitis if it has an underlying disease or condition, such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism or liver disease. Keeping these diseases under control is good for your pet's pancreas and its overall health.
- Schedule Annual Check-Ups. Your pet's veterinarian can detect early signs of pancreatitis during regular exams. Early treatments help protect your furry friend's health and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Has it been a while since your pet has visited the veterinarian? Contact our office to make an appointment for your pet.
Sources:
PetMD: Pancreatitis in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Treatment, 5/31/2024
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/pancreatitis-in-dogs
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Pancreatitis, 2021
American Kennel Club: Pancreatitis in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment, 7/24/2025
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/pancreatitis-in-dogs/
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Evaluation of Laboratory Findings Indicating Pancreatitis in Healthy Lean, Obese, and Diabetic Cats, 11/15/2024
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11627516/
Merck Manual: Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats, 9/2025
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/the-exocrine-pancreas/pancreatitis-in-dogs-and-cats
