Your diabetic dog and pancreatitis

Knowing the risks, signs, and treatment options can help you act quickly and care for your pup with confidence.

Why diabetic dogs are at risk

The pancreas has two main jobs:

1. Producing insulin to regulate blood sugar.
2. Producing digestive enzymes to break down food.

When a dog has diabetes, their pancreas is already stressed because it no longer makes enough insulin. That same organ can also become inflamed, leading to pancreatitis.

Other factors that can trigger pancreatitis include:

• High-fat meals or fatty treats
• Obesity
• Certain medications (like corticosteroids)
• Previous pancreatic problems

Because diabetic dogs often struggle with blood sugar swings and may be prone to obesity or metabolic stress, their risk for pancreatitis is higher than average. So it’s something to pay attention to.

Signs of pancreatitis in dogs

Pancreatitis can range from mild to life-threatening. Common signs include:

• Vomiting (sometimes repeatedly)
• Loss of appetite
• Painful belly (your dog may hunch, stretch, or cry when touched)
• Lethargy or weakness
• Diarrhea
• Fever

Important

If your diabetic dog shows these symptoms, especially vomiting paired with lethargy, call your veterinarian right away.

What Can Be Done

You may be surprised like us to hear that there isn’t a single cure for pancreatitis. Treatment focuses on supporting the body while the pancreas heals. 

Depending on severity, your vet may recommend:

• Hospitalization for IV fluids, pain control, and anti-nausea medication. This is typically the most expensive option so you may want to weigh costs and the stress of being away from home with the higher level of medical care your dog will get.
• Withholding food briefly, then reintroducing a prescription or bland diet.
• Long-term diet changes: switching to a low-fat, highly digestible food.
• Blood glucose monitoring, since pancreatitis can cause dangerous fluctuations in diabetic dogs. Consider running a glucose curve.

Most dogs recover well with prompt treatment, though some may have recurring episodes.

Supporting a dog with pancreatitis

• Stick to a consistent, low-fat diet — avoid table scraps and high-fat treats. For us, this is a forever rule with our diabetic dog, Parker.
• Watch for flare-ups — any sudden vomiting, loss of appetite, or weakness should be taken seriously.
• Work closely with your vet — diabetic dogs may need insulin adjustments during or after an episode. It can be great idea to run a glucose curve to help inform your vet and speed up decision making.
• Be patient — recovery can take days to weeks, and relapses are possible.
  

Our experience - don’t wait if you see the signs

Pancreatitis is scary — we’ve been there with Parker — but it’s also manageable when caught early. He had a loss of appetite and very frequent diarrhea in our small, snow-covered backyard. Parker lost a couple of kilograms when he had pancreatitis due to his lack of appetitie; we worked closely with his vet to get him back to his healthy body weight over the next few months and needed appetite stimulants to encourage him to eat again.

We’re learned that the key is recognizing the signs, acting quickly, and sticking to a supportive care plan. With vigilance and love, diabetic dogs can bounce back and continue to live joyful, active lives by our side.