Pancreatitis and Summer Parties 

Summer is perfect for outdoor parties, grilling, and sampling delicious food. However, pets can become seriously ill with pancreatitis after eating many common barbecue foods at summer parties. With some attention and effort, you can prevent pancreatitis this summer. 

Pancreatitis in Pets

Before we discuss the foods associated with pancreatitis in pets, we want to briefly describe the condition and its dangers. Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes erroneously activate inside the pancreas. In normal situations, these enzymes only activate once they’ve left the organ and arrived at their desired destination, the lower intestine. 

However, if the enzymes activate inside the pancreas, the organ starts to digest itself. Over time, this leads to significant damage that can affect other organs. Without proper care, pancreatitis could be fatal for pets. Some symptoms of pancreatitis include:

• Vomiting or diarrhea (often found with blood)
• Lack of appetite
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen
• Physically hunching over

You should seek veterinary care right away if you notice the above symptoms.

Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis often attacks out of nowhere and could bring more severe symptoms. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is consistently inflamed. Without proper treatment, it can lead to damage that cannot be undone. 

While experts are not sure of the exact causes of the condition, these factors can increase a pet’s risk of developing it:

• Eating fatty foods
• Obesity
• Large presence of fat in the blood
• Trauma to the abdominal area
• Ingestion of toxins
• Infectious parasites
• Problems with the kidney or the liver
• Cushing’s Disease

Read more about the tests that are usually run to test for pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis and Summer Parties

Some popular summer foods can seriously hurt your pets. With awareness and caution, you can keep your pets safe around these foods so everyone can enjoy the summer season. 

Foods that can trigger or aggravate pancreatitis at summer parties include:

Bacon or Bacon Grease

Bacon cheeseburgers are popular at barbecues, and though it might be tempting to pass your dog a small piece of bacon, this is a bad idea. Keep all bacon and grease away from your pet, and ensure they do not lick leftover grease on plates. Try to gather all trash in a pet-proof container. Cheese should also be limited, as it can contain high amounts of fat.

Fat from Meat or Bones

Meat is often the main event at a summer barbecue, but it contains fat that could lead to gastrointestinal distress for your pets. You should be especially careful to avoid ham (and ham drippings), turkey, or chicken with skin or meat heavily seasoned or drenched in butter.

Nuts

While a small amount of xylitol-free peanut butter is usually safe for pets, you should avoid nuts in general. These high-fat foods could instigate a pancreatitis flare-up in pets. Certain types, like macadamia and black walnuts, are completely toxic for pets.

If you suspect your pet had too much fun at your summer party and might be suffering from pancreatitis, please call OVRS right away at (248) 334-6877. This is considered a pet emergency and needs veterinary attention immediately.