A little clarity. A lot of love.
AI DiagAnimalsMADE FOR THE ONES YOU LOVE
English

Language and region

Understand their results
Menu
DISEASE · DOGS

Pancreatitis in dogs: symptoms, blood tests and what the results mean

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that makes digestive enzymes and insulin. It can be mild and pass in a few days, or severe and life-threatening. No single test diagnoses it: vets combine the signs, the pancreatic lipase test, routine blood work and an ultrasound.

Written by the AI DiagAnimals editorial teamReviewed by the AI DiagAnimals TeamUpdated Our editorial policy

The essentials

Pancreatitis causes loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes belly pain. Raiding the rubbish, fatty food, high triglycerides, Cushing’s, diabetes and some breeds such as Miniature Schnauzers raise the risk. The pancreas-specific lipase test (Spec cPL) above 400 µg/L is highly suggestive, but it is read with the signs and an ultrasound. Routine blood work shows how severe it is.

Have your dog’s results in front of you? Get every value explained in plain language. Upload the report

First signs of pancreatitis in dogs

No single sign is specific. Common signs are loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, diarrhoea and nausea (lip licking, drooling); some dogs stand in a “prayer position” because of belly pain [1]. In a study of 170 dogs with a raised pancreatic lipase, poor appetite was seen in 62%, diarrhoea in 53%, vomiting in 49% and belly pain in only 32% [2].

Risk factors

  • Food: raiding the rubbish multiplied the risk by about 13 in one study; unusual food items and table scraps also raised it [3].
  • Breed: Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire and other terriers, Dachshunds and Cocker Spaniels are over-represented in acute pancreatitis [3].
  • Other diseases: high triglycerides, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism and diabetes; diabetic dogs had a 12.4 times higher risk of pancreatitis [1, 3].
  • Overweight and some medicines [3].

The pancreas tests

TestWhat the result meansLimits
Spec cPL (laboratory)200 µg/L or less: normal; 201–399: equivocal, repeat; 400 or more: highly suggestive [1].Can miss mild pancreatitis and rise in other diseases [1].
SNAP cPL (in clinic)Normal or abnormal.Reads abnormal from the equivocal zone: a positive is confirmed with Spec cPL [1].
Lipase on the panel (DGGR)High in many dogs with pancreatitis.Not specific to the pancreas [1].
AmylaseNo longer used for the diagnosis.Raised by kidney disease; poor sensitivity [1].

Lipase can be high without pancreatitis, for example with kidney disease, heart disease, Cushing’s disease or corticosteroids [1]. See lipase and amylase.

How to read the Spec cPL line

Here is an example result in a vomiting dog.

An annotated line from a lab report · Illustrative example
AbbreviationResultUnitLaboratory intervalFlag
Spec cPL Canine pancreas-specific lipase780µg/L≤ 200H
  1. Abbreviation Spec cPL, measured by a reference laboratory.
  2. Result 780 µg/L in this illustrative line.
  3. Unit µg/L.
  4. Laboratory interval 200 µg/L or less is normal; 201–399 is equivocal [1].
  5. Flag 400 µg/L or more is highly suggestive of pancreatitis, read with the signs and the ultrasound [1].

What routine blood work shows

  • Dehydration: a high haematocrit and high kidney values, which can also reflect kidney injury [1].
  • White cells: often an inflammatory pattern with young neutrophils [1]. See white blood cell count.
  • Liver values: ALT, ALP and GGT often rise; sometimes bilirubin, if the bile duct is blocked [1]. See high liver enzymes.
  • Triglycerides may be high [3]. See cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Low platelets in severe cases can signal a clotting complication [1].

The role of the ultrasound

An abdominal ultrasound looks for an enlarged pancreas, bright surrounding fat and fluid. Its accuracy depends on how many changes are required, and changes can appear only after a few days [1]. Blood tests and imaging should not be used in isolation [1].

Related articles

En français : la pancréatite du chien.

For cats, see pancreatitis in cats.

Questions to ask your veterinarian

  1. Was the lipase on the report a Spec cPL or a routine lipase?
  2. Does the ultrasound support pancreatitis?
  3. How severe is it, based on the blood work?
  4. Could high triglycerides, Cushing’s or diabetes be involved?
  5. Which diet and follow-up do you recommend afterwards?
YOUR PET’S FULL REPORT

Get your dog’s pancreas and chemistry results explained together.

AI DiagAnimals reads cPL, lipase, the liver and kidney values, triglycerides and the blood count with your laboratory’s intervals, and prepares the questions for your vet. The service opens soon: leave your email to be told first.

Explain my dog’s reportSee a sample report

Frequently asked questions

What are the first signs of pancreatitis in a dog?

Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness are the most common; belly pain is noticed in only about a third of dogs [1, 2].

What foods can cause pancreatitis in dogs?

Raiding the rubbish, fatty foods, unusual items and table scraps were all linked to a higher risk in one study [3].

Are Poodles prone to pancreatitis?

Miniature Poodles are among the breeds over-represented in acute pancreatitis, along with Miniature Schnauzers and terriers [3].

How is chronic pancreatitis managed in dogs?

With diet changes, treatment of flare-ups and of associated diseases such as high triglycerides, under your vet’s guidance.

Can a high lipase mean something other than pancreatitis?

Yes. Kidney disease, heart disease, Cushing’s disease and corticosteroids can raise lipase. Signs and ultrasound are needed to conclude [1].

Sources

  1. Cridge H et al. Advances in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2021;35(6):2572-2587. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16292
  2. Cridge H et al. Risk factors and clinical presentation in dogs with increased serum pancreatic lipase concentrations: a descriptive analysis. Animals (Basel). 2022;12(12):1581. doi.org/10.3390/ani12121581
  3. Cridge H et al. New insights into the etiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis of pancreatitis in dogs: potential impacts on clinical practice. J Vet Intern Med. 2022;36(3):847-864. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16437

Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.

Cookie Policy