Any time a dog appears to be exhibiting signs of unexplained pain, pancreatitis must be considered. Vomiting is common with pancreatitis. Depression can be severe. Affected pets may seem restless or be reluctant to move, they may seem weak, irritable, have diarrhea or simply refuse to eat. When your vet examines your dog and suspects pancreatitis, she will look for abdominal pain that seems to be centered in the portion of the abdomen that is partially covered by the ribs.
Dehydration is common in patients with pancreatitis.
Rapid heart rate and rapid breathing are sometimes seen with pancreatitis. Poor circulation in capillaries may lead to redness of the gums and eye linings. Confirming a diagnosis of pancreatitis can be frustrating. Currently, there is no single reliable diagnostic test for this disease. Often, amylase and lipase levels are elevated in the bloodstream.