Healthy Dog Series: Vancouver Veterinarians About Pancreatitis in Dogs

There are two major disorders of the pancreas, acute pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency that affect the secretion of insulin.
Acute pancreatitis: this condition, often, though not necessarily, follows the eating of a large, fatty meal. In its most severe form it may cause death very rapidly, often because of shock from the severe abdominal pain. Most animal are subject to recurrent attacks of lesser severity referred to as chronic relapsing pancreatitis. Several factors are believed to initiate the disorder, including obesity, infection and disturbances of immunity. During an attack dogs show a high body temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea, which is often blood-stained.

To relieve the abdominal pain many adopt a ‘praying’ position with the hind quarters in the normal standing position but the front legs and head lowered to lie along the ground. During such an attack nothing should be given by mouth because the stimulus of substances in the digestive tract only intensifies the signs. If such an attack happens, immediately call a Vancouver vet emergency clinic as all drugs and fluids should be injected. Early treatment obviously gives a much better chance of survival.

Exocrine pancreatic...

Vancouver vet surgeons  about pet surgery

The surgical technique of ovariohysterectomy , or spay operation (removal of ovaries and uterus). for dogs was first described as early as 16th century.  It was rarely employed in those distant days, though.  Much later, in the 1930s and 1040s, the development of safe and effective anesthetic drugs, antiseptics, and antibiotics, together with an understanding of surgically induced infection and shock, set the stage for the practice of modern canine surgery.

As in human medicine the types of procedures now available, as well as their sophistication, is truly remarkable, ranging from vet laser surgery, cataract removal and other eye surgery, the removal of brain tumor to organ transplantation and total joint replacement.

Surgery itself represents only one of several clinical sciences that together combine to provide the canine patient with optimal care, both before and after surgery.  Anesthesia is, of course, fundamental to the performance of surgery.  The anesthesiologist does not simply render the patient unconscious and insensible of pain, but also monitors the dipth of anesthesia, blood pressure, air flow though the lungs, and heart and kidney function.

The patient's requirements for oxygen, fluid replacement, anesthetic drugs needed to maintain life vary constantly throughout any surgical procedure.  The anesthesiologist thus supports all the...