Success Story: Boz

When your pet is vomiting or isn’t eating like his normal self, you hope it’s something that will pass quickly. Often times it is; however, there is a small chance it could be pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, which is what happened to Boz.

Boz is a 6-year-old dapper Schnauzer, who was brought to the vet by his mom when she noticed he wasn’t acting like his normal self. After some tests, the vet diagnosed him with pancreatitis. His mom is on limited income and knew that his diagnosis was more than she could afford, so she reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help. With some medication and a new low-fat diet (and no table scraps), Boz is well on his way to being a healthy, happy little dude. 

Symptoms of a pancreatitis include:

1. belly pain
2. dehydration
3. diarrhea
4. fever or a lowered body temperature
5. hard time breathing
6. irregular heartbeat
7. lack of energy
8. loss of appetite
9. vomiting

If your dog shows any of those symptoms, or if they pass and return from time to time, be sure to take him to the vet to get checked out. To diagnose your pet, the vet will likely do blood tests to see what is causing your pup to feel yucky, and may do an ultrasound to see an image of what’s going on in the body. Dogs typically recover from minor cases of pancreatitis, but if it’s more severe it can be life threatening. With a mild case of pancreatitis, the vet will likely prescribe medication and a low-fat diet for your pooch; if the case is severe, your pet may need to spend a few days at the clinic getting some extra fluids pumped into him.

Pancreatitis usually presents in dogs who are older and overweight. However, there are some breeds, like Schnauzers, who are more prone to it. Check out these blogs for more information about pancreatitis in dogs:

1. Pet MD: Inflammation of the pancreas in dogs
2. VCA: Pancreatitis in dogs
3. Whole Dog Journal: Canine Pancreatitis 

If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.