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→Acute Treatment
The general treatment involves fluid correction and maintenance while any underlying cause is treated. Support is then given to allow the inflammatory process to subside. Oral feeding should be witheld for a short in vomiting patients but enteral and parenteral feeding can be well tolerated.
The general treatment involves fluid correction and maintenance while any underlying cause is treated. Support is then given to allow the inflammatory process to subside. Oral feeding should be witheld for a short in vomiting patients but enteral and parenteral feeding can be well tolerated.
Analgesia should always be given even without signs of pain. Recommended options include subcutaneous [[Opioids#Pethidine|pethidine]], intravenous or continuous rate infusion [[Opioids#Morphine|morphine]] or transdermal [[Opioids#Fentanyl|fentanyl]]. Dogs can also be given intraperitoneal [[Local Anaesthetics#Lidocaine|lidocaine]] or [[Local Anaesthetics#Bupivicaine|bupivicaine]].
If a pancreatic infection is suspected then [[Antibiotics|Antibiotics]] should be administered, [[Potentiated-Sulphonamides|trimethoprim-sulphonamide]] and [[Fluoroquinolones|enrofloxacin]] have good penetration to the pancreas.
If a pancreatic infection is suspected then [[Antibiotics|Antibiotics]] should be administered, [[Potentiated-Sulphonamides|trimethoprim-sulphonamide]] and [[Fluoroquinolones|enrofloxacin]] have good penetration to the pancreas.
For short term use in fulminating pancreatitis [[Steroids|Corticosteroids]] can be given alongside fluids. Long term treatment may lead to unwanted complications.
For short term use in fulminating pancreatitis [[Steroids|Corticosteroids]] can be given alongside fluids. Long term treatment may lead to unwanted complications.
Food can be gradually introduced with a low protein and fat content as these are more likely to cause signs. Fat can be further introduced if symptoms have still not returned. If signs reoccur then further starvation should be carried out. Total parenteral nutrition can be used to sustain animals that are unable to tolerate food at all.
[[Dopamine]] can help reduce feline pancreatitis.
[[Dopamine]] can help reduce feline pancreatitis.
Cases often require supportive care, aggressive [[Fluid Therapy|fluid therapy]] will be needed to treat dehydration and fluid loss from [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] and [[Control of Feeding - Anatomy & Physiology#The Vomit Reflex|vomiting]]. Monitoring of renal function and potassium levels which may need supplementing. Patients may also have metabolic acidosis in acute pancreatitis or be alkalotic due to vomiting. Should [[Diabetes Mellitus|diabetes mellitus]] develop, this may require treatment with insulin. Further management may be required for respiratory distress, bleeding disorders, renal failure, cardiovascular problems and neurological disorders although these all carry a poor prognosis.
===Long-term treatment===
===Long-term treatment===