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A biopsy should be taken to provide evidence of inflammation.
A biopsy should be taken to provide evidence of inflammation.
==Treatment==
===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 period 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.
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.
Cases often require supportive care, aggressive [[Principles of Fluid Therapy|fluid therapy]] will be needed to treat dehydration and fluid loss from [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] and vomiting. Renal function and potassium levels should be monitored and if necessary potassium should be supplemented.
Patients may also develop a 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.
Additionally a whole blood or plasma transfusion can be given with severe disease to replace α-macroglobulins. Albumin also provides oncotic support and limits pancreatic ischaemia and oedema.
For short term use in fulminating pancreatitis, [[Steroids|corticosteroids]] can be given alongside fluids. Long term treatment may lead to unwanted complications.
===Long-term treatment===
In most patients that have one episode, they may only need to avoid fatty foods. Recurrent hypertriglyceridaemia may need pharmacological intervention.
==Prognosis==
The disease varies widely and the prognosis can vary from full recovery to death. Generally if the case is an uncomplicated single episode patients will make a good recovery.
== Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs'''<br>''' ==
== Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs'''<br>''' ==