I still remember quite well how a friend of mine came to me one day to express indignation over her husband’s excessive alcohol consumption, concerned that her husband might develop heart disease. She was right to be indignant all right, but it was another condition that her husband developed from too much alcohol drinking – […]
Tag Archives: Chronic Pancreatitis
The pancreas plays an important role in human physiology. There is a large oblong gland behind the belly. secretes digestive juices in small intestines. A group of different cells (Islets of Langerhans) in the gland produce the hormone insulin. The pancreas serves two functions in the human body. One function is to produce enzymes that […]
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The pancreas is a small organ shaped like a thin boomerang next to the stomach and small intestine. According to Nancy Kay, DVM, the pancreas releases enzymes necessary to help digest food. Pancreatitis, however, is when the pancreas becomes inflamed and produces too much enzymes. Just why a dog’s pancreas should do this is unknown, […]
What is EPI? Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is a disorder of the pancreas that is commonly under-diagnosed. It is the inability of the exocrine pancreas to produce and secrete the enzymes necessary for digestion. These enzymes include amylase, which is needed for digesting carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables, starches found in grains, and sugar; […]
Pancreatitis is a reasonably common condition in dogs and is basically an inability of the pancreas to process fat efficiently. The pancreas goes into “panic” mode and begins to shut down. Dogs generally manifest acute pancreatitis by vomiting excessively, behaving lethargically, running a fever, and walking in a hunched over posture. Pancreatitis can occur in […]