How Much Does Dog Pancreatitis Treatment Cost?

Mild to moderate cases of pancreatitis can often be treated successfully at home with diet modifications from your vet, typically providing bland low-fat food. In severe cases of pancreatitis, however, your pet may need to remain hospitalized for observation and care for up to 24 hours before returning home.

Chewy Online Pet Supplies


35% Off at Chewy.com

+ Free Shipping

Save Now

Your veterinarian will perform various tests to ascertain the source of pancreatitis, such as blood work or abdominal x-rays.

Contents

Anti-Nausea Medications

Dogs suffering from pancreatitis often vomit frequently, making it hard for vets to pinpoint the source of the discomfort. A veterinarian will usually draw blood and perform tests such as chemistry panel and CBC to assess the severity of pancreatitis; these costs range between $50 to $80.

If the pancreatitis is severe, your dog may require hospitalization – with costs that could easily reach into the thousands of dollars.

Hospitalization typically entails IV fluid therapy and pain control medications. Most hospitals also provide special diets designed to avoid overstimulating the pancreas; typically this entails offering bland, low-fat food such as bland cereal or yogurt to ease overstimulating it. You should expect this costing $100-150 per day at the hospital; once they begin feeling better they will gradually introduce foods like chicken breast, yogurt with reduced fat, rice or similar items on a food list provided by them.

Anti-Acid Medications

Pancreatitis can be devastatingly dangerous for dogs. Therefore, it’s vitally important that owners recognize its symptoms and seek medical advice immediately if any arise.

If your pet has severe pancreatitis, they should usually be taken to the vet for treatment. They will likely require intravenous fluids and pain medications as well as anti-nausea and stomach acid control medication as well as possibly being given an indwelling feeding tube to provide nutrition.

Your vet will likely perform several tests, such as chemistry panel and CBC to understand what’s happening within your dog’s body. Furthermore, if he or she notices frequent vomiting episodes then parvovirus testing may also be required.

Lemonade offers a basic accident and illness plan which covers many costs related to lab work, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, surgery and hospitalization for your pet. With additional coverage at an affordable monthly premium you can cover even more treatments such as prescription medication or diabetes treatments should pancreatitis cause pancreatic cancer in your pet.

Pain Medications

Pets suffering from pancreatitis often experience discomfort, so pain medications must be an integral component of their treatment plan. Your veterinarian will likely recommend long-acting or short-acting pain relievers that can either be given when needed or at a set time each day.

Antibiotics such as metronidazole can help relieve the bacterial infections that often contribute to pancreatitis by targeting bacteria present in the small intestine. Pets suffering from severe pancreatitis may require intravenous fluid therapy in order to avoid dehydration and preserve fluid reserves.

If your pet becomes severely dehydrated from vomiting and regurgitation, they will need to stay at the vet to receive fluids through an IV drip – this could cost several thousand dollars in hospital bills alone! Surgery to repair damaged pancreatic glands or unblock obstructed ducts could incur even higher expenses; which makes pet insurance all the more essential; making unexpected expenses more manageable and making health emergencies more manageable in general.

Diet Change

Diet is one of the primary factors contributing to pancreatitis in dogs, leading to multiple episodes throughout their lives. If you feed your pup only table scraps and limit treats while keeping their eating to an ideal amount, you could reduce their risk for this illness significantly.

The pancreas plays an essential role in digesting your dog’s food by secreting digestive enzymes into his or her gut, and secreting hormones like insulin into their bloodstream. Furthermore, fat production allows energy production. When inflamed however, its functions become impaired and cannot perform at their full potential.

Your veterinarian may suggest a special diet to help your dog recover from pancreatitis and prevent future episodes, such as low fat and highly digestible foods such as boiled chicken, rice, barley and yogurt. Some vets may even suggest premium pet foods like Hill’s i/d or Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Digestive Low Fat as alternatives; otherwise owners can create homemade meals using ingredients high in fiber but moderate in fat content.