Pancreatic issues, like Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) or pancreatitis, often cause dog poop to be pale, voluminous, greasy, and foul-smelling, sometimes appearing grey or yellowish, because fats and nutrients aren't digested properly. It can be loose, soft, or diarrheal, and the fur around the tail might look greasy due to the high fat content, indicating the pancreas isn't producing enough digestive enzymes.
Dogs with pancreatitis often have changes to their poo, such as diarrhoea. Many produce larger, greasy poos that are also sometimes lighter in colour and smell particularly foul. This is because the food that they are eating isn't being digested properly.
Anti-nausea medications – Maropitant (Cerenia) is recommended for patients with pancreatitis. Even if vomiting is not seen, a reduced appetite is commonly related to nausea. Anti-nausea medications may also help decrease abdominal pain in animals. For less severe cases Cerenia may be administered by pill form at home.
Loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, dehydration, and diarrhea are the most common signs reported in dogs with severe pancreatitis.
Foul-smelling, oily stools (steatorrhea)
Steatorrhea is a type of bowel movement that is oily, floats, smells really bad, and is difficult to flush. People with EPI are not able to absorb all the fat that they eat, so undigested fat is excreted, resulting in stools that look oily or greasy.
Light-colored or greasy stools: Bilirubin normally helps give stools their brown color. If the bile duct is blocked, stools might be light-colored or gray. Also, if bile and pancreatic enzymes can't get through to the intestines to help break down fats, the stools can become greasy and might float in the toilet.
How do you treat pancreatitis in dogs?
The most common sign will be vomiting. Your dog may also have diarrhea, lose their appetite, or act very mopey. Pancreatitis can also be very painful and dogs with abdominal pain may pace, be reluctant to lie down, whine, or put their front legs down with their rear end up (“praying posture”).
The primary dietary culprits for dog pancreatitis are high-fat foods, often from holiday feasts or garbage, including fatty meats (bacon, sausage, skin), rich leftovers (gravy, butter, cheese), marrow bones, and fried foods, as these overwhelm the pancreas, but some believe high carbohydrates/processed kibble also stress the system, while owners should also avoid spicy foods, chocolate, and table scraps to prevent painful inflammation, say veterinarians.
People with chronic pancreatitis may have no symptoms until the condition has caused severe damage to the pancreas. However, abdominal pain that spreads to the back remains the most common warning sign. Chronic pancreatitis may also cause diarrhea, weight loss, or greasy, unusually foul-smelling stools.
Your veterinarian may also recommend a new treatment for pancreatitis: Fuzapladib sodium (Panoquell-CA1), an antibody therapy designed to reduce the clinical signs of pancreatitis by reducing inflammation inside the pancreas.
Cerenia® Considerations
Cerenia® should not be given to puppies less than 2 months of age for treatment of acute vomiting and should not be given to puppies less than 4 months of age for prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness. Cerenia® should be used with caution in pets with liver disease.
Treatment for pancreatitis may include the following:
X-rays will sometime depict a haziness in the area of the pancreas, or an internist veterinarian may see similar effects via ultrasound. Despite the benefits of these diagnostic tests, it is always important to take the results into account with how the patient is presenting – are they in severe pain?
Black or tarry poop suggests bleeding from the upper digestive tract, while red points to lower GI bleeding. Colors like green, orange, yellow, or gray may hint at dietary issues, gallbladder problems, or malabsorption. If you notice your dog's poop is an unusual color, save a stool sample and consult your vet.
liver problems, and many other diseases can mimic pancreatitis. Similarly, abdominal x-rays help identify or rule out some problems with the intestinal tract and tumors in the abdomen that could produce similar symptoms.
High-fat meals, like table scraps or holiday leftovers, are common triggers. Some breeds, including Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, have a higher genetic risk. Obesity, certain medications, and underlying conditions like diabetes can also contribute to pancreatitis.
Avoid high-fat foods, such as: Chocolate, whole milk, ice cream, processed cheese, and egg yolks. Fried, deep fried, or buttered foods. Sausage, salami, and bacon.
There's also the argument that wet food is more palatable, therefore a dog is more likely to eat it and get all the valuable nutrition they need for their condition. However, a nutritious dry food, if it's a specialist, vet-approved recipe, is still an excellent choice for a dog with pancreatitis.
Prescription foods that veterinarians might recommend specifically for dogs with gastrointestinal problems such as pancreatitis are: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d or Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat. It is generally recommended that the food for pancreatitis patients should contain less than 18% fat.
Acute pancreatitis symptoms may include: Pain in the upper belly that may feel worse after eating. Pain in the upper belly that radiates to the back or shoulders. Tenderness when touching the belly.
Take them on a short walk a few times a day and keep an eye on them to see if their energy levels are the same, or have lowered significantly.
Pancreatitis relief focuses on managing severe pain with strong medication (often opioids in hospital), addressing the underlying cause (like stopping alcohol/smoking, removing gallstones), adopting a low-fat diet, and taking pancreatic enzyme supplements for digestion, with potential procedures like nerve blocks or surgery for stubborn cases, alongside supportive care like IV fluids and nutritional support.
Older dogs, dogs that are overweight, or those that are recovering from surgery appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Some breeds, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Border Collies, Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, terriers and other small breeds may be at increased risk.
Acute pancreatitis might resolve in a few days with aggressive treatment, while chronic pancreatitis could linger for weeks or even longer, often requiring continuous management. The prognosis depends largely on the severity of the disease, the dog's overall health, and how quickly treatment was initiated.