Rare
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Pancreatic Diseases, Generally
Synonyms: Pancreatitis
Summary
The pancreas is a large gland that is located near the equine stomach. It produces insulin and digestive enzymes like amylase and lipase. Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, is a poorly defined disease in horses, but it has been reported. It is not a clearly defined disease as it is in dogs and humans and is usually thought to be a complication of other conditions.
Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain itself. It can also result from certain conditions themselves causing abdominal pain (colic). These include displacement and torsion of the large colon, and small intestinal conditions. It is more commonly related to other diseases, including liver disease and especially cholestatic disease (diseases blocking the bile duct). In at least one case, it was associated with fat necrosis (steatitis). Primary diabetes mellitus is very rare in the horse. In a horse that has this condition.
Tumors of the pancreas cause pancreatic dysfunction and can cause colic and signs of chronic disease.
DIAGNOSIS requires biopsy of pancreatic tissues, usually along with elevations in trypsin, produced by the pancreas.
Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain itself. It can also result from certain conditions themselves causing abdominal pain (colic). These include displacement and torsion of the large colon, and small intestinal conditions. It is more commonly related to other diseases, including liver disease and especially cholestatic disease (diseases blocking the bile duct). In at least one case, it was associated with fat necrosis (steatitis). Primary diabetes mellitus is very rare in the horse. In a horse that has this condition.
Tumors of the pancreas cause pancreatic dysfunction and can cause colic and signs of chronic disease.
DIAGNOSIS requires biopsy of pancreatic tissues, usually along with elevations in trypsin, produced by the pancreas.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
In general, the prognosis is poor. It is extremely hard to diagnose in the living horse, as it is hard to access via a colic surgery incision. It may be visualized using a laparoscope. It is more commonly noted on post-mortem exams.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- Is this disease part of the cause of the colic signs I have been seeing?
- Is there any way to prove that the pancreas is part of the disease process?
- Is there any way to treat pancreatic disease in the horse?
Prevention
Any predisposing disease process should be dealt with, preventing the development of pancreatitis.
Related References:
Waitt LH, Cebra CK, Tornquist SJ, et al. Panniculitis in a horse with peripancreatitis and pancreatic fibrosis. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2006;18(4):405-8.
Newman, SJ: Equine pancreatic disease: A review and characterization of the lesions of four cases (2005–2014) Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation