• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2017

The object of the present study was to compare abnormal serum canine pancreas-specific lipase results and pancreatic ultrasonographic findings in dogs with pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a common disease in dogs that is difficult to diagnose. The noninvasive diagnostic procedures, including a serum canine pancreatic-specific lipase (cPL) test and ultrasonographic changes in the pancreas, can be considered for the diagnosis of canine pancreatitis in clinical practice. A retrospective study was performed to assess pancreatitis in dogs. Forty client-owned dogs were suspected to have pancreatitis, which was confirmed by abnormal serum SNAP cPL results. Abdominal ultrasound examinations were also performed. The present study investigated the distribution of clinical signs associated with pancreatitis, and the dogs were divided into two groups: group 1 (clinical signs compatible with pancreatitis; n = 30) and group 2 (no clinical signs; n = 10). Based on this study, an abnormal result on the SNAP cPL assay can still present as a normal pancreas through an ultrasonographic examination, and a normal health status can identify the status of pancreatic ultrasonographic abnormal lesions. Therefore, for dogs with suspected pancreatitis, it is important to repeat an ultrasonographic evaluation. There is no significant difference between clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic changes in the pancreas.