Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs

The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs is hampered by the lack of a universally accepted reference standard. Over the past several years there has been a significant increase in the utilization of a clinical reference standard for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs. The clinical reference standard is often composed of assessment of patient history, physical exam, imaging findings, and measurement of pancreatic lipase via a number of available assays. We compare a clinical reference standard to the historical use of histopathology and discuss limitations associated with each of these approaches. During the session, we will also discuss commercially available pancreatic lipase assays, diagnostic imaging modalities, and potential indications for pancreatic cytology. As various aspects of a clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis are discussed, there will also be a brief review, as relevant, of the strength of evidence and potential limitations associated with the current literature.