Comparison of initial treatment with and without corticosteroids for suspected acute pancreatitis in dogs

To compare initial treatment with and without corticosteroids for acute pancreatitis in dogs and investigate the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis.

Sixty-five dogs were included in this non-blinded, non-randomised clinical study. Dogs with acute pancreatitis received treatment either with dose of 1 mg/kg/day prednisolone (n=45) or without prednisolone (n=20). Response to treatment was based on changes in the C-reactive protein concentration, improvement in clinical signs, duration of hospitalisation, mortality and recurrence rate.

From the third day of hospitalisation, C-reactive protein concentration was significantly lower in the prednisolone group than that in the non-prednisolone group. The number of days required to reach a C-reactive protein concentration of <2 mg/dL and clinical score of ≤2 was significantly lower in the prednisolone group. The mortality rate 1 month after discharge was significantly lower in the prednisolone group (11.3% versus 46.1%).

In dogs with acute pancreatitis, initial treatment with prednisolone resulted in earlier reductions in C-reactive protein concentration and earlier improvement of clinical signs.