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

OBJECTIVES: To compare initial treatment with and without corticosteroids for acute pancreatitis in dogs and investigate the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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%). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In dogs with acute pancreatitis, initial treatment with prednisolone resulted in earlier reductions in C-reactive protein concentration and earlier improvement of clinical signs.