INVESTIGATIONS INTO HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND ITS POSSIBLE ...

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inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), acute respiratory failure, and/or multiple organ
failure, and can be seen in cases of severe acute pancreatitis. 155,160
Etiologic and risk factors
In contrast to humans, in whom an etiology of pancreatitis can be identified in
the vast majority of cases, the etiology of pancreatitis in dogs usually remains unknown
(idiopathic pancreatitis). 161,162 It is expected, however, that recognition of new causes of
canine pancreatitis will allow etiologic classification in a bigger proportion of cases in
the future. Several factors have been reported as risk factors for pancreatitis in dogs, but
the majority of these factors have been implicated by association, and therefore, very
few definitive causes of pancreatitis have actually been reported. 161 The main causes of
human pancreatitis (i.e., biliary obstruction and alcoholism) do not represent common
problems in small animals. 155,162 Other well defined causes of human pancreatitis (e.g.,
autoimmune pancreatitis) have not been proven in dogs as of yet.
Breed
Several dog breeds have been reported to be at increased risk for pancreatitis,
although findings among studies are not always in agreement with each other. A breed
predisposition most likely reflects either a genetic cause of pancreatitis or a
predisposition to other diseases or conditions that are risk factors for pancreatitis (e.g.,
hypertriglyceridemia in Miniature Schnauzers). Differences with regard to breed
predisposition probably exist among different geographic regions, as blood-lines might