Q: Max, our 7-year-old terrier mix, lost his energy, stopped eating, and started vomiting. His veterinarian diagnosed pancreatitis and hospitalized him for treatment. How can we prevent this from happening again? A: Pancreatitis is inflammation (“-itis”) of the pancreas, the organ in the abdomen that secretes two important groups of chemicals: the digestive enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; and the hormones insulin and glucagon that regulate blood sugar levels. In dogs with pancreatitis, the digestive enzymes don’t flow to the intestines to digest food as they should but instead start digesting the pancreas and other organs in the abdomen. This causes severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite and energy, vomiting, and diarrhea. But it can be much worse: Some dogs lose pancreatic function permanently and need insulin injections and digestive enzymes, while others die. Most of the time, the cause cannot be determined. However, many cases of …