Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a comorbidity associated with AKI in dogs and AP most severe forms are associated with the development of a systemic inflammation (SIRS). Recently, pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) levels consistent with AP in dogs with AKI undergoing intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) was reported. No association between Spec cPL and survival was found. In other recent study, AP and SIRS were associated with poor outcome in dogs managed with IHD.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of AP and SIRS in dogs with AKI managed by IHD and its association with outcome.

Methods: Retrospective medical record review from January 2012 and December 2018. AKI dogs managed with IHD and with an ultrasound evaluation and pancreatic lipase concentration (SNAP cPL®) at presentation were included. AP diagnosis was based on compatible clinical sign, abnormal SNAP® cPL™ test and positive abdominal ultrasound for AP within 48 h from the admission. SIRS was diagnosed based on published criteria. One hundred forty-one client-owned dogs were screened and 49 dogs were included in the study. Data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism® for Mac. Results: AP was present in 34.7% (17/49) dogs and mortality rates at 30 days were 64.7% (11/17) and 53% (17/32) for dogs with and without AP (32/49), respectively. SIRS, was present in 22/49 dogs (53%): 8/17 (47%) were AP dogs and 14/32 (43.7%) without AP. Mortality rates in dogs with and without SIRS were 68% (15/22) and 48% (13/27), respectively. No significant difference between the outcome and presence of AP or SIRS and between AP and SIRS dogs were found. Kaplan Meier curves showed that the presence of SIRS was associated with outcome (p=0.0387), while the presence of AP showed no significant difference.

Conclusions: AKI dogs managed by IHD showed a higher prevalence of AP and SIRS. However, although the mortality rates were high in both comorbidities groups (AP and SIRS), only the presence of SIRS was associated with the outcome in dogs treated with IHD.