Serum Triglyceride Concentrations in Miniature Schnauzers with and without a History of Probable Pancreatitis

Background The association between hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis remains obscure in dogs. A possible role of hypertriglyceridemia as a cause of pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers has been suspected. Hypothesis/Objectives To compare serum triglyceride concentrations between Miniature Schnauzers with and without a recent history of pancreatitis. Animals Seventeen Miniature Schnauzers with a history of pancreatitis (group 1) and 34 age-matched Miniature Schnauzers without a history of pancreatitis (group 2) were prospectively enrolled. Methods Prospective case-control study. Two samples were collected from each of the 17 Miniature Schnauzers with pancreatitis: 1 during pancreatitis and 1 after clinical and biochemical resolution of pancreatitis. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were compared between group 1 (after resolution of pancreatitis) and group 2. Results Miniature Schnauzers in group 1 were significantly more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia (> 108 mg/dL) (71%) after resolution of pancreatitis than Miniature Schnauzers in group 2 (33%; odds ratio = 5.02; 95% confidence interval = 1.4-17.8; P = .0163). Serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in dogs of group 1 (median: 605.0 mg/dL) after resolution of pancreatitis than in dogs of group 2 (median: 73.5 mg/dL; P = .002). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Miniature Schnauzers with a history of pancreatitis were 5 times more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia than controls. Hypertriglyceridemia might be associated with the development of pancreatitis in some dogs of this breed. Additional studies are needed to further clarify the role of hypertriglyceridemia in the development of pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers as well as other dog breeds.