While most cases of pancreatitis in dogs are thought to be idiopathic, potential risk factors are identified. In this article we provide a state-of-the-art overview of suspected risk factors for pancreatitis in dogs, allowing for improved awareness and detection of potential dog-specific risk factors, which might guide the development of disease prevention strategies. Additionally, we review important advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of pancreatitis and potential areas for therapeutic manipulation based thereof. The outcome of pathophysiologic mechanisms and the development of clinical disease is dependent on the balance between stressors and protective mechanisms, which can be evaluated using the critical threshold theory.