What Food Is Good for Dogs with Pancreatitis? A Vet's Guide

As a devoted dog parent, few things are as distressing as seeing your beloved canine companion in pain. Discovering your dog has pancreatitis, a condition that can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort, can be particularly overwhelming. It’s natural to feel a mix of fear and confusion, especially when trying to remember all the vital information your veterinarian provides about managing your sick dog’s care.

While some aspects of pancreatitis treatment are straightforward—like following medication schedules—other areas, such as determining What Food Is Good For Dogs With Pancreatitis, are less clear-cut. This often leads dedicated owners to seek more information independently. Given the abundance of conflicting advice online, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby aims to provide comprehensive and actionable guidelines. This article will help you, in consultation with your vet, select the most appropriate diet for your dog recovering from or managing pancreatitis. To do this effectively, understanding the pancreas’s role and the nature of the disease itself is essential.

What Does the Pancreas Do?

The pancreas, a vital organ nestled beneath the stomach and near the small intestine, plays a critical role in digestion. One of its primary functions is to produce and release digestive enzymes into the duodenum, the initial section of the small intestine. Normally, these enzymes are stored in an inactive form called zymogens. Special enzyme inhibitors within the pancreas ensure these zymogens remain inactive until they reach the duodenum, where contact with mucosal cells activates them. Once activated, these enzymes efficiently break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in your dog’s food, facilitating nutrient absorption.

What Is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas. In this condition, the protective enzyme inhibitors fail, causing zymogens to activate prematurely while still inside the pancreas. This internal activation triggers a destructive cascade, damaging pancreatic membranes and blood vessels, which can lead to bleeding and the leakage of activated enzymes into the abdominal cavity. Essentially, pancreatitis causes the pancreas to begin digesting itself and, in severe cases, surrounding internal organs. It’s a serious and painful condition that requires immediate veterinary attention.

What Causes Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis doesn’t typically stem from a single cause but is rather influenced by several predisposing factors. These factors can increase a dog’s risk of developing this inflammatory disease:

Endocrine Disorders: Conditions such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease in dogs, and hypothyroidism in dogs can contribute to pancreatic inflammation.
Obesity: Overweight or obese dogs are at a higher risk. If you’re wondering, “Is my dog overweight?”, assessing your dog’s body condition score (BCS) can provide clarity.
High Triglycerides: Elevated levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia) are a significant risk factor.
Gastrointestinal Disease: A history of other digestive tract issues can increase susceptibility.
Dietary Indiscretion: Eating new foods, table scraps, especially fatty foods, or a consistently high-fat diet can trigger episodes.
Toxins and Parasites: Exposure to certain toxins or specific parasites can sometimes contribute.
Medications: Some drugs, including azathioprine, bromide, diuretics, and phenobarbital, have been linked to pancreatitis.

It’s crucial to exercise caution with table scraps, as they are a common trigger for pancreatitis in dogs.

What Are the Types of Pancreatitis?

Pancreatic inflammation is typically categorized into two forms: acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is characterized by a sudden and rapid onset of severe clinical signs. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, occurs when acute pancreatitis doesn’t fully resolve or if episodes recur over time. Generally, acute cases present with more severe symptoms, while chronic cases may have milder, intermittent signs. However, distinguishing between acute and chronic types solely based on initial symptoms can be challenging for a veterinarian.

What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis?

The most prevalent symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs are vomiting and abdominal pain, occurring in approximately 90% and 58% of cases, respectively. Other possible gastrointestinal signs include diarrhea. Dogs suffering from pancreatitis may also exhibit dehydration, appear lethargic, and show a profound loss of appetite. Given that pancreatitis can be life-threatening, if your dog displays any of these symptoms, it’s imperative to schedule an emergency vet visit without delay.

How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?

When a dog presents with suspected pancreatitis, the veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination and typically initiate diagnostic bloodwork. Dogs with pancreatitis may show elevated white blood cell counts and/or increased liver and kidney values. To confirm the diagnosis, a canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) test is often recommended. In some cases, the vet might also suggest an abdominal ultrasound or other advanced imaging tests for a comprehensive evaluation.

What Is the Treatment for Pancreatitis?

Unfortunately, there is no specific “cure” for pancreatitis in dogs. Instead, treatment focuses on supportive care to alleviate symptoms, minimize pain, and help the dog recover. This supportive approach may include:

Pain Management: Administration of pain medications to reduce severe abdominal discomfort.
Anti-Nausea Medication: Drugs to control vomiting and nausea, improving the dog’s comfort.
Blood Transfusions: For severe cases involving internal bleeding or organ damage.
Fluid Therapy: Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids are crucial to prevent hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by significant fluid loss.
Concurrent Illness Treatment: Addressing any underlying or co-existing conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, which can exacerbate pancreatitis.
Dietary Modification: A significant part of long-term management involves changing the diet to support the digestive system and prevent future episodes of pancreatitis.

What Can I Feed My Dog with Pancreatitis?

The dietary aspect of pancreatitis management has been a subject of extensive debate among veterinarians for years, causing understandable stress for pet parents striving to do right by their dogs. This section will delve into the best practices for feeding dogs recovering from or managing pancreatitis, providing clarity on what food is good for dogs with pancreatitis.

Dog with pancreatitis getting IV fluids in the hospitalPancreatitis can be severe and require hospitalization, often involving fluid therapy.

How Often Should You Feed a Dog with Pancreatitis?

Historically, the standard recommendation for dogs with pancreatitis involved fasting for one or two days, aiming to “rest the pancreas” since eating stimulates enzyme release. However, more recent research indicates that withholding food can actually introduce new health risks. Studies have shown that fasted pancreatitis dogs may experience loss of digestive tract motility, reduced blood flow to the intestines, and dangerously low blood protein levels.

Consequently, many veterinarians now adopt a middle-ground approach, opting to feed small, frequent meals from the outset. Providing small amounts of food helps maintain a healthy intestinal tract and can be less problematic if the dog experiences vomiting.

While some dogs with pancreatitis may readily eat on their own, others might require syringe feeding or even the placement of a feeding tube if their appetite is severely suppressed. If your dog with pancreatitis won’t eat, your vet might also consider appetite stimulants for dogs or trying a different type of food to encourage intake. Ensuring overall well-being includes prompt attention to any related issues like a torn pad treatment or other physical discomforts that might hinder recovery.

What Is the Best Food to Feed a Dog with Pancreatitis?

Now that it’s clear feeding is essential, and small meals are generally preferred, the next critical question is the composition of these meals. A quick online search will yield countless articles, each offering its own recommendation for what food is good for dogs with pancreatitis.

While there’s no single “one-size-fits-all” diet, veterinary experts largely agree that diets for pancreatitis patients should be low in fat and highly digestible. Following your vet’s specific guidelines when feeding your dog after pancreatitis is paramount for their recovery and long-term health.

Dog Food Label Reading 101

To identify a suitable low-fat, high-digestibility diet, you need to become proficient at reading dog food labels. All commercial dog foods, whether purchased from pet stores or online, are required to display a “guaranteed analysis” on their packaging. This is similar to human nutrition labels but with slightly different criteria.

When reviewing the guaranteed analysis, you’ll see terms like “crude fat” accompanied by a percentage. This percentage indicates the amount of that particular element in the diet. It will either be listed on an “as fed” basis (reflecting the weight of the food as is, including moisture) or a “dry matter basis” (reflecting the weight if all moisture were removed).

For accurate comparison of fat content between different foods, especially when evaluating what food is good for dogs with pancreatitis, it is essential to look at the dry matter basis. This is because canned foods often contain 75-78% moisture, while dry kibble typically has only 10-12% moisture. Consequently, comparing the “as fed” fat percentage of a wet food directly to a dry food is misleading; the dry food, being more concentrated, will appear to have a much higher fat percentage even if both foods are identical on a dry matter basis.

For simplicity, the fat content discussed here will be converted to a dry matter basis. If you wish to learn how to perform this conversion yourself, the FDA pet food label page offers excellent guidance on understanding pet food labels in general. Understanding these labels is a crucial part of providing the best care, just as knowing how to heal a dog’s split pad contributes to overall paw health.

Low-Fat Veterinary Prescription Diets

Veterinarians frequently recommend diets produced by companies that invest heavily in the latest pet nutrition research and employ board-certified veterinary nutritionists. These specialists possess advanced training beyond veterinary school, making them uniquely qualified to formulate high-quality diets.

Leading companies such as Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, and Purina fit this description. They employ veterinary nutritionists, base their formulas on sound scientific recommendations, and implement rigorous quality control measures. These three companies offer excellent lines of prescription diets specifically designed for dogs with pancreatitis. Key options include:

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Canine Formula: Features approximately 6.8% crude fat on a dry matter basis.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care i/d Low Fat Dry Dog Food: Contains around 7.5% crude fat on a dry matter basis.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food: Offers about 7.1% crude fat on a dry matter basis.

These three diets represent some of the lowest-fat options available among prescription dog foods, making them ideal for managing pancreatitis.

Golden Retriever waiting to eat his dog foodThere are several veterinary prescription diets that may be recommended for your dog, emphasizing tailored nutrition.

However, in certain situations, your veterinarian might suggest a diet with a more moderate fat content. For example, Purina Pro Plan’s HA diet or Royal Canin’s Selected Protein diets could be suitable choices for dogs with both pancreatitis and food allergies. There may also be specific health scenarios, such as when a dog has kidney disease in dogs concurrently with pancreatitis, where a veterinarian might recommend a specialized diet differing from those listed above. In such cases, managing all health conditions is crucial, just as tending to caring for paw pads is part of comprehensive dog care.

Moderate-Fat Over-the-Counter Diets for Dogs

For some pet parents, prescription diets can be cost-prohibitive, or supply chain issues might lead to backorders. The good news is that certain over-the-counter diets may be acceptable for dogs with mild pancreatitis. Examples include:

Purina Pro Plan Adult Weight Management Large Breed Chicken and Rice
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Small & Mini Dog Food
Royal Canin Small Indoor Adult Dry Dog Food

It is always best to consult with your veterinarian before substituting these diets for a veterinary prescription formula. While they can be appropriate in some circumstances, they are not universally suitable for all dogs with pancreatitis. In some cases, your vet might advise sticking with a low-fat prescription diet or even preparing a low-fat homecooked diet for your dog instead. Maintaining overall health is key, including knowing how to heal a dog’s foot pad injury if it occurs.

Homecooked Low-Fat Diets

Some dog parents prefer to feed a low-fat homecooked diet. This choice might be driven by their dog’s allergies to commercial diet ingredients, the unavailability of a commercial diet that meets their dog’s specific needs, or simply a personal belief that it’s the best option.

While I am a proponent of homecooked diets, it is vital to warn dog parents that simply feeding a couple of ingredients, like skinless chicken with sweet potatoes, is insufficient. Such limited diets can severely deprive dogs of essential nutrients. That’s why any homecooked meal plan should be formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists. These specialists can provide precise recipes detailing the exact blend and amounts of ingredients required to create a complete and balanced diet tailored to your dog’s specific condition.

Fortunately, several resources offer reliable veterinary nutrition advice. You can find a list of veterinary nutritionists in your area by visiting ACVN.org. Websites like BalanceIT.com can provide balanced recipes using specific ingredients. Additionally, the OSU Nutrition Support Service website offers a wealth of information.

Pre-Made Homecooked Low-Fat Diets

As you’ve likely gathered, properly preparing homecooked meals for a dog with specific dietary needs requires significant time and expertise. Fortunately, you don’t always have to cook the meals yourself to provide your dog with a homecooked diet.

Several companies, such as Nom Nom and Just Food for Dogs, offer pre-made low-fat homecooked diets. These companies employ board-certified veterinary nutritionists, ensuring their diet formulations are scientifically sound and trustworthy. However, before making a purchase, it’s still best to consult with your veterinarian or one of the company’s veterinary consultants. This step ensures that the chosen meal plan can deliver the appropriate fat content and nutritional balance for your dog’s pancreatitis management. Beyond diet, general health maintenance, such as understanding natural remedies for dog ear mites, contributes to your dog’s overall comfort.

How Long Should My Dog Stay on This Diet?

Once you’ve identified what food is good for dogs with pancreatitis and chosen an appropriate low-fat diet, the next question is how long your dog should remain on it. The answer varies significantly depending on the individual case. A dog who has fully recovered from an acute episode of pancreatitis might safely transition back to their original food after one to two weeks, provided the original diet has a moderate fat content, or you switch to one that does.

However, in many instances, your veterinarian may recommend maintaining your dog on the low-fat, highly digestible diet long-term. This recommendation is particularly common if your dog has one or more risk factors for pancreatitis or if they have a history of chronic pancreatitis. For dogs with chronic pancreatitis, it’s generally advised to stick with the new specialized diet and avoid other foods to minimize the risk of a relapse. Ensuring all dishes and snack areas are thoroughly cleaned after eating can also help reduce the chance of your dog ingesting triggers for pancreatitis.

What Should I Not Feed a Dog with Pancreatitis?

While we’ve focused extensively on what food is good for dogs with pancreatitis, it’s equally important to understand what foods to rigorously avoid. Since table scraps and fatty foods are well-known triggers for pancreatitis, you must strictly avoid giving these to your dog, especially if they have a history of the condition.

Foods particularly problematic due to their high-fat content include bacon, ham, and any type of grease or cooking oils. Even if you’ve heard that coconut oil can benefit a dog’s skin, remember that it is still an oil and generally should be avoided for dogs with a history of pancreatitis. These dietary indiscretions can quickly lead to painful flare-ups and compromise your dog’s recovery.

Feel Confident That You Can Feed Your Dog with Pancreatitis

It can certainly feel overwhelming when you’re faced with a sick dog and myriad choices about how best to feed them. However, remember that you possess the tools and resources to navigate this challenge successfully. Your veterinarian is your primary partner and an invaluable source of help and advice. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek their guidance at any point.

Additionally, you can always contact the manufacturer of a dog food you are considering and ask them to provide the average fat content of that particular food on a dry matter basis. This direct approach can help you verify the dietary information and ensure it aligns with your vet’s recommendations.

Remember, you just have to start somewhere. If your dog doesn’t like the initial food you choose, or if they don’t seem to be thriving on it, you can always switch to another option. Maintain open communication with your veterinarian, keep the guidelines shared in this article in mind, and you will be well-equipped to support your dog’s recovery. With every carefully chosen meal and every passing day, your dog moves one paw closer to regaining their health and comfort.

References

ACVN.org. Find a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist.
BalanceIT.com. Custom Formulated Diets.
FDA. Pet Food Labels – General Questions.
OSU Nutrition Support Service website. The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

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What Food Is Good for Dogs with Pancreatitis? A Vet’s Guide