Wondering what to feed a dog with pancreatitis? You aren’t alone. It can be daunting to figure out how to pick the best food for dogs with pancreatitis, which is why integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby wanted to provide these clear and useful guidelines.
As a dog parent, there are few things more stressful than having a sick dog. Especially when your dog goes from being completely fine to having horrific vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain due to pancreatitis. It can be difficult to process and remember all the information your vet is giving you about caring for your dog who is…well…sick as a dog.
Some parts of the care instructions for pancreatitis are pretty straightforward. If you forget how often to give your dog his or her medications, all you have to do is look at the label on the pill bottle. However, other aspects of your dog’s care, such as what to feed a dog with pancreatitis, are less cut and dry. This means you may end up deciding to do some research on your own.
Since the options can feel a bit overwhelming, I want to give you some clear-cut ways to evaluate dog food. That way, you (with the help of your vet) can pick the best dog food for your dog with pancreatitis. But in order to do this, you first need to have a good understanding of what the pancreas does. And you will want to be familiar with the disease condition you are dealing with too.
What does the pancreas do?
Nestled just below the stomach and near the start of the small intestine, the pancreas plays an important role in the digestive system. One of its jobs is to release digestive enzymes into the upper portion of the small intestine (i.e. the duodenum). Normally, the pancreas stores those enzymes in their inactive form (i.e. zymogens). Enzyme inhibitors within the pancreas help ensure that the zymogens remain inactive as long as they are within the pancreas.
Once the pancreas releases the enzymes and they contact the mucosal cells lining the duodenum, they become activated. This allows the enzymes to begin breaking down the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins within food.
What is pancreatitis?
However, in cases of pancreatitis (i.e. inflammation of the pancreas), the enzyme inhibitors become blocked. As a result, zymogens are activated while they are still inside the pancreas. This cascade of events compromises the pancreatic membranes and blood vessels, leading to bleeding and leakage of activated enzymes into the abdomen.
In short, pancreatitis causes the pancreas to start digesting itself—and sometimes other neighboring internal organs. This sort of sounds like a gruesome Halloween movie, but it really does happen like that.
What causes pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis doesn’t seem to be linked to one single cause. Rather, there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of a dog developing pancreatitis. They include:
- Having endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease in dogs, and hypothyroidism in dogs
- Being overweight or obese—If you are asking yourself, “Is my dog overweight?”, why not find your dog’s body condition score(BCS)?
- Having high triglycerides in the blood
- Having a history of gastrointestinal disease
- Eating new foods, table scraps, fatty foods, or high fat diets
- Being exposed to certain toxins and parasites
- Taking certain medications (e.g., azathioprine, bromide, diuretics, and phenobarbital)
What are the types of pancreatitis?
The resulting pancreatic inflammation may be subdivided into two types—acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis occurs when there is a rapid onset of clinical signs. On the other hand, pancreatitis is considered chronic when acute pancreatitis doesn’t fully go away and/or reoccurs sometime down the road.
Clinical signs tend to be more severe in acute cases and milder in chronic cases. But it is often not possible to distinguish acute from chronic when a dog first presents with symptoms.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
The most common symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs are vomiting and abdominal pain. Vomiting occurs in 90% of cases while abdominal pain is present in 58% of cases. Other gastrointestinal signs like diarrhea are also possible. Dogs with pancreatitis may be dehydrated, act like a lethargic dog, and won’t want to eat their food. Pancreatitis can be life-threatening, so if your dog is showing these symptoms, schedule an emergency vet visit ASAP.
How is pancreatitis diagnosed?
The veterinarian will examine your dog and start with some bloodwork. Dogs with pancreatitis may have elevated white blood cells and/or elevated liver and kidney values. To confirm a diagnosis of pancreatitis, the vet may recommend running a canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity test or cPLI. Sometimes the vet may also suggest an abdominal ultrasound or other diagnostic tests.
What is the treatment for pancreatitis?
Unfortunately, there is no specific cure for dogs with pancreatitis. Instead, the vet will use supportive care to relieve symptoms and help the dog feel better. This may include:
- Pain medications to decrease abdominal pain
- Anti-nausea medications to decrease vomiting and nausea
- Blood transfusions for dogs with internal bleeding due to organ damage
- Fluid therapy (e.g., subcutaneous or intravenous fluids) to help prevent hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening type of intense fluid loss
- Any necessary treatment for concurrent illnesses such as diabetes mellitus
- Diet change to support the digestive system and prevent further episodes of pancreatitis
What can I feed my dog with pancreatitis?
This last bullet point above, diet change, has been the subject of debate for years among veterinarians. And understandably it can cause stress and frustration for dog parents who want to do the right thing for their dog. Therefore, I would like to focus on how best to feed dogs recovering from pancreatitis for the rest of the article.
How often should you feed a dog with pancreatitis?
Originally, most veterinarians recommend fasting pancreatitis dogs for a day or two. The idea behind this was to “rest the pancreas” since eating stimulates the pancreas to release digestive enzymes. But recent research shows that withholding food can actually lead to an increased risk of new problems. For example, researchers have documented loss of digestive tract motility, decreased blood flow to the intestinal tract, and dangerously low protein in the blood in fasted pancreatitis dogs.
It makes sense then that many vets will take the middle ground and elect to feed small meals at first. Giving a dog small amounts of food can help keep the intestinal tract happy. And it can be less problematic if the dog does vomit.
Sometimes a dog will be interested in eating on his or her own. But there may be other times where the vet will elect to syringe feed your dog with pancreatitis. Or he or she may feel it is best to place a feeding tube. If your dog with pancreatitis won’t eat, the vet may also consider trying appetite stimulants for dogs or switching foods.
What is the best food to feed a dog with pancreatitis?
Now that we have established that you should feed a dog with pancreatitis, and that small meals seem to be the way to go, the next question is what exactly those meals should consist of. A simple internet search will yield hundreds of different websites and articles. Each one will tell you what they think you should be feeding your dog with pancreatitis.
Based on that, it probably isn’t a surprise that there is no perfect “one size fits all” diet for pancreatitis patients. However, veterinary experts do agree that it is best to use diets that are low in fat and high in digestibility.
Dog food label reading 101
In order to recognize a low fat, high digestibility diet, you have to become good at reading dog food labels. All commercial dog foods (i.e. the ones you purchase from the pet store or through online sources) should have a guaranteed analysis on the back of the bag or can. It’s sort of like the nutritional contents label on food for humans, but the criteria are a bit different.
When looking at the guaranteed analysis, you will find words like “crude fat” with a percentage listed next to it. This percentage represents the amount of the particular element in that diet. It will either be listed on an “as fed” basis (i.e. based on the weight of the actual wet or dry food) or a “dry matter basis” (i.e. based on the weight if all moisture was removed from the food).
If you are comparing the fat content of foods, you want to look at them on a dry matter basis. This is because, on an “as fed” basis, canned food is often 75-78% moisture. But a dry food often only contains 10-12% moisture. This makes it impossible to look at the “as fed” percentage of fat in a canned food and compare it to the “as fed” percentage of fat in a dry food. The dry food, being much more concentrated, will have a higher fat percentage on an “as fed” basis even if both foods are actually the same on a dry matter basis.
For simplicity, I have converted the fat content to a dry matter basis for the foods we will discuss here. But if you want to learn how to make that conversion yourself, check out the FDA pet food label page. It is also full of great information about reading pet food labels in general.
Recommended fat content for pancreatitis dogs
Now that we have waded through the technicalities of reading labels, let’s talk about the ideal fat content for dogs with pancreatitis. Most veterinarians will recommend diets that have low to moderate fat contents. “Low” fat content typically means having a crude fat content of 8% or less. And a “moderate” fat content means the diet may have up to 15% fat on a dry matter basis.
Low fat veterinary prescription diets
Veterinarians often recommend feeding a diet made by a company that uses the latest research in pet nutrition and employs a number of board certified veterinary nutritionists. These veterinary specialists received extra years of training outside of veterinary school, which makes them uniquely qualified to create good quality diets.
Companies like Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, Purina, Iams, and Eukanuba all fit that bill. They have boarded veterinary nutritionists on their staff, make sound recommendations for their formulas, and implement excellent quality control measures. The first three companies carry a line of prescription diets that are excellent for dogs with pancreatitis. They include:
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Canine Formula (6.8% crude fat on a dry matter basis)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care i/d Low Fat Dry Dog Food (7.5% crude fat on a dry matter basis)
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food (7.1% crude fat on a dry matter basis)
These three diets have the lowest amounts of fat across all prescription diets available.
However, in some cases, your vet may recommend a diet with a more moderate fat content instead. Purina Pro Plan’s HA diet and Royal Canin’s Selected Protein diets can fit this description and may be a good choice for dogs with food allergies. There may also be situations, such as when a dog has kidney disease in dogs and pancreatitis, where the vet might recommend feeding your dog a different diet than what I have listed.
Moderate fat over-the-counter diets for dogs
I know that sometimes prescription diets can be cost-prohibitive for dog parents. Or you may find yourself in a situation where a diet has gone on backorder. The good news is that some over-the-counter diets may be ok for dogs with mild pancreatitis. Examples of such diets are:
- 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
However, it is best to consult with your vet before using these diets in place of a veterinary prescription diet. While they work in some situations, they are not the right choice for all dogs. Sometimes your vet may recommend either sticking with one of the low fat prescription diets or cooking a low fat diet for your dog instead.
Homecooked low fat diets
Some dog parents may also elect to use a low fat homecooked diet rather than commercial dog food. This may be because their dog has allergies to ingredients in the commercial diets, because a commercial diet isn’t available to fit their dog’s needs, or simply because they feel it is the best choice for their dog.
Most people know that I am a big proponent of homecooked diets. But I do always want to warn dog parents that it isn’t as simple as feeding some skinless chicken with sweet potatoes. Feeding nothing but two or three ingredients can seriously deprive dogs of important nutrients.
That’s why homecooked meals should come from recipes that are created by boarded veterinary nutritionists. These nutrition specialist can tell you the exact blend and amount of ingredients needed to create a complete and balanced diet that is suited to your dog’s condition. Thankfully, there are several ways you can get good quality veterinary nutrition advice.
By going to ACVN.org, you can find a list of veterinary nutritionists in your area. Also, websites like BalanceIT.com can provide you with balanced recipes using specific ingredients. And there is lots of information available at the OSU Nutrition Support Service website.
Pre-made homecooked low fat diets
As you have probably gathered, it can take a lot of time and experience to do homecooked meals properly. So you might be relieved to learn that you don’t always have to cook the meal yourself in order to feed your dog a homecooked meal.
It is also possible to purchase pre-made low fat homecooked diets from companies like Nom Nom and Just Food for Dogs. These companies employ boarded veterinary nutritionists so you can feel confident in their diet formulations. However, before you make a purchase, it is still best to talk to your vet or one of the company’s veterinary consultants. That way you can ensure they are able to deliver a meal with the appropriate fat content.
How long should my dog stay on this diet?
Now that you know how to pick a good low fat dog food, the last piece of the puzzle is to figure out how long you should plan to feed your dog that food. The answer to this varies from case to case. A dog who has recovered from acute pancreatitis may be able to safely transition back to his or her original food after a week or two. However, you should ensure that the original diet has a moderate fat content or switch to one that does.
Alternatively, sometimes the vet may recommend keeping your dog on the low fat, highly digestible diet long term. This may especially be the case if your dog has one or more of the pancreatitis risk factors. Also, dogs with chronic pancreatitis should stick with their new food and avoid eating other diets. This strategy can help decrease the risk of a relapse.
What should I not feed a dog with pancreatitis?
We have spent all this time talking about what to feed your dog with pancreatitis. So it only seems right that I would also remind you of what not to feed a dog with pancreatitis.
Since table scraps and fatty foods are known to trigger pancreatitis, you should avoid giving these to your dog, especially if he or she already has pancreatitis. Foods like bacon and ham can be particularly problematic, as can grease and oils. Also, while you may have heard that coconut oil can help a dog’s skin, keep in mind that this is still an oil. This means you should usually avoid giving it to dogs with a history of pancreatitis.
Feel confident that you can feed your dog with pancreatitis
I know that it can feel overwhelming when faced with a sick dog and lots of choices for how best to feed him or her. However, remember that you have the tools and resources to figure it out. You can always ask your veterinarian for help and advice. Or you can call up the manufacturer of a dog food you may be considering and ask them to give you the average fat content of that particular food on a dry matter basis.
Also, remember that you just have to start somewhere. If your dog doesn’t like the food you pick or isn’t doing well on it, you can always switch to another. Keep in contact with your vet, keep the guidelines I shared with you in mind, and you should be good to go! Every meal and every day will bring your dog one paw closer to recovery.
What food did you feed your dog with pancreatitis?
Please comment below.
Great article – thank you. Our 7 year old Border Terrier was diagnosed with pancreatitis a few weeks ago. Since then she has been very lethargic, has little energy and sleeps most of the time. I believe her folate levels were low and I wondered if there is anything we can give her to increase her energy levels. She is on Hills low fat I/d but no other medication.
Hi Janine,
I am sorry your pup has been battling pancreatitis. This condition can definitely cause dogs to be lethargic. If the low folate levels are to blame for the lack of energy, your vet may be able to give a Vitamin B Complex injection or advise you on a dosage of folic acid to use as a supplement. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to know what the exact cause of these worrisome symptoms could be. Please make sure your vet is aware of this ongoing issue with lethargy. They may want to do a recheck exam or perform some more lab work just to make sure nothing has been missed. I hope your sweet girl will continue to make progress and can get back to living her best life. Best wishes to you both.
This was a helpful article, but would love to have read a recommended dog food for dogs with pancreatitis who also have chicken allergy. It is very hard to find a low fat diet food for sensitive stomachs without chicken
Hi Melanie,
I understand how difficult it can be to have a dog with special nutritional needs AND a food allergy. Unfortunately, there are too many dog food options to list them all in the article. Your best bet is to reach out to your veterinarian for advice. Each of the companies that produce veterinary prescription diets has a resource list of the individual products they make and what they contain. Your vet should be able to contact their local representative and get feedback from the veterinarian on staff about what food is best for pancreatitis while avoiding chicken as an ingredient. I hope this helps a bit and will guide you to the right food for your pup.
Our cocker Freckles just turned 15 on the 4th of July. She has been on Hills Digestive Care (canned) due to nasty pancreatitis a couple years back. We also give her boiled chicken with each meal to help keep her interested. For about the last month we have noticed some hair loss (and decreased appetite) which we thought was maybe thyroid issues but testing revealed no problem….so we’re wondering, is it possible that she has developed a food allergy (to all this chicken)? Wondering if it’s time to taper off and dis-continue the Hills? I don’t know that we’re going to get an honest answer from the vet as a case of this a week probably helps to keep their lights on as it’s really expensive. Your input would really be appreciated.
Hi Jay,
I understand why you are concerned about this recent hair loss and decreased appetite in your senior girl. In my experience, dogs with a food allergy are always very itchy and experience hair loss. So, if your pup is only showing hair loss with no itching, then I would be looking other places for a cause rather than a food allergy. With that being said, it is hard to make specific conclusions without examining your dog myself. I highly recommend you discuss your diet concerns with your vet. It may be ok to taper off the Hill’s, but your vet would know best since they are familiar with your dog’s specific case details. I assure you that your weekly food purchase is not doing much for the light bill and your vet is much more concerned about your dog’s well-being than selling food. 🙂 If anything, they would probably save some money by not having to special order this food and make sure it is shipped in to them on a regular basis. I hope you can partner with your vet to do some more investigation and get some answers. Praying for a positive outcome and a clear path forward.
Hi Julie.
Thanks for the reply and kind thoughts.
What a nice website and very kind of you to put forth your time, effort, and expertise to reply to all these inquiries. Bless you.
We’ll keep working with Freckles (and our vet) hopefully to get her back on track.
Thanks again,
Jay
Hi.
Our Cocker passed a few days ago due to CHF, pancreatitis and an enlarged liver. My question is, why would food (specifically green beans) given to her approx. 10-14 days prior still were in her stomach (which came up in vomit) undigested? We asked our primary vet and the emergency vet and nobody is answering. By no means have they done anything wrong, just seems odd. Can you answer for us?
Thank you.
Hi Jay,
First let me say that I am so sorry for the loss of your Cocker Spaniel. I can only imagine how much she is missed. ♥ I will be honest with you that I am not sure why the green beans were still in her stomach after so many days. There are many possibilities. Due to her debilitate state, it is possible that her GI tract had some decreased motility and could not pass the green beans normally. Other things that can hinder the forward motility of the gut are a stricture in the intestines or outflow of the stomach, a blockage, loss of neurological input to part of the intestines, or cancer such as intestinal lymphoma. This is not an exhaustive list but just the first things that came to mind. I am not sure you will ever know the exact cause with your girl, but I hope that helps to give you some peace.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply Doc.
You provide an amazing service here by replying to all of these questions.
God bless you.
Thanks again,
Jay
My d0g has pancreatitis. is Blue Buffalo Healthy weight wet dog food a low fat dog food?
Hi Bonny,
I am not familiar with the fat content of this specific food. Most over the counter diets are considered too high in fat for patients experiencing a current pancreatitis flare. This diet may be ok for maintenance once your dog has recovered. I would highly suggest you discuss this food choice with your vet and get their expert opinion.
I have a 12 year old Rott/Lab Mix. She has been dealing with pancreatitis for about 2 years. She is on Hills ID dry and wet food along with Purina EN dry and wet food. She has always been a picky eater and likes a change in food every once in a while.
My main problem I am having now is with her Hip Displaysia on both hips along with arthritis in front legs. Mobility is very little. We have been giving her Rimadyl for the past 9 years or so. She lost significant mobility the past 3 months. We added Gabapentin and Amantadine in May. It helped for a while. Then in end of June. she started loosing her appetite . Vet took her off Amandtadine because of Liver enzyme rise. Her mobility is now almost gone. The vet that makes house visits put her back on Amantadine a week ago. We were debating putting her down this past Monday July 17th. The Vet thought that the Amantadine might help keep her comfortable until Monday the 17th. Upon the Vet visit on Monday the 17th the vet felt like she could recover enough for a little bit. But her appetite is still low. Basically eating smaller amounts of boiled skinless chicken breast along with maybe a couple of bites of dry food. about twice a day. But she has gotten too smart on hiding her pills. She can sniff and cull them out of everything I have tried. Even cubes of boiled chicken or turkey breast.
So now I can not get her meds in. I was wondering if I could use %93 ground beef broiled in small patties or even balls to try to get her meds in. Broiled in an oven with grill grate would allow some other fats to drip out as well. There are some low fat hotdogs as well with %97 fat free. I could use the same method.
Thank you for your time.
Lee
Hi Lee,
I am sorry your senior girl is having so many issues and is giving you trouble with taking pills. Here is a link to an article that addresses this exact problem: Your Dog Won’t Take Pills? 5 Easy Solutions for Uncooperative Pooches
I am hopeful you will find some new information or things to try that can make things a bit easier. Praying your sweet girl can hang on for a while longer. Wishing you both the best. ♥
My 5 year old lab had ongoing diarrhea and was diagnosed with slight pancreatitis. He was eating Victor High Performance which I think was about 20% fat. He also licked out our ice cream bowls occasionally and got a few table scraps, but not a lot. The vet prescribed Hills I/D Low Fat, but I was really having trouble finding the large bags in stock at vets, pet stores, and online. It is also very expensive for a dog that has had no history of gastrointestinal issues,an had a bout with slight pancreatitis. So I set out to find a low fat food that I could buy. I settled on NutriSource Weight Management (not Grain Free). It has 9% fat. He is doing well on this food as not having diarrhea and has lost some weight. However, he is always starving. He never begged for food before and now he is so hungry. I started buying some low fat canned food and mixing a few tablespoons in with his kibble, which helped a little but he is a very athletic active dog. He gets hours of exercise a day, and I am feeding a. little more than what is suggested on the bag. He did weigh about 90 pounds before the pancreatitis, but the vet always commented that he was all muscle, and never said he was overweight. My question is, should Earl continue on the low fat food for the rest of his life, or can I start using a moderate fat food like the large breed Purina Weight Management at 13% fat so he is more satisfied after eating? Thank you .
Hi Marla,
I am sorry you are having to navigate this tricky path with your Lab. I am always hesitant to give advice on how to change a dog’s diet especially when I am not personally involved with their medical care. I think it would be best to discuss these concerns with your vet and get their expert recommendations. You could talk to them about the possibility of mixing in some of the Purina Weight Management food with the current low-fat diet instead of completely switching. Or your vet may advise you to switch to the Purina completely and just give it a trial run with the understanding it has the potential to cause a pancreatitis flare. I wish I could give you a definitive answer and tell you what is best. I hope you can find the answers you need to help your sweet boy feel full and happy. Wishing you the best of luck!
My 5.1/2 pound Yorkie has acute pancreatitis. She spent two days in the hospital on fluids and IV meds. She ate some canned chicken at the hospital Saturday night. She came home Sunday night and didn’t eat again, boiled chicken, until Monday evening. She did eat a few bites two or three times. I took her to the vet yesterday for follow up and they said her vitals were good and temp was good. They did give her some fluids at the shoulder to make sure she stayed hydrated. She is not wanting to eat again. I have tried everything I can imagine, chicken, eggs, different canned GI food. She is on medication that is supposed to stimulate her appetite. I really don’t know what to do.
Hi Anthony,
I am sorry you had such a hard time finding foods your pup would eat. It sounds like you were doing everything I would normally recommend. The only other idea I had was maybe she was nauseous and needed something to settle her stomach? How are things today? Hoping all is well and your sweet girl has made a full recovery. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Hello! We keep our boy on a low fat kibble (royal gastrointestinal low fat) and treats (full moon human grade chicken jerky) and no table scraps at all. He still has very awful flare ups of his pancreatitis a couple of times a year. We give him a probiotic pill in the morning with about half a piece of cheese. Is it far fetched to think the cheese is the cause of his flare ups? We cannot think of anything else. Thank you for your thoughts!
Hi Nicole,
I am sorry your pup struggles with ongoing pancreatitis flare ups. Truly ANYTHING can cause a flare and I don’t think it is far-fetched to be suspicious of the cheese. But just know that even if you eliminate everything from your dog’s diet other than his prescription food, that will not guarantee there won’t be another issue in the future. Praying for smooth sailing for you and your sweet boy.
We give our dogs any pill they take in
A bite of banana.- no fat at all and good
Source of potassium.
They love banana!
They eat Science diet light!
They love it
And great blood work
Never had any dog get pancreatititis!
We’ve had 7 pups over almost 30 years.
Hi Susan,
Thank you for sharing your experience and advice. What a blessing you have never had to endure helping a pet through a pancreatitis flare.
How long does it take for a senior dog to recover from pancreatitis? My sweet pup has been sick for about a week and we are going back and forth to the vet trying anti nausea medicine, appetite stimulant, fluids, etc. The next step is an ultrasound. Some days she eats a few pieces of kibble and chicken and today she showed no interest in food again.
Hi Jenny,
I am sorry your pup is dealing with this awful disease. Unfortunately, there is no set time for this process to play out. It is very different for each dog. Some dogs have mild pancreatitis issues that are ongoing for the rest of their lives while other recover very quickly. How are things today? Was your pup able to keep fighting and turn things around? Hoping all is well and wishing you both the best for many happy years ahead.
Hi there! Our 9 year old boxer/lab mix has had pancreatitis twice in the past year. She isn’t acting sick right now, but had lost a significant amount of weight since last year. We can’t get her to gain weight, and we are so worried. The Vet says we should be liberal and take her to a hospital, but unfortunately we cannot afford that kind of bill right now, so our goal is to keep her comfortable. She’s acting like her normal self, which is a good sign to us. We are feeding her a home made diet of mixed veggies (corn, peas, carrots, green beans), chicken breast, and brown rice. Is this okay? I’m torn, because she is still skin and bones after a month. Perhaps just more meals is the key? I’m at a loss and worried. I have been trying to search for weight gainers for dogs, but there is no such product that also offers low fat. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
* I should note that the Vet says we should take her to the hospital for nutrient care, so they can get her weight back up fast. The other option she gave us was to be more “conservative” and keep her home with home made, low fat diet. That’s what we are doing.
Hi Ashley,
I understand why you are concerned about your senior girl’s weight loss. She is lucky to have you advocating for her health and well-being. You can always reach out to a veterinary nutritionist for advice on ways to tweak your dog’s diet to achieve her weight goals but keep things low fat. Also, you could talk to your vet about possibly adding a probiotic. Without examining your pup, myself, I can’t make specific conclusions, but I am a bit suspicious that something else could be contributing to this situation. Has your dog had blood work recently? I would want to rule out other metabolic issues and common cancers before chalking it all up to weight loss from a past pancreatitis flare. Hoping you can get some answers and your sweet girl can get back on track. Best wishes and good luck!
I give my boy b12 set a digestive website. He is now putting on weight and enjoying dried strips of chicken for his treats with a little bit of banana and low-fat diet. He’s recovering well
Hello my 15 year old toy poodle has been sick for 4 days he had vomiting first then diarrhea he want eat or drink we have been to the vet twice in 3 days he was very dehydrated both times they gave ivfor that took blood said he did have a enlarged liver he has gone from a black jelly like poop to a yellow poop very loose told blood results were pretty level they gave him cough and nausea medicine he does have collapsed trachea along with other nausea medicine and gabapentin for pain he was throwing up and even had a seizure at one time but he want drink water or food I don’t know what to do I know he is sick very but I can’t get a clear opinion can you help me very depressed he just lays and want move thanks Precious’’ mom
Dear Penny,
I understand why you are concerned for your senior boy with all these issues he is facing. Unfortunately, without examining him myself, I can’t make specific recommendations. If there are certain questions or information you need clarified, please don’t hesitate to ask your vet. They may not realize you don’t have all the answers you need to feel comfortable with how things are proceeding. And don’t forget you can always ask for a consultation with a specialist if needed. How is your sweet boy feeling today? Hoping all is well and he has made a full recovery. Praying for a positive outcome and wishing you both the best.
My 10 year old rescue – possible chi/terrier has been having issues. He did the butt up in the air thing and we had him checked but his enzymes came back good so we chalked it up to just a tummy issue. Then about 4 weeks later he seemed agitated and was stomach breathing really badly and gagging. Plus he turned red. Stomach bright red, ears bright red, gums bright red. So back we went and he stayed several days but we did not come up with a cause. Heart and lungs were good. Teeth are good, all blood work was good, enzymes were good. Put him on an antibiotic and some pain meds and he came around great. Then this weekend he started drooling. Not like a little but non stop hanging drool. He also seems to be like chattering his teeth. So back we went. His teeth and gums seemed fine. No obstructions. Blood work was all good again except for his red platelets are low. Skin color did not change this time stayed his normal pink. He has been in the hospital for 4 days now and drooling is reduced but still there. X-rays did not show anything. We are just at a loss. Not sure if pancreatic or not as it seemed to start that way. The vet is recommending a bland diet, some nausea medication and wait a few days and retest his CBC. No fever on any of the incidents. Any thoughts on what I should feed him to get him on the road to recovery with no more relapses. We are not sure the 3 incidents are related but I feel they must be.
Hi Caryn,
What you describe is very puzzling. I am sorry your senior guy is dealing with these ongoing mystery issues. Without examining him myself, it is hard to know what to recommend. This may be a good time to consider a consultation with an internal medicine specialist. I know you mentioned there has been lots of lab work done and x-rays, but has your pup had an abdominal ultrasound? Just trying to think of what the next step could be in getting a diagnosis. I am not sure what food is best since we don’t really know what we are treating at this point. Hoping you can find the answers you need to get things back on track. Wishing you and your sweet boy the best of luck!
Hello, I am having the hardest time finding a good quality food with low fat content for my dog. I settled on an organic raw frozen food and in the guaranteed analyses is says the fat is 7.1%. I dont know if there is ‘dry matter’ for raw frozen food. Is this the correct fat content?
Hi Brennen,
Since the food is raw frozen there will not be “dry matter” for the fat content. You are correct that the fat content of your food is the 7.1% listed in the analysis.
hello brennen
i had been feeding my dog with”( just food for dog”) they make it fresh everydaybut you can get it frozen
usually my dog is pretty healthy
they have beef , chicken , lamb, fish, venison and they have one for dog the have liver and kidney problem excellent for dogs with pancreatic problem
Hi, Our sweet boy has pancreatitis. He has been on a lamb and rice dry and salmon and potato can. We started this diet to trying to figure out if he has food allergies and we were supposed to do this for 3 months. Then gradually add things back one at a time to see if he’s allergic to certain foods like chicken for example. Our vet suggested we not change the current diet yet but gradually change to just the lamb and rice dry. However, we’ve read repeatedly that lamb is high fat and should be avoided. We are leaning to stopping the lamb, but are so confused. And it’s upsetting to know he’s hungry but he isn’t wanting to eat much of the current diet and if lamb is bad we don’t want to continue giving him something that’s hurting him instead of helping him. Suggestions welcomed please.
Hi Michelle,
I understand your concern with finding the right food for your boy. I am not aware of diets containing lamb being too high in fat. This may in fact be the case, but I usually just focus on the fat content when trying to choose a diet for patients with pancreatitis. I know you were in the middle of an elimination diet trial to narrow down the cause of a possible food allergy. Unfortunately, you may have to pick a prescription low fat food to get the pancreatitis under control and then consider restarting the food trial at a later date. Without playing a personal role in your pup’s medical care, I can’t make specific recommendations on diet. I am hopeful you can partner with your vet to find the best way to get your sweet boy feeling good again. Praying all is well and things are back on track. Best wishes to you both.
My 15 year old Spoodle Molly has suffered from Pancreatitis for a long time but is doing really well. I feed her boiled chicken breast, Hills ID Chicken stew, an evening meal of rice, pumpkin, peas & chicken mixed with the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal dry biscuits. She will eat some biscuits with her lunch some days but I add a little boiling water to soften slightly as her teeth are not that brilliant. Sometimes she has some boiled kidney with her chicken and she also loves a scrambled egg once a week. No fat or milk just the egg.
As a little treat after her early morning amble I give a few tiny pieces of ‘Air fried dried liver’ not the hard bits just the bits that break easily. I hope this is helpful.
Hi Jacqueline,
Molly sounds like a lucky pup to have you cooking such wonderful meals for her. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Hi my 9 year old yorkie has had a attack of pancreatitis she has now lost weight and I’m maintaining her weight with a low fat kibble and white steamed cod she has gone off chicken is this ok ???
Hi Beverley,
I am sorry your little pup is dealing with this difficult disease. Since I haven’t examined her myself, I can’t make specific dietary recommendations. It would be best to discuss this concern with your vet and get their expert opinion since they are more familiar with your dog’s medical details.
Kobe was on Just FoodForDogs Veterinary Hepatic frozen fresh food – the food is low fat – but he was refusing to eat all of it right befits his pancreatic episode this week. The food did contain a lot of rice & sweet potato cubes so thinking he wasn’t a fan of the rice all of a sudden. This was his first pancreatitis issue & it was mild & he recovered quickly. He ate Royal Canin veterinary GI low fat canned food while in the hospital & since his discharge on Thursday I have continued with the diet upon his internist’s recommendation. He refused to eat his JustFoodForDog Hepatic food & preferred the Royal Canin. I prefer him to be on fresh food & there was another JustFoodForDogs option on the internist’s recommended food list – Metabolic Support. The fat content is a bit higher than the Royal Canin. Royal Canin is 1.8 fat grams per 100 calories & Metsboliv Support is 3.6 fat grams per 100 calories, so not sure if they will be a viable option for him. I plan on discussing it with his internist on his monthly recheck. Meanwhile I will continue with the Royal Canin.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I am sorry you are having trouble finding a dog food you are happy with, but glad that Kobe likes the food recommended by the specialist. I’d call that a win! Hoping the recheck brought you good news and your sweet boy is doing well. Best wishes to you both.
Hi Robin, My pom is 14 years of age with stage 4 Kidney Disease. He had a bad attack of Pancreatitis this past Saturday and He has been eating small amounts of chicken and The Hills prescription ID Chicken stew. He was in pain Saturday and now pain free today Tuesday. is it too soon to give the Royal Canine ageing senior dog food ( comes in a pouch) He loves it. I did give it to him today along with the Hills ID and some small amounts of chicken . He does have a high potassium, ,Phosphorus Level so he can’t eat the Low fat Hills dog food. Is there anything in the pouch royal canine aging dog food ( High fat, potassium, phosphorus ) I have to worry about maybe that his pancreatitis might return? Thank you. Diane F.
Hi Diane,
I understand your concern for your senior guy, and these are all great questions. Unfortunately, without playing a personal role in your dog’s health care, I can’t make specific dietary recommendations. It would be a good idea to talk to your vet and discuss these options. They can let you know if the Royal Canin food is a good choice for your dog’s specific needs and when it is best to start switching his diet. Some dogs have to stay on a prescription diet for life to keep pancreatitis at bay. I hope this is not the case for your sweet boy. Hoping all is well and wishing you both many happy days ahead.
Hello Dr. Buzby
My 7 year old German Shepherd mix was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in January. Since that time he has lost 15 pounds and will not eat much. He is on nausea medication, famotidine and ursidol.
I have tried many different, low, fat foods, both dry, wet, and homemade but he is uninterested. Any thoughts?? I need to get him to start eating. He will eat low fat treats though. I am at wits end. Any suggestions?
Gina
Hi Gina,
I am sorry your Shepherd is dealing with pancreatitis and is not interested in his food. It may be time to schedule a consultation with a specialist. An internal medicine specialist or veterinary nutritionist might have ideas about other food options to try. You can also talk to your vet about adding in an appetite stimulant or probiotic to see if that helps a bit. I am hopeful you can find the right combination of things to get your pup back on the right track. Wishing you both the best of luck!
My 6 yrs old 17lb mixed breed is on her second pancreatic flare-up, a year a part. Her diagnosis was derived through bloodwork. Her symptoms have been not being to sit on her bottom, constipation, anti social, shaking,nausea, painful to move or to touch her back or stomach , and fever. Is constipation and the other symptoms normal? Both times she has had IV fluid x2 and meds…Thank you.
Hi Laura,
I am so sorry your little pup is dealing with another pancreatitis flare up. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. There are just too many variables to say what is “normal”. If you have any questions about your dog’s medical treatment, I highly recommend you discuss your concerns with your vet. They can let you know what to expect and if her symptoms are all related to the pancreatitis or if there are other issues that need to be addressed. Hoping your sweet girl will feel better soon and praying for a full recovery.
My 6 year old GSD was diagnosed with pancreatitis almost a year ago. I went with a frozen raw diet. We take precautions while thawing and preparing the food. She gets raw in the morning and supper with kibble for lunch. The kibble formula is being changed so I am looking for another kibble. I have found one with an ocean fish meal at 6% crude fat. Her old kibble was turkey at 8% crude fat. My concerns are with the fish meal, some say no fish others say fish is ok for dogs with pancreatitis. Just wondering your opinion. I have not found a Vet who can give me information on diet they say I am wrong in feeding raw and want me to change to a prescription diet. Note: she has not had any symptoms since being on raw and her blood work confirms it. I just want to keep some kibble in her diet for when we travel.
Hi Randy,
I am glad your Shepherd has been doing so well since her pancreatitis diagnosis a year ago. I do not usually advise my clients to avoid fish-based diets, but rather focus on the total percentage of fat in the diet. You could always ask your vet to consult with a veterinary nutritionist to see if they think this new kibble will be ok with your pup’s specific needs. I can understand why you are having a tough time finding a vet that recommends a raw diet. I myself am not a fan. I do think home cooked fresh food diets are wonderful, but the raw factor gives me cause for worry. I am glad you are taking precautions when thawing and prepping food. Just know that even if your dog doesn’t get sick, it doesn’t mean she isn’t shedding salmonella in her feces that can last for 4-6 weeks after she is exposed. Also, Listeria is another pathogen that has been found in many tested samples of raw dog food diets. I am glad it works for you and as long as you are informed, I say keep up the good work.
Thank you for this helpful info on pancreatitis in dogs. My 3 yr old terrier mix got into some trash and injested 16 half eaten take-out chicken wings . We took her to the vet where an xray revealed she had digested all the bones however her pancreatic panel was way above normal. She was on a bland diet for a few days before transitioning to a low fat grain free diet temporarily. Two months later she had repeat bloodwork done which revealed a panel still above normal . She was then diagnosed with pancreatitis by our vet . The vet ordered our dog to remain on Royal Canin Low Fat prescription formula. I top her food with green beans, carrots, occasionaly add a hard boiled egg, boiled chicken or salmon, ground beef. This way I know she’s always getting some natural meat source low in fat with some veggies too. I never serve her kibble dry, I always add a bone broth made for dogs to moisten her kibble. She’s doing well, due for a check up in April . We will see where her numbers are then and move forward with whatever the vet recommends.
Hi Christine,
Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. I am certain this will be helpful to others and offer some hope to those in a difficult situation. I am sorry your pup is dealing with chronic elevations in her pancreatic enzymes, but glad to hear she is doing well with her new diet. I pray you will see the results you are hoping for at her next checkup. Wishing her the best of luck at a full recovery and many happy years ahead. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Hi my 14 yr boy has pancreatitis vet said 200 was normal , my boy was 600 in blood test, ha no vomiting, but suffers severe osteoarthritis in shoulders and hips, vet has him on B12 , 4 Cyte, metacam for pain. I have now started him CBD oil but has cocoanut oil as carrier, I am really desperate for answers 🙏
Hi Joy,
I am so sorry your senior boy is struggling with pancreatitis. I hope you can continue to partner with your vet to find the best way to help your pup make a full recovery. Praying you find the answers you need, and things turn around quickly. Bless you and your sweet boy.
My poor little wire-haired dachshund, Peanut, was diagnosed about a year ago with pancreatitis. She just turned 5, and is otherwise so healthy. It’s a very frustrating illness. Her diet now consists of Purina Pro Plan Gastro EN dry food mostly, but I have to jump through so many hoops to get her to eat it. She’s not a big fan and she also did not like the Hills gastrointestinal dry food either. It has been a terrible struggle to get her to eat. She likes her boiled chicken, turkey, green beans and carrots, but I fear that isn’t a complete diet for her to live on. If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears. I am going to be talking to her vet as well because I need to find something that she’s excited about eating.
Hi Loretta,
I am sorry Peanut struggles with pancreatitis and does not seem to really like her prescription food. I think your decision to talk to your vet is a good one. They may have another diet option you have not tried yet. Also, your vet may be able to schedule a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist. A nutrition specialist should be able to formulate a home cooked diet that meets Peanut’s specific needs. This way she can have her fresh food she likes, and you can ensure it is nutritionally complete. Your pup is lucky to have you advocating for her health and well-being. Best wishes to you both and keep up the good work!
My dog is getting over her first bout of pancreatitis. She is 5 years old. Of all my schnauzers, she is the only schnauzer that had this condition. I didn’t know this breed are more prone to it. The only symptom she had was her throwing up. Otherwise, she wanted to play and wanted to eat. The vet put her on a rice and low fat cottage cheese diet for 2 days. She will be going back on her regular dog food but I see it’s 16% crude fat. Would it be better if I put her on a low fat or moderate fat diet of the dog food you mentioned. Or maybe mix the two together?
Thank you
Candy
Hi Candy,
I am sorry your Schnauzer is dealing with pancreatitis and its side effects. I am glad the diet change has helped, and she is well enough to switch back to her normal food. Since I have not examined your girl myself, I can’t make specific recommendations. It would be a good idea to talk to your vet about what food is best moving forward. They should be able to partner with you to ensure your sweet girl is well taken care of. I am hopeful you will find the right combination of things to keep her feeling great. Best wishes and good luck!
To get my 14yr old Min Pin through this for the second time I started her out on no preservatives beef baby food and sweet potato baby food that I gave her 50 calories at a time through a turkey injector syringe. I feed her twice the second day and four times the third. she did take a bite of boiled chicken tenderloins but still didn’t eat it yet. for the fourth day I kicked it up to eight times which equals her normal 400 calories a day. The next day she should eat. Best thing is she never threw it up. just go slow about 35ml in five to ten minutes with a couple tablespoons water afterward to wash it down. I did thin the baby food with no fat beef broth without garlic or onion so it would flow easy. The vet did give me IV fluid to use subcutaneous at 100-150ml daily to combat dehydration. She also had pain meds, nausea meds and appetite enhancing meds from the vet. She recovered slower probably due to her age.
Hi Kerry,
I am so glad you were able to help your senior girl through this tough recovery. She is lucky to have you as her caretaker and advocating for her health and wellbeing. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Keep up the good work!
The vet had my dog only on boiled chicken, boiled hamburger and rice while on medication. There was no post information about when she finished the medication. I have switched out half of her food to Fresh Pet and the Purins Pro Plan Adult Weight which I had her on before. I quit the canned food entirely and have cut her treats back to two a day and two biscuits ( Alpo) and two Marrow Rounds. Having read this I’m going on a better label reading to see what total she should be on. She still acts hungry and wants more, and she is drinking a lot of water and making a lot of trips outside. There has been no more diarrhea or vomiting but I know I need to do more diet change.
Hi Margie,
You are correct, it is probably time to wean your pup off the boiled chicken, hamburger, and rice. Just to be sure you are including the right ratio of ingredients; I highly recommend you consult with your vet. They can let you know if any of her treats pose a threat to causing a pancreatitis flare up. Also, they can guide you through the process of determining how many calories your dog needs each day. I am glad the vomiting and diarrhea have resolved. Hoping your girl is in the clear and can stay on the path of health and happiness.
My vet told me to give my dog chicken and rice after a bout with pancreatitis. I am now making his dog food with rice, chicken or turkey, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach, carrots, eggs, ground flax seed. Hoping he will be healthier rather than giving him kibble. Lord knows what’s in it these days. Too many recalls even on expensive food.
Hi Sarwar,
Your dog is such a lucky pup to have access to these amazing foods. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Best wishes!
Dr. Buzby, thank you for the extensive info on this terrible disease my almost 15 yr. old poodle was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago. ‘Spike’ is an active, healthy boy with me his entire life. He got so sick with all the symptoms you mentioned, our vet gave me the test results and put him on anti nausea meds and special diets and restrictions. The diets didn’t go over at all, so baked chicken over Purina Beyond wth any liquids/fats? mopped up and scooped out, had him eating g well again! The flare-ups have been few and resolve with stomach meds for a day or two. Believe me, I tried everything, and am very strict with his 2 meals and treats daily. I can tell when he’s getting sick: stretching, pacing, not eating and the way he looks in general.Thanks, for listening, Karen & Spike.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with our readers. I am sorry Spike has ongoing struggles with pancreatitis but glad to hear he is doing well and is able to maintain a good quality of life. Hoping he has many happy days ahead. Bless you both!
all great info, thanks. My 12 yr old retired racing greyhound has sensitivities so some years back she went on raw duck with on phytoplankton. she’s been good but for a few periodic bouts of diarrhea. most recently for 1+ weeks. she never lost her appetite. Ultrasound showed not much but possibly pancreatitis. MalAbsorbtion panel low folic and b12 so she is still on b12. Last panel showed good but her TLI Fasting >50 and COLI 207. She ears 3x per day and 21 oz rabbit to 6 oz duck right now. Will get her to all rabbit. Still phytoplankton and have Visbiome to add. What are your thoughts please. She remains, active, happy and very hungry. Thanks,
Robin Lane
Hi Robin,
I think it is great you are taking such an active role in advocating for your dog’s health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, without examining your dog myself and knowing all the details of her case I can’t really make specific recommendations on her diet. My best recommendation would be to schedule a consult with a veterinary nutritionist and get their expert opinion. Wishing you and your senior girl the best of luck!
I take it that you disagree with CJ Puotinen’s article in Whole Dog Journal’s November ’22 issue that “One group of dogs likely to benefit from coconut oil or MCT oil are those who have …. chronic pancreatitis … MCTs do not require pancreatic enzymes to be digested, so they are tolerated by dogs with those issues.”
I believe that Dr. Judy Morgan said something similar.
I am not arguing with you, I’m merely asking why you disagree.
Thank you for your column. It’s extremely informative & helpful to many. Great job!
Hi Robin,
Thank you for asking this question! I love when readers feel comfortable enough to approach a difficult topic and open the floor for honest discussion. Here are my 2 cents 🙂
Most of the research articles available on coconut oil and MCTs and the effects on the pancreas are done in human medicine. There just isn’t much info about this in dogs. Interestingly, there is a MCT product derived from coconut oil that gets used in a lot of these studies on MCTs, but it is not interchangeable with the regular coconut oil that people buy at the store. The predominant MCT in coconut oil is lauric acid. There is some debate about how to classify lauric acid and which metabolism pathway it follows (i.e., independent of pancreatic lipase or not). It is true that MCT can be absorbed by the body without needing pancreatic enzymes like lipase (as stated in the Whole Dog Journal article). However, some scientists consider lauric acid to be a LCT (long chain fatty acid). At least in people (I couldn’t find the info for dogs), lauric acid seems to act more like a long chain fatty acid (those that do require lipase for digestion). Also, MCTs only make up about 50% of the fats in coconut oil. Based on this, it seems that there is still the risk that it could trigger pancreatitis or put stress on the pancreas. Since there is still some debate about lauric acid and its metabolism, I think it is safest in general to avoid coconut oil in dogs with pancreatitis. However, if there is a situation where coconut oil may be indicated for a dog who also has a history of chronic pancreatitis, I would recommend consulting with a veterinary nutritionist so he or she can make recommendations based on your dog’s particular situation.
I hope that helps and you can understand why I am overly cautious. Here is one of the resources I used for my information in case you would like to take a look. I also referenced articles found on PubMed but it would not allow me to post a link since it requires a paid membership to read certain articles. Again, thank you for the opportunity to share! Best wishes!
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coconut-oil/