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.
This article has been super helpful! I have a 15 year old yorkipoo who was just diagnosed with pancreatitis and is a very picky eater. I also have a 16 year old yorkipoo with heart disease and food allergies (mainly chicken). Do you have any suggestions for a low sodium, low fat non, chicken based food they could both eat? I plan to cook to supplement, entice them to eat, but they’re used to also free feeding kibble and finding one that would suit them both would be ideal. The vet sent us home with Royal Canin low fat. He sometimes will eat the kibble, but won’t touch the canned food.
Thank you so much!
Hi Miranda,
I understand your desire to make feeding time easier and simpler. I wish I could tell you what was best, but unfortunately, without playing a personal role in your dogs’ medical care, I can’t make specific dietary recommendations. In general, I am not a fan of free feeding. It is harder to know how much food each dog is actually consuming and makes feeding specialized diets to each dog difficult. I like feeding in “mealtimes” so if a dog’s appetite starts to decrease, I can catch it early and intervene before things get more serious. Your best bet is to talk with your vet about different diet options or even ask about what is offered by different dog food brands. If your pup doesn’t care for Royal Canin, maybe he would prefer Purina or Hill’s? Hoping you can find the best way to keep both of your pups happy and healthy. Best wishes!
I have a rescue 17-month-old dachshund who was diagnosed with pancreatitis six months ago. I have had him on Hills Science Diet I/D low-fat wet food and I/D regular. He can not tolerate kibble at all. He gets fed four times a day due to we are, unable to keep weight on him. He is very skinny. I have tried everything to help to add some fat to him. With zero luck. I have talked with my vet numerous times with zero help. I even took him for a second opinion with zero help. I am at the point where I am slowly starting to add normal Hills adult dog food back into his diet. Less than a teaspoon mixed with the other two wet foods. I will slowly increase the regular adult food after a week to see how he tolerates this. It’s been three days so far so good. Once he can go half and half which I/D should I eliminate as he won’t need all three? I am tempted to keep him on low-fat with the normal dog food. Here is what he eats in a day.
Morning: 2 tablespoons low-fat, 2 tablespoons of regular I/D, and a teaspoon of normal wet food. At lunch, he gets two teaspoons of low-fat and two teaspoons of regular I/D snack before bed as he tends to vomit between 2-5 am if he doesn’t get a small snack before bed. (acid reflux) he gets the same amount as he gets for lunch. ( he gets a quarter of a pepcid at dinner to help. This has been working well with the vomiting in the early mornings. I have tried adding pumpkin for five months this did nothing with weight gain, so I stopped giving this. My dachshund is a tween and he weighs 13.5 lbs you can still see his spine and his rips. All blood work done two months ago came back fine ultrasound was pretty much normal just pancreatitis this was done six months ago. Any suggestions would be great or will I be stuck with a skinny dog and I will need to deal with this.
Dear Andria,
I understand your concern for your little pup. Finding the best diet when dealing with so many issues can be very difficult. Without playing a personal role in your dog’s medical care, I can’t make specific dietary recommendations. I know you have talked to a couple different vets and feel as though you are left with more questions than answers. Have you thought about reaching out to a veterinary nutritionist? They can help you find the right foods for your boy and can ensure his diet is a good fit for his specific medical needs. Keep up the good work as you advocate for your sweet boy’s health and well-being. Wishing you the best of luck!
Lizzy has been diagnosed with pancreatitis and just had a flare. I feed her Hill’s Digestive Health and am still giving her small meals with approx 1/2 banana and 1/4 apple 1 time a day as she is no longer allowed any treats. She is (now) a 10 lb. Yorkie Poo(?) MaltiPoo(?). My question is, when I feed her after a bout of this disease, she wolfs down her food as I give her small meals. Do you think (because she is smarter than the average bear) if I gave her food in a slow eating dish, that it would help her any? And yes! She does “get sicker than a dog” and can present differently when she gets sick but at least I know what it is now! Thanks, Doc. Wonderful article!
Hi Elaine,
I am not sure if the slow eating dish will accomplish what you are hoping but it definitely won’t hurt to try! See how things go, and if you aren’t pleased then you can always go back to the way things were before. I have had many clients use these special bowls with great success. Hoping Lizzy will cooperate and transition to this new feeding style easily. Wishing you both the best!
My lab currently has pancreatitis. He has always eaten any dog food but hasn’t been interested in any for four weeks. He was on home cooked chicken and veg before diagnosis (yesterday) I stupidly included pork in a meal earlier this week which caused sickness so he is now back on just chicken until his bloods are tested again on Monday.
I find home cooking much easier especially if he is refusing any sort of tinned meat or dry. Going forward with home cooked food, what vegetables are safest? He was digesting broccoli, carrots and green beans fine up until I messed up by feeding pork. Also I add pumpkin to his food. I know I’ll need to supplement with a multi vit. Are scrambled egg whites ok? Also very low fat beef under 5% fat and I’ll drain any fat off the meat? Sorry for the ramble, it’s been such a stressful few weeks and numerous trips to the vet until diagnosis’ yesterday
Hi Siobhan,
I am sorry your Lab is struggling with the effects of pancreatitis. Hoping he can make a quick recovery and get back on track. Here is a link to an article with more vegetable options you may want to try: 14 Vegetables Dogs Can Eat (and May Just Love)
But as always, it would be a good idea to discuss any new diet changes with your vet. They can let you know if there is something specific your pup should avoid. Also, like the article mentioned, I highly recommend you use the nutrition specialists in your area to ensure your dog’s home cooked diet is well balanced and nutritionally complete. Best wishes and keep up the good work!
Hey Dr. I really need some help. My Yorkie, Rio has been diagnosed with Pancreatitis. I’ve been to several vets and finally found one I really like. She has prescribed the Royal Canin food, but he is still having the Pancreatitis attacks. He does not vomit or have diarrhea, but he does have the pain in his belly. I don’t know what else I can do. Please help I don’t know what else to do. My email is [email protected]
Thank you for all you do helping our babies ❤️
Hi Kari,
I am so sorry your little pup is struggling with abdominal pain. I understand your concern and think it is great you are reaching out for help. Unfortunately, without examining your boy myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. If the symptoms are persisting even with the right food and medications, it may be time to think about more in-depth testing. It is possible there is something else contributing to your dog’s issue that hasn’t been diagnosed yet. I think it would be best to talk to your vet and see how they want to proceed. They may recommend an abdominal ultrasound or even a referral to a specialist. Hoping you can find some answers and ensure Rio is on the path to health and happiness. Wishing you both the best!
My dog was diagnosed with Pancreatitis a month ago after having Cushings for several years. Our dog is allergic to chicken, it upsets his stomach and gives him bad gas. We have had a great deal of difficulty finding a foot with 10% or less crude fat that doesn’t have chicken. What he is currently on is mainly lamb but does list chicken protein near the end of the ingredients. I’d like to get him fully off of chicken. Any suggestions?
Hi Catherine,
I am sorry you are having trouble finding the right diet for your dog. It is always best to discuss a new food with your vet since they are more familiar with your pup’s specific medical needs. Have you looked at some of the veterinary prescription diets that are available? For instance, Purina makes a food that is for dogs with food allergies. It is called HA (hydrolyzed protein) and there is a vegetarian option that uses soy instead of chicken and the fat content listed on the label is 8.0% (min). There are probably others to choose from as well, this was just the first to come to mind. Hope that helps a bit. Best wishes and good luck!
Hi,
Do you recommend giving a dog that has been diagnosed with pancreatitis a raw diet? I have read that this is the best diet to feed them after having pancreatitis because kibble had too many fillers and ingredients that are not good for the pancreas.
Hi Kelly,
I think a well-balanced home cooked meal can be great for any situation. Especially for pups that are sick or in the healing process. I am not a fan of feeding dogs raw meat. If you are interested in making your dog’s food, it could be helpful to reach out to a veterinary nutritionist. They can guide you through the process of choosing ingredients to ensure the diet is nutritionally complete and let you know what is best for pancreatitis recovery.
My 9 year old Female Rat Terrier/Chi/Dach mix has recovered from Pancreatitis, and I need to get her back on her regular food as the rice/chicken/pumpkin is adding weight. She was on Costco Healthy Weight before, 6.0% fat, 20-protein, 13-fiber. Is this still a good (and affordable) choice?
Hi Susan,
There are so many different brands of food that I am not able to familiarize myself with the quality of each one. The fat content in the Costco food seems to be in the ideal range. I recommend you talk to your vet about this food choice. It could be helpful to bring the food bag with you to your next vet visit and let them look over the specific details. No matter what food you choose, be sure to get the green light from your vet first and make sure the transition is VERY SLOW. You will want to start adding a small amount of the food to your dog’s current diet. Then over the course of a couple weeks you will start to add more dog food to the mix and less of the rice/chicken/pumpkin. Keep your vet updated on any changes and how the transition process goes. Wishing you and your sweet girl the best of luck!
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 blog is great! Lots of awesome tricks and tips, thank you!
My poodle-mix is about 12 yrs old (she was a shelter dog, so age is estimate) and has been experiencing pancreatitis for about a year now. At first we didn’t know what it was since she would have such small episodes of it, but once it got so bad we took her to urgent care because of the vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Luckily she was able to bounce back with the anti-nausea meds and probiotics given- that was about three months ago. She does occasionally have the stomach gurgles, but thankfully no vomiting since then! Now I’m facing a different challenge of trying to find her treats. She eats a combo of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Canine Formula dry and wet, and has been doing well on this diet. I fear she’s becoming a bit bored with it, though. We’ve been trying to feed her blueberries and carrots as treats, but she doesn’t seem too enthusiastic about them after a couple months.
Any recommendations for treats/ways to spice up meals for an older dog with pancreatitis?
Hi Samantha,
I am sorry your senior girl is living with pancreatitis. I understand how tricky it can be to walk the narrow path of keeping food interesting and trying to prevent a pancreatitis flare. Sometimes just changing the consistency of food can make a big difference. You could try freezing the blueberries for a crunchy treat or even freezing small chunks of the wet food. Also, I think Purina makes low fat treats that are compatible with the GI low fat diets. Maybe take a look at Royal Canin or Hills brands as well. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to ensure your pup stays happy and healthy. Wishing you both the best and keep up the good work!
Nine months ago, my little six-year-old rescue chiweenie had an acute onset of pancreatitis. No previous history for the rescue yet hit suddenly and he was acutely ill and almost died. We were in and out of hospitals and the vets for months. He was put on the hills, prescription ID, low-fat, canned food, and then I trying to change them over to the Dry dog food but I need to wet the food for him to eat it otherwise he just gobbled it down and chokes on it, and then spits it out! No matter how long I soaked it it wouldn’t get soft! So I’ve changed them over to Eagle dog food, which has a low fat, low fiber, low protein profile. I’m retired so I’m home and can watch him and I do check his poops because that’s usually a first sign of something going wrong when he does have the glistening stools I switch to feeding him small five meals a day and sometimes drop down to a soft diet with bone broth. After a day or two, he’s fine. My problem is I can’t get a clear understanding from any vet, urgent care, hospital, and what percentage I should be feeding him. I read conflicting information on high protein versus low protein versus low fiber versus high fiber for dogs with pancreatitis I am so frustrated! I’m also concerned that his protein is low And staying on a diet that’s low in protein it’s concerning to me, maybe it shouldn’t be. Right now the only thing he’s allowed to eat is his dog food and then I use his dog food for a training treats and treat treats. But my other dog and I used to do the same with him. I give them a little piece of carrot or cooked green beans or cooked carrots, and I am sure whether I can do that with him. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to put him in the hospital and make him sick! And I have myself crazy trying to find some kind of treat for him. He was a street dog and then in the shelter for most of his life and he doesn’t play with any toys, and I’ve even taken his beloved bones away from him! I know you haven’t examined him, but any suggestions would be very much welcome! Of course on top of that. He has horrible allergies. My poor baby!
Hi Vicky,
I understand your concern for your pup and think it is great you are searching for answers. Unfortunately, I don’t have any good advice on what diet would be best. It takes a good understanding of a dog’s medical needs and specific details to tailor a diet for their condition. And foods that are considered safe for pancreatitis patients could trigger a flare up in some dogs. I highly recommend you ask for a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist. They can let you know the dietary specifics you are searching for and even guide you in the process of making a nutritionally complete home cooked diet if you would rather make your dog’s food yourself. I am hopeful you can find the answers you need. Best wishes and keep up the good work!