Pancreatitis In Dogs - Signs & Diet Management
By Dr. Hannah Godfrey, PhD · · Updated
Even if your dog is not showing symptoms of pancreatitis, it is a good idea to educate yourself and know what to look for -- and what to do -- in the event your pooch suffers an attack because time is of the essence!
Many dog owners will not notice the signs right away or confuse the symptoms with something less serious. Pancreatitis in dogs can become life-threatening when not dealt with quickly.
“Being proactive about your dog's health and diet can make all the difference in their quality of life and overall wellbeing. Knowing and recognizing the early signs of pancreatitis, and understanding its triggers can help you act quickly, potentially saving your pet from serious complications. If you think your pet is having pancreatitis symptoms or having a pancreatitis attack, get your pet to the vet's office as quickly as possible!"
says Dr. Joe Inglis, BVSc, MRCVS. Dr. Inglis is a UK-based Veterinarian and expert in animal nutrition. He is also the founder of VetChef and collaborator on the Tom&Sawyer VetChef line of recipes found at www.vetchef.pet
As per the American Animal Hospital Association, pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas that can make pets extremely ill. The pancreas is an abdominal organ located just below the stomach that produces digestive enzymes to break down dietary fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.... pancreatitis can lead to dehydration, organ damage, diabetes, insufficient enzyme production, and, in severe cases, death.¹
There are two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic:
An acute attack is an actual episode that may be a one-off situation that doesn't become a long-term issue. Chronic pancreatitis cases are an ongoing issue that needs to be monitored and treated to avoid or at least minimizes, recurrences of acute pancreatitis attacks.
Dogs of any breed, sex or age can get pancreatitis but there are many factors that can trigger your pup to have an attack.
Here are a few of the bigger causes of pancreatitis in dogs:
- Dogs with a high-fat diet. This can come from their meals, too many table scraps, or scavengers who eat anything they come across!
- Obesity - often related back to poor diet
- Certain medications or toxins that can damage the pancreas
- Genetics - certain breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, miniature Schnauzers, Poodles and Yorkies have a higher risk of developing pancreatitis and having it become a chronic condition
- Diabetes mellitus
Your dog’s diet plays an important role in allowing the pancreas to work as it should. When choosing a suitable diet for your dog there are many things to consider:
- Is their daily diet made up of lean, choice-cut proteins?
- How many grams of fat per calories makes up their pet food?
- What kind of fats are included? The healthy, unsaturated fats (the "omegas"), or is it the unhealthy, saturated ones?
- Is the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content balanced to ensure the pancreas is working optimally?
Think of the damage we can do to our bodies by eating processed, fatty foods, such as fast food, all the time. The same goes for our pets!
Now, let's talk about the signs of pancreatitis in dogs, so if symptoms do arise, you are prepared:
- Any signs of abdominal pain - hunched back, appearing bloated, uncomfortable, or going into the "downward dog" yoga position
- Vomiting repeatedly throughout the day and ongoing
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Moaning or whining when you touch their underside/belly area
So, what's next? In a suspected case of pancreatitis, you must get your pet to the vet's office as quickly as possible so they can diagnose pancreatitis in your dog. Pancreatitis is very difficult to identify but if it is suspected and clinical signs are present, moving quickly to an ultra-low-fat diet can turn things around to curtail too much pain and damage.
A raw diet may no longer work for your dog because their stomachs are now very sensitive and may not be able to handle/fight off the bacteria a raw diet will bring.
Other treatments your vet may recommend include fluid therapy with intravenous fluids for rehydration and to support the healing properties of your pup's body.
There is no cure for pancreatitis, and so the focus will be on preventing recurring attacks. Listen to your vet's guidelines, as they may recommend you feed smaller, more frequent meals going forward.
Based on available evidence, it is prudent to feed low-fat diets (less than 30 grams per 1000 kcal) in order to assess an individual dog’s response2
Tom&Sawyer has specifically designed a low-fat line of recipes that fit the low-fat criteria associated with pancreatitis. Our diets are highly bioavailable, high in moisture, and include inflammation-fighting Omega-3 fatty acids. Visit our menu page and select the "Low Fat" filter to see our low-fat recipes for dogs. New to Tom&Sawyer? Get 40% off your first recurring order!+
A suggested use of our low-fat diet line during illness and to help issues of fat intolerance is as follows*:
- Introduce one of our low-fat meals in small servings throughout the day during those first few days once they can start eating again. Add in our slow-cooked chicken bone broth to always keep hydration levels up and to replace lost moisture and nutrients.
- Slowly transition to the appropriate number of meals per day for your pup with the low-fat meal of your choice! Note that we have "ultra low-fat" recipes (Kangaroo or Fisherman’s Best Friend) which contain only 20g of fat per 1000 calories (under 10% fat on a dry matter basis), which is ideal for acute attacks.
- Continue to feed one or a combination of these recipes for 2 to 3 weeks and check in with your veterinarian.
- Once the acute attack is under control, you can consider adding any of our low-fat meals to you pup’s meal plan, which contains a maximum of 25 g of fat per 1000 calories (still within the low-fat guidelines) plus loads of healthy ingredients like tummy calming fresh ginger and turmeric!
If you need help determining the best meal plan for your pet, start with our online Meal Planner. Contact nutrition@tomandsawyer.com if you have additional questions!
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*Always contact your vet if you notice these symptoms and to discuss your choice of low-fat meal plan. Proper medicine and an educated diet plan can keep your dog living their fullest life, even after an attack. If you have any questions about our low-fat recipes or would like to talk to a nutrition team member send us an email at nutrition@tomandsawyer.com.
+ Your 40% discount is applied automatically at checkout — no code needed. Prefer to try one of our meals first? Find a retailer near you.
Article by: Nikita Parsons & Dr. Hannah Godfrey (MSc, PhD Animal Nutrition)
References:
¹https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/Pancreatitis-in-Pets/