My dog has pancreatitis. What's the right diet and treatment options?

Pancreatitis is a very tricky disease and has two diatcint presentations. There is the acute form where they are incredibly sick, non stop vomiting or dirrhoea and require hospitalisation for intensive support. There is the second form which is chronic and requires home care and support. Potentially lifetime changes to food types which are bland and low in fat. Here is an amazing resource to understanding pancreatitis in 5 minutes; https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-minutes-to-understanding-pancreatitis-in-dogs/ Pancreatitis requires a change in food, you can do as your vet prescribed and I recommend 1/3 chicken and 2/3 white rice. Fed Ina umiaks portions to your regular dog food, for at least one week. You can also check out home cooked diets here https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-create-a-balanced-homemade-diet-for-your-pet/ A simpler option for you would be hills I/d low fat which can be purchased from your vet or online. I am happy to discuss this further in a private consult or if you would Like to post as many questions as you need on the forum we can continue to support you as much as you need.

Dietary management is key for reducing the severity of both IBD and pancreatitis but it is not always easy to find a food which suits both conditions. A restricted, low fat diet such as royal canin gastrointestinal low fat or hills i/d low fat can be very helpful in such cases. Depending on the degree of the heart disease, your vet may wish to prescribe heart medication or continue to monitor closely for any changes

I have no experience with Protease IFC, and I would recommend discussing it's use with the vet that diagnosed Sofia with pancreatitis. Zylkene and probiotics are fine - if you break open the Zylkene capsule, it can be sprinkled on food and may make it taste better. Personally, I am not a fan of raw diets, but at this point, it is most important to find an easily digestible, low fat food that Sofia is interested in eating. Prescription options like Hill's i/d are available through your vet. Otherwise boiled chicken breast, cooked white rice, plain toast, chicken broth, or fish broth are reasonable options.

Poor Quinton! Pancreatitis can become a chronic issue. Switching the diet to the Low Fat food may help. You will also need to make sure he does not eat ANY human food or get into the garbage. Any treats need to be extremely low fat. Some dogs with chronic pancreatitis benefit from daily antioxidants for dogs. Some may need a daily steroid but most don't. Make sure Quinton drinks lots of water daily. Here is a link about pancreatitis: https://www.petcoach.co/article/pancreatitis-inflammation-in-dogs/ If this trend continues, your vet may want to look for an underlying condition such as Cushing's Disease. I hope this helps and that he starts feeling better quickly.

I'm sorry to hear that Fiona is dealing with pancreatitis. As Dr. Elizabeth mentioned, there are several low fat prescription diets on the market that can be helpful for longterm use. However, while you're dealing with this current vomiting issue, I agree that a homemade bland diet is perfectly reasonable. Since Fiona won't eat the rice, you can certainly try other starchy options. Plain potatoes or pasta are perfectly reasonable options, provided that you don't season them or use any butter or oil. Just be sure to mix them with a lean protein source, such as boiled chicken breast. The goal with any bland diet is to keep it as low in fat and simple as possible. If her vomiting continues, certainly have her rechecked by her veterinarian. I hope that she feels better soon!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! So sorry to hear that Tasha is not feeling well. If she is on medications that were prescribed by your veterinarian for treatment of pancreatitis, then yes she should continue to receive her medications as long as she is eating. Pancreatitis is generally a painful condition so it is recommended to ensure that she receives pain control medications while her pancreas improves. Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

Hi and thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would stick with a low fat prescription diet such as Hills I/D or Royal Canin Low fat gastrointestinal. Continue this diet until your one pet is over their pancreatitis episode. Then you can slowly transition them back to a senior diet which is typically lower in calories and higher in protein and carbs. My top brands are Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, Evo or Eukanuba. Best of luck with your fur babies and their new diets. Take care!