Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is red meat safe for dogs with pancreatitis? What fat content is okay?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Male | unneutered | 4 years and 1 month old | 18 lbs

Archie was diagnosed with chronic pancreatis. He has boiled chicken and rice for most meals, along with the occasional can of prescribed wet food and biscuits. I was just wondering whether or not it is recommended to give a dog with chronic pancreatis red meat? Raw red meat? Or is the fat content too high? He can't have a diet with more than 6-10% fat for memory. Can you confirm what the two figures in % for the far content are? He can't have a diet higher that whatever the lowest % of fat is?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 25th, 2018

Hi there. So sorry that Archie is having this issue.

In all honesty, it is best to put him on prescription low fat diet as that is exactly what he needs. Pancreatitis is very serious. With each bout of pancreatitis the pancreas sustains more damage and can no longer work properly. Many dogs will end up with diabetes, cancer or severe digestive issues. You are FAR better off with the prescription diet instead of you guessing what to feed him. Talk to your vet about one of the prescription diets like Hill's i/d low fat (it comes in cans and dry food).

( https://www.hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-id-low-fat-canine-dry#accordion-content-054167331-0 )

Absolutely do not feed him raw meat. Red meat is too high in fat. Boiled chicken and rice is not bad but it is not a balanced diet. You are correct, the fat content should be between 6 and 10%. I would be shocked if you found that low of a fat percentage in any over the counter diet. Again, prescription diet is the way to go.

If you are determined to do a home cooked diet then I suggest you work with your vet about using Balanceit.com to get a diet formulated for him that you can cook and will be balanced using their vitamin/mineral supplements.

( https://secure.balanceit.com/ )

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

How much chicken and rice for a dog with pancreatitis, and what ratio?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has pancreatitis. Are flare-ups normal on a low-fat diet?

Good job on keeping Archie on a low fat diet. That is the best option for long-term management of his pancreatitis. It is definitely possible that he is having flare ups causing the intermittent vomiting and diarrhea. I would have him evaluated by his veterinarian to ensure there isn't another cause though. Some of these dogs can have alterations in their cobalamin and folate levels. Correcting this can alleviate some of their clinical signs. Other animals will need an abdominal ultrasound to ensure the rest of their belly is normal. As far as your other question, the dog will usually flare up within about 24-48hrs of eating a higher fat meal. Good luck with Archie!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My dog has pancreatitis. What low-fat treats can I safely give him?

Poor Henry-pancreatitis is no fun. I don’t usually recommend adding something like this to the diet for animals who suffer these types of severe/chronic conditions. We never know what may cause a flair up. However, if Henry is using a prescription kibble you could check with your vet to see if a canned formulation is available as well. If so you can cut the canned product into little cubes and bake/dehydrate then in the oven to make your own treats! Another option is that most of the companies that manufacture prescription foods also have a range of treats which are labelled for use with various of their prescription diets. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

What soft food for small dogs with no teeth and pancreatitis?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My senior Lab has pancreatitis. What dry or canned food is best?

Honestly, with pancreatitis a dog needs a super low fat diet and the only ones that fulfill this are prescription diets. I would recommend canned and dry Hill's i/d low fat. If this was his first bout of pancreatitis he may only need to be on this for a short while. If he has had multiple bouts of pancreatitis then he needs the super low fat diet for life. Hope this helps. If you have more questions please feel free to post again. Best wishes!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Is Royal Canin GI Low Fat good for dog pancreatitis? How to feed?

Yes, this is a great food to give a dog with pancreatitis. It is actually my first choice. I would recommend doing small meals every 4-6 hours and see if your dog can keep that down. If you're feeding the canned food do about 3 tablespoons to start and then slowly increase the amount you are giving him until he is recovered. If you're feeding the dry food do it in half cup increments and then slowly increase the amount you are giving him if he is able to keep it down. I would not recommend adding milk to the diet as this could further irritate the stomach. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My senior dog has recurring pancreatitis. How can I manage his diet?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share