Regardless of how mild or severe your dog's condition is, your veterinarian will have specific recommendations for the best diet to help manage their pancreatitis.
The best way to keep your dog's pancreatitis under control is to avoid feeding table scraps and fatty foods. This will help prevent flare ups and make the most of your dog's healing process.
Protein
The pancreas is a unique organ that secretes enzymes to help digest food and absorb nutrients. When the pancreas is irritated or inflamed, these enzymes can’t do their job properly and the digestive process becomes disrupted.
A dog with pancreatitis will need a low-fat diet to support healing and prevent the condition from reoccurring. A high-protein diet is also recommended, as protein can stimulate the pancreas to produce more digestive enzymes.
Avoid foods with too much added fat and fatty meats, as this can trigger more inflammation in the pancreas. Look for a dry food with moderate levels of easily digestible protein and less than 10% fat.
Special prescription diets are available for dogs with pancreatitis, but there are many regular pet foods that can work just as well and at a fraction of the price. These are called'special foods' and will often be recommended by your vet.
Carbohydrates
A dog with pancreatitis should eat high-quality carbohydrate sources that are easily digestible. These can be low-fat (eg chicken or turkey) and contain minimal sugars.
Choosing a good diet for a dog with pancreatitis is essential for both recovery and prevention of flare-ups in the future. Your vet will be able to advise you on the best foods for your dog and what they should include in their meal plan.
The first step in feeding your dog a healthy, calorie-restricted diet is to find one that is free of toxins, chemicals and preservatives. This means avoiding processed and high-fat foods such as red meats, organ meats, potato and starchy foods, sugary goods and table scraps.
It is also important to keep fat intake low as it can take a lot of pressure off the pancreas during an acute episode. A diet that contains lower fat content will help your dog recover faster and prevent a return of the condition in the future.
Fat
The pancreas is a vital organ that secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon which help control the way in which dogs use the nutrients they eat.
Despite this, a diet that’s high in fat can put extra stress on the pancreas and exacerbate symptoms of acute and chronic pancreatitis. That’s why it’s essential to feed a low-fat diet, particularly if your dog has this condition.
A diet that contains less fat will also help your dog lose weight, which is a natural antidote to the inflammation caused by pancreatitis. You’ll want to avoid a diet that contains low-grade vegetable fats and make sure your dog is only fed foods with high quality named animal fats, such as chicken, beef, pork, lamb and fish oils.
Dietary management is one of the most effective ways to control and manage chronic pancreatitis. This is especially true of dogs who are overweight and/or have other medical conditions that can increase their risk of developing this disorder, such as Cushing’s disease or diabetes mellitus.
Fiber
When dogs get pancreatitis they usually have a fatty meal that comes from outside of their normal diet - this is where dietary indiscretion (like getting into the garbage or feeding table scraps) can set the stage. Obesity is another common trigger, as it affects the way the body uses fat.
It is also important to make sure any food you give your dog is cooked thoroughly. This will increase its digestibility and help ease inflammation.
Protein is an important part of the diet for a dog with pancreatitis. Moderate protein intake can help stimulate the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes and bile.
Look for foods that are high in protein and low in fat as these will help lower the stress on the pancreas and keep it from working overly hard. These types of foods will be easy for your dog to digest and are fully customizable as well!
