Canine Pancreatitis Diet Articles | Dogs

By: Howard Dabrawsky II

If your dog has pancreatitis, he will be required to eat a specific canine pancreatitis diet. This special diet will help them control their disease and keep them more comfortable. Here is some information on pancreatitis and the diet your dog should eat.

Pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. It begins producing too many digestive enzymes too soon. Pancreatitis can be either acute or chronic. Mildly acute cases are usually one time occurrences that have little lasting damage to other organs. Chronic pancreatitis is a reoccurring condition that is usually brought on by a high fat diet or certain medications.

Pancreatitis can range in severity from being very mild to being life threatening. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis basically attacks and dissolves first the pancreas and then surrounding organs. This type of pancreatitis is very dangerous, and can result in rapid death. Symptoms of pancreatitis include apathy, loss of appetite, irregular appetite, aggressiveness, and vomiting. Be aware of these symptoms and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you notice something unusual.

Pancreatitis is more common around the holiday times such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. The diet tends to lean towards richer, fattier foods. Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. Feed them a diet of strictly dog food and dog snacks. This will help to avoid these problems. Some medications can also be the cause of pancreatitis. Other causes include trauma to the pancreas, middle age, and high risk breeds.

Pancreatitis is treatable in most cases, usually with a special canine pancreatic diet. It usually begins with a fast between 24-48 hours long. Then, a low fat dog food is fed in small quantities. Gradually, the amount of food in the canine pancreatitis diet is increased. Some dogs may be dehydrated and may need to receive fluids intravenously or subcutaneously. In some cases the dog's former diet may be slowly reintroduced into the canine pancreatitis diet, but this is up to the veterinarian.

In addition to the canine pancreatitis diet, any offending medications should be discontinued. Antibiotics may be administered to stave off infections during the healing process. If the dog is in a lot of pain, your veterinarian may prescribe a pain reliever.

In some cases, the canine pancreatitis diet may not be the answer. If the disease progresses or develops complications, there may be alternative treatments available. Things like a pancreatic ulcer would require surgery. If a dog develops pancreatic insufficiency he could literally starve to death without treatment. Unfortunately, these treatments are usually life long and expensive.

Pancreatitis is a serious, potentially life threatening disease that should be caught early to achieve the best prognosis. Usually a special canine pancreatitis diet can control the episodes and get the pancreas functioning again. Recognizing the symptoms and taking swift action can save your pet a lot of pain and may even save his life. Always consult your veterinarian.