[Z B]

Longest lived about 14 yrs – a foundling skin and bones pit bull/Lab mix street dog that i nourished back to health. I fed her purina dog chow her entire life with me (about 11 yrs) She had no health issues her entire life, aside from Cataracts and arthritis near the end. She was a very beautiful athletic healthy dog. Vaccinated her every 1-2 yrs and exercised her hard (swimming and fetch) regularly/almost daily
Heartworm prevention and frontline given about 5-8 times a year.

Shortest lived 5 yrs – pancreatitis, and another 9 yrs – liver failure, don’t know why.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Z B.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Z B.
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[Susan]

Hi Susie, yes Patch was also licking & licking his front paws after eating, I forgot about that, when I first got him he had skin problems, food sensitivities & environment allergies & was put on vet diet Royal Canin HP, the fat was really high at 19% & only 18% protein, then he got real bad acid reflux but I didn’t know back then what was wrong with him, his first vet was an idiot, Patch started wrecking his toys, shaking, chewing & ripping them, then a new vet said sounds like he’s in pain & Patch ended up with Pancreatitis from the vet diet R/C was too high in fat, 1 yr later we thought he had stomach ulcers he was still having acid reflux, chewing, ripping toys & whining while lying on his stomach & hungry 24/7, so I had an Endoscope & Biopsies done, when I picked Patch up from vets, vet said stomach looked really good & there’s no ulcers, I said but we still have the 2 biopsies, when will the results be back, I bet it’s Helicobacter-Pylori, I’ve had the Helicobacter-Pylori bacteria a few times & you feel so hungry 24/7 when the acid gnaws at your stomach, so you keep wanting to eat to take away the burning pain but 20mins after eating your in pain again with bad acid burning & gnawing in your stomach….& I was soaking Patches vet diet for IBD in water cause he’s a gulper with food & was gulping his kibble in 5-10 seconds, vet said just add water to his kibble, again I didn’t know until I read an article a few years ago around the same time those new stop gulping food bowls started coming out, the article said, why adding water with kibble can be a bad thing, especially if the kibble hasn’t soften yet, the dog gulps up the water & gulps air trying to get to his dry kibbles….years ago they were saying add water to your dogs kibble it was suppose to slow dogs eating down that gulped their food….then I was softening all his kibbles & draining all the water out as much as I could & making it like wet tin food with his dry vet diet.. I just knew something wasn’t right after Patch ate the kibble with water, he was burping, farting whinging after eating, he got worse….Those go slow food bowls didn’t work either for Patch he couldn’t get the small kibbles out cause of his big fat snout, then he was gulping air again trying to lick up the little kibbles, so now I just add a few kibbles at a time to his normal stainless steel bowl & tell him to chew, then when he’s has chewed all the kibbles I add more kibbles to his bowl & his bowl is on a stand level with his stomach…
It’s taken me 3-4 yrs to finally find foods that work, stop him itching, licking, whinging & have no acid reflux, that Helicobacter is very hard to kill, high fiber diets are no good, you need low carb, low fiber diets & no sugar diets, the fat can be around 15%max & no fish/salmon oil in food but all dogs are different it all depends on your dog…..

[Tracy D]

Hi there, I am new to this forum. My dog Patchy has just been diagnosed (sort of) with pancreatitis and my vet told me I would have to take her off her raw beef mince diet. She advised a canned dog food with minimum fat as it is the only way they can monitor her as they “know” how much fat is on the food. Fair enough I can see the wisdom in that but…all I have read is that a raw food diet is the answer to sickness and she been raised on that. I really do not care for canned food and nor does Patchy. Naturally if at the end of the day the vet’s advice is the only answer then i will have to do that but I don’t feel this is good enough. So I have a few questions for the group if you could be good enough to help me with this:
Would raw kangaroo with low fat content be a good choice?
If so and as they are not farmed but eat wild, then how would I know how clean the meat is from parasites and toxoplasmosis, not to mention any other scary things that I don’t know about?
Could a high quality Cod Liver Oil help her general health? Not that she is otherwise unhealthy but quite the opposite.
I read here that animal sourced digestive enzymes can help, does anyone know a good one?
Many thanks to you all

[virginia R]

Hi Stephanie – there is a good facebook group called “home cooked diets for dogs” which has a lot of information – the files are excellent and only well researched and scientifically supported data is included. I had tried with one canine nutritional specialist but her formula did not work for my dogs (exceptionally high in starches). I’m now “cheating” with The Honest Kitchen Preference Base Mix. It’s freeze dried vegetables and fruit and essential vitamins and minerals. This product requires you to add the meat/protein – so you know what your dog is eating. It’s a lot easier than making the meals completely from scratch, and might be a nice way to start the home cooking process. My dogs are both doing very well on this diet. One is youngster with pancreatitis and joint issues – we’ve almost totally transitioned her off prescription diet.

[Acroyali]

Andrew, if she’s not eating OR drinking on her own I’d consider it a possible emergency, especially due to her size and health history in the past few weeks. Pancreatitis can be nasty business and difficult to get fully under control.
When the weather is warmer, the Huskies want to go off their food and Parmesan cheese is our go-to pick for an appetite stimulant. I have no idea why it works 99% of the time, but it does. Just a pinch.
Best of luck.

[anonymous]

I am wondering if she is nauseous? Is she on medication? Did you call the vet and see what he thinks?
I have spoon fed sick dogs chicken/rice baby food, and even though it’s not considered a good food, they seem to like Mighty Dog, the smooth chicken type, it comes in small cans.
I am glad she is drinking water, yes, some dogs have a tougher recovery (after surgery) than others.
But, I would not hesitate to consult with her vet, especially if she goes 72 hours without solid food.
If all else fails, I have never seen a dog refuse a little boiled chicken, or, I know it’s bad, but, supermarket rotisserie chicken (just a bite)….. to jump start the appetite.
It also depends on whether the pancreatitis is acute or chronic? Have the vet clarify how careful you have to be with her diet. Sometimes, it is more important to just find something they will eat, as they recover.

[Andrew J]

My wife and I have a 8.5 year old female yorkie. She has had quite the past month. 4 weeks ago she was diagnosed with bladder stones and had them surgically removed 2 days later. Her recovery went well and we thought we were in the clear. The vet informed us that going forward that she would need to be on Royal canine Urinary SO. She seemed to take to the food and we moved forward. However, last Sunday night she started to vomit non-stop and could not control her bladder. We were back at the vet and the blood results came back showing she was having a case of pancreatitis. She was hospitalized for 2 days and was sent back home with us. They instructed to us that going forward that she would need to be on the Royal canine Gastrointestinal. During her 2 days at the vet for IV’s she did not eat. We have had her back now for 3 days and yesterday morning she had some of the Royal canine Gastro but since then she has not eaten. We have tried rice and her old old low fat food (not the Urinary SO) and we have had no luck. At this point we seem to have to administer water to her through a syringe as she is reluctant to drink by herself. Does anyone have any ideas on food that she would be interested in. She has always been a very picky eater. Secondly, has anyone’s pup gone through several days of just drinking water before finally coming back to food. Any insight would be appreciated.

[Pauline D]

My 8 yo male yorkie was diagnosed a few days ago with pancreatitis. The ID food they vet gave me he does not like and gives him the runs and omg so bad gas. I gave him some mushy rice and boiled some 96% lean ground beef which he eats but now I think he’s constipated. He’s always had constipation issues on and off and I would give him a wee bit of pepto and he would go and was ok after that. Now I don’t know if he can pepto and I heathink bc I gave him mostly meat and less rice which I know is binding, it has contributed to the constipation. I also have his sister from the same litter and she is not affected. They are both allergic to poultry so I don’t know what to give to eat. Help!

[Terri M]

HI my dog has recently been diagnosed with pancreatitis about 2 weeks ago. Have any of you experienced your dogs having an attack almost everyday ? And also giving him 100mg of tramadol doesnt work at all and sometimes his attacks last for 4 hours. Has anyone else experienced any thing like this?

[Mary ellen R]

Tylan powder??? Is it for digestion? My dog has pancreatitis and is ravenously hungry and losing weight but eats enough calories according to his vet. I am thinking he has pancreatitis induced Eli.. vet says royal Canon low fat works best and he eats one can a day split into 3 servings. He is crying in 2 to 3 hours for food. Any thoughts. I fostered a dog with Eli and he reminds me of her

[Susan]

Hi Steve, do you know the fat % in wet tin food isn’t like the fat % in a dry kibble, If it says 5%min fat in a wet tin food when converted to dry matter (dry kibble) 5% fat wet is about 22%-26% fat, it depends on the company, some wet tin foods have more fat then others….With Wellness wet tin foods you have to send Wellness an email & ask for the fat % in wet tin foods as dry matter fat %, have a look at Wellness TruFood, Wellness Stews, Core Chuncky Centers, look for wet tin foods around 2% fat also it will say min email company & ask for max fat % in the formulas you like & want to try & the dry matter converted fat %.
My boy gets Pancreatitis & he does the same just stares at me while I’m sleeping & paws at me to rub his stomach & pancreas area…
May I ask when you did cook a low fat meal what did you cook? cause my boy can not eat boiled rice, he gets diarrhea, he can have rice in a kibbles cause it has been grounded down & there’s no boiled cooked rice to irritate his bowel, try boiling potato & sweet potatoes, pumkin, I boil some pumkin & sweet potato then freeze boil sweet potato & pumkin in sections… Cooking is the best, you know what he’s eating & it works out cheaper, I cook once a fortnight, I buy 1kg lean Pork mince or 1kg lean beef mince & make rissoles that I bake in the oven, so any excess fat comes out. I make 1 cup size rissoles, whisk 1 egg, then I cut up some broccoli, parsley, kale, grate 1 small carrot & mix all together & I use scales & make 130gms = 1 cup rissoles, freeze then take 1 rissole out & 1 piece of boiled sweet potatoe or 1 piece of pumkin, sometimes I add both sweet potato & a little piece of pumkin, take out the afternoon before & thaw in fridge for the next day. I feed 1 cut up cooked rissole & sweet potato about 1/3 of a cup sweet potato for breakfast & I’ve just started feeding for lunch & dinner “Canidae” Life Stages Platinum kibble, the Platinum formula is real easy to digest the kibbles are real small so if they don’t chew all the kibbles they are so easy to digest. Patch eats 4 small meals a day.
Patch was real ill about 1 month ago my grandson gave him a Fruit stick, he was put on Hills I/d vet diet he seem to be doing OK but after 1-2 weeks he had his pain again right side, so I took back the Hills vet diet got my $75 back & went & bought some Canidae Life Stages Platinum kibble & Patch is doing real well & sleeping thru the night Canidae Life Stages Platinum also makes wet tin food the fat is 4.5%min you’d have to email Caniidae & ask what it the fat % when converted to dry matter max %, it will be around 20% max fat, so I’ve never bought Platinum wet tin…

[CockalierMom]

Hi Steve,

I cannot offer any suggestions as to a canned food to recommend for diabetes/pancreatitis but can say that the two brands you mentioned are a lot higher in fat than the RC GILF. The GILF shows 1% min and 2.5% max for fat. To compare canned foods, you will need to convert to a dry matter basis since there is a difference in moisture content. On a dry matter basis, the GILF is 4% minimum and 10% maximum fat whereas the lowest fat TOW is a minimum of 16.5% fat on a dry matter basis and they do not state what the maximum is. This is a huge difference and I think it may be too high but check with your vet to be sure.

The other thing I wanted to mentioned is the GILF contains prebiotics and that is probably why he had a good stool on it and runny when you tried homemade. One food that I know is low fat and low carb is THK Zeal, however he would probably have a runny stool with it unless you tried adding THK Perfect Form or some other prebiotic/probiotic supplement.

Hopefully someone else will be along that can offer some food suggestions based on their experience.

[Steve P]

Hello all, I have been researching for days it seems now after my 10 year old Schnauzer was diagnosed to be diabetic and easily prone to pancreatitis.

He was originally diagnosed around a month ago after we had a sleepless night not knowing what was wrong with him, he kept crying and pawing at me all night and wouldn’t move further than a foot away from me.

We brought him to the vet where they did some blood tests to confirm it was his pancreas and also did a blood glucose test and UA. The vet said they were high and there was glucose in his urine that night but it could be because his pancreatitis so she wanted to test him again after his pancreatitis cooled down.His levels were in the high 3’s and mid 4’s. He was put on Royal Canin GILF. We brought him back a few days later to get more tests and his levels were in the 2’s now but he had glucose in his urine still. Diagnosed him with Diabetes and put him on 3 units twice a day 12 hours apart. He is right around 26.5 LBs give or take a few. He isn’t a standard but he sure as hell doesn’t seem like a Mini so we don’t know what’s up with that. He seems to be right in the middle of the 2.

2 weeks went by and we did his all day curve, glucose levels in the mid 3’s to high 2’s so bumped him up to 4 units 2 times a day. He has been getting royal canin GILF 1/2 can and 1/3 cup Blue basics lamb every 12 hours since he was diagnosed.

As we all know…. RC is an arm and a leg and I just want to find a food he can eat and be fine that isn’t prescription. We tried homemade lowfat recipe but he had very runny stool so we put him back on the RC GILF.

Now, I would prefer a combo canned/kibble but I am not opposed to going full canned. I am thinking Merrick’s grain free beef, or taste of the wild beef. Dog food advisor has different stats than on the can though, the can’s show a lower fat and higher protein than DFA lists. What is the reason for this? Also would these 2 canned dog meats be considered good for a dog with diabetes and prone to pancreatitis? RC GILF i have heard is just a ton of carbs to get the fat% down which I don’t really want for the long run.

Sorry for the novel of a first post I just need some guidance, thank you all for putting up with me 🙂

[anonymous]

I suspect that urinating in the house has nothing to do with the dog’s diet. As a senior he is vulnerable to all sorts of things, such as UTIs, struvite (urinalysis will rule out), bladder stones (ultrasound will rule out).
So, I think a call/visit to the vet is in order. I wouldn’t change his food from what a veterinarian that has examined him has recommended. Pancreatitis is a serious condition.

PS: I would see if you can collect a urine sample to take to the vet. A empty prescription pill bottle (clean) will do. You only need a small amount.

[Linda C]

I have been feeding my dogs a home-cooked diet. My 10-year-old Doxie-poo was diagnosed with pancreatitis. After experimenting with many commercial foods, I found that most upset his tummy or bowels and the vet suggested RC GI low-fat. He’s adjusted to this food without a problem, thankfully.

However, after being on this food for 2 to 3 weeks,he has started peeing in the house. I seem to recall this happening with one of my dogs in the past, after a switch to a new food. In this case, who knows, maybe it’s a coincidence, but I’m going to him switch to something else, so I’ve been interested in this thread. Has anyone ever had an issue like this before? That is, the peeing after starting a new food ( in particular RC G.I. low-fat)?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by Linda C.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by Linda C. Reason: additional info
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[Ann F]

BalanceIt was a life saver for my dog with IBD, and concurring pancreatitis! Everything in the supplement is hyperallergenic, which you can’t count on when you do the supplements yourself. LID, and Veterinary diets didn’t work for more than a few months without another flare. There was some type of preservatives in the other foods that my Internist though was setting off some of the IBD, It’s a single protein, single carb diet mix, but you can add veggies and fruits later. Easy to make, and fairly cheap even when we used fish. The Academy of Board Certified Vet Nutritionists has a list of nutritionists you can contact, and many use this supplement in their formulated diets.

[Yvonne Z]

I too fed my dog FreshPet Select Tender Chicken and Vegatables in the tube last week and had to rush her to the vet with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and acute pancreatitis. She had IV fluids for 3 days. She is home now and recovering slowly. My vet put her on Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Low Fat kibble and wet food along with several medications. She, however does not like it. I sympathize with anyone who has gone through this with their beloved pet. It is a nightmare! I am now looking for a low fat food that is more palatable for my sweet Coco girl. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. As for FreshPet, I don’t advise anyone to purchase their products.

[Rosemary L]

I just lost my 12 year old Cattle Dog girl (Blue Heeler) to pancreatitis. It was horrible . . she was in so much pain. I’ve been told it’s caused by high intake of fat. We have two other girl Heelers . . . one 14 and one 10. The 10 year old has seizures and has been on seizure Rx for the past 4 years. Two years ago a lady told me she had done a lot of research and thought the ingredient – Rosemary – was the root of evil for seizures. Never feed a kibble that has Rosemary in it. The 10 year old has put on too many pounds with the Rx . . the vet says it’s because it slows her system down. I’d been rotating kibbles, looking for one that didn’t add to the fat problem. Tried Pure Balance, Wild Canine, and others. Didn’t realize the 12 year old was getting sick until it was too late. Looking for a suggestion to now feed to the 10 year old ? Thanks.

[sharon c]

I also have a shitzu that has had pancreatitis twice. The first time was from a store bought dog bone with the meat look alike stuff in the middle. It was the worst 4 weeks ever. I finally got her to a specialist. She gave her anti – nausea medicine and kept her on it for 2 weeks, she said other vets tend to take dogs off of it too soon. Pain medication, an appetite stimulant (because she was not eating) and an antibiotic. Her diet was changed to a grain free Chicken, sweet potato blend by Natures Recipe – most pet stores sell it. She was much better within a few days but all of the medication lasted about 2 weeks.
The second time she got kennel cough and was prescribed DOXYCYLINE – She got pancreatitis within 2 days. I researched Doxycycline and found that it causes acute pancreatitis in humans and they give o rat induce pancreatitis. DO NOT use it if your pup is susceptible to pancreatitis.

[sharon c]

I also have a shitzu that has had pancreatitis twice. The first time was from a store bought dog bone with the meat look alike stuff in the middle. It was the worst 4 weeks ever. I finally got her to a specialist. She gave her anti – nausea medicine and kept her on it for 2 weeks, she said other vets tend to take dogs off of it too soon. Pain medication, an appetite stimulant (because she was not eating) and an antibiotic. Her diet was changed to a grain free Chicken, sweet potato blend by Natures Recipe – most pet stores sell it. She was much better within a few days but all of the medication lasted about 2 weeks.
The second time she got kennel cough and was prescribed DOXYCYLINE – She got pancreatitis within 2 days. I researched Doxycycline and found that it causes acute pancreatitis in humans and they give o rat induce pancreatitis. DO NOT use it if your pup is susceptible to pancreatitis.

[Bonnie R]

I’ve been feeding my boxer Paul Newman’s Organic beef canned food for several years, but I’m going to switch. It used to be made in America, and then they started making it in Uruguay. That product was softer, probably more water added, but it was still ok. I order on Amazon, 2-3 cases at a time, and the most recent order is going to be my last. The current food has gigantic chunks of solidified fat on top of the food and clinging to the inside of the can. The food also has a lot of white specks mixed in, and it looks like fat specks, too. It’s pretty disgusting. She also eats Fromm’s Whitefish & Potato, so the Newman’s is not her sole diet.

I may switch her to homemade, since my other dog eats a vet-recipe, homemade dog food due to having had several bouts of pancreatitis. If anyone has any suggestions for a good-quality, American-made dog food, I’m open to suggestions because I really don’t feel like cooking for two dogs!

[Shawna]

Hi Scared D,

I absolutely agree that excess coconut oil can have an impact on the stool but the reason it is not digested by pancreatic enzymes is because they are not necessary for it’s digestion. The majority of coconut oils fatty acids, when consumed in appropriate amounts by a healthy subject, are absorbed in the stomach before hitting the small intestines. This makes it suitable, in appropriate amounts, for a dog with pancreatitis as an example.

I agree that omega 6 fatty acids (specifically linoleic acid) are the fats most beneficial for the coat. Coconut oil, however, is a poor source of omega fatty acids but the tiny amount it does have is omega 6. The majority of the fatty acids in coconut oil are medium chain triglycerides – specifically lauric, caprylic and capric acids.

[Deborah G]

I have confirmed 7 dogs in two different households diagnosed with pancreatitis (confirmed with blood work) after eating the Acana Heritage Meat Formula Dog Food that is now processed in Kentucky (rather than Canada). The Acana Heritage Meat Formula is the only common denominator. I have made a complaint this evening with the FDA in Seattle and they are investigating.
Anyone else?

• This topic was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Deborah G.

[Amateria]

Wow Susan you go all out when you respond haha.

Rusty is about 8-9 at this point, I don’t think we have his papers and so were not 100% sure if it’s 8 or 9 but he’s definitely getting old, I have ordered and received samples of Totw, they were pretty reluctant to send them to me because of postage charges, but I don’t live anywhere near a shop that stocks their samples, so they let me have 2 samples in the end, high praire I think and coastal(should be bison one and fish one).

He has done well on black hawk fish and potato, I wanted to add some oils to his food because of what I’ve read about them, they help me with my joints and nerve so I figured it would help with his joints and coat and it did.

But it also seems that after the dry and the blend he started to have more problems, so maybe it wasn’t the best idea in the end, I’ll make sure to tell mum to feed him the kibble once a week as a treat instead.

His teeth are generally awful looking, he does need a professional anaesthesia cleaning that’s for sure, he’s impossible when it comes to brushing, I’ve tried and failed like a pro every time, he’s super strong and he scratches me up real good so I stopped trying.

I will definitely be taking him to the vet for a more thorough check up, because he means the world to my mum, as in if she looses sight of him for 5 minutes she starts to panic and I would hate to see him die from something that could of been prevented(if it’s anything bad to begin with, could just be pancreatitis pains).

He’s also a white cream chihuahua 😛 and the puppy is white with tan spots she’s so gorgeous everyone always complements the way she looks when we’re out its super cute.

And for you Susan the kibble is just a treat, we actually feed homemade cooked, he’s always been on a chicken and rice with veggies diet, he does the best on this diet and hardly ever has flare ups, when he does it’s usually my fault because I try to add some variety to his food and some extra vitamins and minerals and than he gets sick and I don’t mean to, it just happens.

I think because of how well he did with black hawk if I feel like adding anything for his joints in the future I might add that and he did really well on the k9 natural venison freeze dried and super well on ziwipeak venison, I might just buy those from time to time as I know he did well on them, he’s gone through 5 ziwipeak bags with only two flare ups, so yeah I might just stick with that and stop trying new things that clearly aren’t working in his favor.

I’ll keep an eye on Anja while she’s on the supplement and kibble, she usually eats like 3 of them, she’s not a very big eater, but I hope she continues to do well on the blend, as I’d like to cure her leg drama before it becomes permanent.

Thanks for the help though, I wanted to be 100% sure about a few things and you guys cleared that up for me so thanks a lot 😀

[Leslie M]

I am new to this forum and wondering if anyone has suggestions on helpful sites/information regarding pancreatitis. My 1 year old Yorkie has been at the vet under observation & on fluids/meds since Sunday and the internal medicine specialist highly suspects pancreatitis, based on the ultra-sound perform today. I’m devastated and overwhelmed with information. I’m just wondering if anyone with experience has advice on where to start in educating myself. Also, any experiences are welcome. I’m finding myself terrified at what my sweet girls life with pancreatitis is going to look like since it seems to be such an unpredictable illness…
We’ll obviously be starting a low-fat diet but since the specialist cannot rule out possible IBD he would like a low-fat, limited ingredient diet… My 4.5 pound Yorkie is a terribly picky eater.
Thank you so much for any advice!

[Sandy M]

Howard,

You mentioned your dog had a seizure-like episode? I have a Jack Russell who has dealt with pancreatitis for years. We finally have him on Honest Kitchen Preference. I add my own low fat beef which I grind and cook at home and he’s doing much better. He can’t eat chicken or turkey. He has seizure like episodes though and we are trying to figure out what’s going on with him. The vets say they don’t think it’s an actual seizure but he all of the sudden has an episode where he has no control of his legs, like he’s drunk. It only lasts for minutes and right after it’s like nothing happened. It’s horrible to see though. Does that sound like what happened to you dog?
Thanks
Sandy

[Cami D]

What would be the best canned and dry dog food for a toy Yorkie who has a proclivity to pancreatitis? Molly weighs 7 lbs.

Thank you.
dieks

[Laura L]

I recently got insurance for my puppy and my 13 year old lab mix through Pet Plan. They do not cover pre existing conditions but i decided to go with it after last year when my dog (now deceased) had 2 bouts of pancreatitis and. Lymphoma and I did not have insurance. It was very expensive treating these issues so when I got my puppy I decided to insure them the puppy and my remaining old girl.The puppy’s premium is only around 20 dollars per month, and my old girl is much more expensive. Since I got the insurance my older has needed surgery and also had a shoulder injury so the insurance has paid for itself. When looking for an insurance company I looked for one that covers alternative therapies, medication and emergencies. I have a 200 dollar deductible per incident and then they cover 80%. My vet is great and they bill the insurance company and then I pay whatever balance .there is after they are reimbursed. There was a form I had to sign giving the insurance company permission to pay them directly. I really debated wether it was worth doing but then decided I never wanted finances to be part of a big decision on treatment for my girls. I did not go with a company that pays for preventive treatment such as vaccinations, exam etc.

[Jane E]

The treat I give around here and have for many years now are Fruitables (crunchy ones) because they are low fat and a great size…they seem to address all the needs (older dogs with pancreatitis,younger dogs you are training and you don’t went to increase calories and last but not least can be carried in your pocket without making it greasy)…just all around great IMO…they aren’t cheap but I ONLY give them when a certain behavior is accomplished…around here they are always given one when they go in the crate …no treats just because so they aren’t used freely…As I was potty training dogs I used these smaller pelletized treats from BilJac and they are the perfect size and they just gobble them up and really don’t have to chew because they are softer…I’d probably use those again if I were to be potty training a dog….then they would only be used for that…the moment a dog *goes* outside I click to mark the behavior and give a treat and celebrate by clapping my hands and doing some sort of celebration jig!!! Have fun with the new pup

[Becca]

I just started my two dogs on Nuvet plus. I have to block out the science naysayers. Food is medicine when you find the right combos. I will let you know the difference. I have phone dog with multiple issue, loss of fur, losing weight beside being ravenously hungry , even though the vet said he has pancreatitis, he has a 5 cm tumor on his liver, with normal liver function. Going for more testing next week, so far a lot of money is going out with little answers. My other dog has dry itchy skin, and torn ccl. Just today seems like the other leg is affected, he trying to hobble on the bad leg. They are on a raw and home cooked diet. I hear a lot of good things about Nuvet plus, so I’ll post soon my thoughts

[M F]

Hi Heather, My dog was diagnosed with Pancreatitis at only two years of age and she was put on Hills WD chicken and rice, that worked good for her for a number of years but then at age 13 she was diagnosed with IBD and she could no longer tolerate the Hills WD because at that time they had made a slight change to their formula, now let me say I am not a fan of Hills they really aren’t that highly rate. I cooked for her for close to a year trying to find food she could keep down, then I discovered Royal Canine Gastrointestinal Low Fat dry dog food Chicken and Rice formula and she did great on that and lived to be seventeen years old, I also found that giving her salt free soda crackers at night before bedtime broken up with a little water on them helped to avoid an upset tummy in the morning, she could also tolerate carrots for treats which I think helped give her extra fiber, of course what works for one dog doesn’t necessarily work for another, I wish you good luck, I thought perhaps you might also try some boiled boneless skinless chicken ground up in a grinder very small and then stir a tablespoon of that in with the try, maybe it will entice him to eat.

[Anna V]

I was wondering if, what I consider, an “overload of meds” could possibly contribute my Yorkie being diagnosed with pancreatitis. He was put on Apoquel (one half of a 5.4mg dose once a day) back in February. He has been taking it for his itching. As of 4/4 he was seen by his vet because he started chewing on his front left foot, to the point of almost bloodying it. The vet insisted that we start him on a regime of Temaril-P and cefpodoxime, having me take him off the Apoquel for the duration of this treatment. No more than a day later, he refused to eat his food (I homecook for him and my other Yorkie) and begged to go outside to eat grass. He threw up all his food from the night before, and had ingested more grass than I thought he ate. I thought it would pass, but after going all that day and night without eating or drinking, I took him to the vet the following day. After xrays and a blood test, the vet came back with the diagnosis of “probably pancreatitis”. He wound up staying at the vet’s all weekend with IV hydration and antibiotics. On Monday afternoon, he was released, and I was given strict orders not to feed him ANYTHING but the Hills I/D prescription food, and Orbax liquid antibiotic. By Wednesday 4/13 late, he was refusing to eat again. Took him back to the vet and they did another blood panel, this time showing his amylase levels to be around 400, compared to the 1200+ when he was admitted. This vet clinic does not test for lipase levals (said they don’t have the computer program(!) for it). The good news was he wasn’t in need of admitting this time, gave him a shot of Baytril and a shot of Cerenia. He actually ate a small meal when offered when we got home, but had to syringe water to get him to drink. I asked whether I should add probiotics since Neo had so much antibiotics in him, and you’d have thought I asked if I should give them poison! These guys (vets) have NO faith in probiotics or digestive enzymes, or ANYTHING that smacks of “holistic” anything, and think I’m a completely brainwashed flake for even suggesting it, and politely implied it! They have me fearing for my dog’s life if I deviate whatsoever from their instructions for diet!

[theBCnut]

The issue with mini schnauzers is that they are prone to pancreatitis, so vets recommend a lower fat food.

[Heather C]

Thanks for getting back and so sad to hear about your pup! The only thing our dog eats is the prescribed food, kibble and wet, even when we stuff his Kongs. Outside of that its water and occasionally he too will eat grass – though I haven’t seen him eat grass in a while (we used to joke he was part cow but now realize it was because of his digestive system … Poor guy). When we thought he had chronic pancreatitis we actually had him on a home cooked meal with a supplement, but it never agreed with him (and we did try slowly changing him to a few different recipes per our vet). The Royal Canine Potatoe Whitefish doesn’t have any beet pulp, and it’s not a kibble that can just be picked up at the vet, even the vet has to special order it. It’s also hydrolized so the protein is broken down to its smallest digestible form. Stool wise it is the best we’ve seen – before he would strain to go, have diarrhea, blood, mucus like substance, etc, it was terrible. I’m not against a home cooked diet and I’m not against something more holistic, but we’ve been down that road to disappointing results – though we thought we were treating chronic pancreatitis and not bowel disease at the time. {Sigh}

The strange thing is other than not wanting to eat as much he seems normal, he’s sleeping through the night, he’s not grinding his teeth or vomiting like Patch … It’s just really frustrating and I agree, I wish he could just talk to me.

You’ve given a lot of helpful information and I’m curious about the Pepcid. I may reach out to the vet much to the chagrin of my husband – I’d rather be safe than sorry. If you have any other advice let me know.

[Susan]

Hi, Patch 7 yrs old suffers with IBD, Helicobacter-Pylori (bad Acid Reflux) & Pancreatitis sounds like the Pepcid isn’t working anymore or he doesn’t need it any more or what are you putting in the Kongs ?? its not Peanut Butter? or his kibble needs changing its making him feel sick …..IBD can make them feel sick especially after they eat…Patch wakes up feeling good he eats breakfast then from 9am to 12pm he doesn’t feel well some mornings. Grass seems to be the only thing that makes him feel better, I have stopped giving the ant acids now…. only use as needed..

Try stopping the Pepcid for a couple of days & see if he feels better, Patch vomited when he took the Pepcid & was put on Zantac (Ranitidine) instead given 30mins before breakfast & dinner given every 12 hours, then after 3 months it didn’t seem to work anymore, he still had bad acid reflux & was still grinding his teeth & vomiting yellow acid some mornings but he was eating a vet diet that had fish oil & Beet Pulp in kibble that made his acid reflux worse…
I now only give liquid Mylanta 4-5mls in a syringe kept in the fridge only when he needs it, the Mylanta seems to work the best…..
I started to realise Patch wasn’t making enough stomach acid & some days he wasn’t getting acid reflux & I was still giving him ant acid medication, so stomach wasn’t working properly…. as we get older we make less hydrochloric acid it’s called “Hypochlorhydria”

Vet didn’t want Patch on Losec (Omeprazole) cause its a Pump Proton Inhibitor (PPI) & you can not just stop taking a PPI Losec after you have taken it for more then 3 weeks but vet did say I can give Patch the Losec 10mg for 3-4 days then I stop but only when Patch has bad acid reflux…Zantac & Pepcid can be stopped at anytime…So be careful if vet puts him on a PPI…

I have found I have to keep changing Patches kibbles & rotating them & no vet diets, if he stays on the same kibble for more then 2 months, his acid reflux starts to come back also I read when they have acid reflux they need a low fiber kibble 3-4% fiber & no Beet Pulp, Does the kibble he’s eating have “Beet Pulp” ?? it makes their poos look beautiful & firm, so everything looks OK cause poos are firm & look good, its the beet pulp making the poos firm…most vet diets use Beet Pulp….
When the Kibble has beet Pulp it made Patches acid reflux bad again, I started doing so much research & read low fiber diets are best when they have Acid Reflux thru IBD & if you can start feeding a balanced cooked diet will be better then eating a kibble, feed lean meats boil some potatoes, sweet potato & green vegetables, Google Dr Judy Morgan she has easy to follow recipes on You-Tube & she uses the Honest Kitchen Base Mixes in some of her meals you just add the meat & the Base Mixes balances the meal, she also has supplements to balance the cooked meals also have a look at the Honest Kitchen Zeal its low in fat & excellent for dogs with Pancreatitis & IBD…you just add warm water..
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/zeal
I started feeding cooked chicken breast, sweet potato & broccoli & replacing 1 kibble meal, I’m feeding “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain now, I’m going to try Canidae Pure Land you cant have too much high fat in a kibble with acid reflux so I normally stay around 10-14% for fat but in Australia we have 1 low fat grain free kibble & the fiber is high 5%….I’m waiting cause Canidae has 4 new grain free formulas, Pure Meadows, is for seniors & is 10% fat & limited ingredients & grain free, if you live in America you can get the Canidae Pure Meadow.. I also want to try the Pure Wild its boar & Pork…
I was feeding Patch Salmon & Sardine kibbles but I think the fish gives him his acid reflux also certain kibbles he starts getting his pain right side pancreas/stomach area & wants me to rub the chest area, he starts his whinging when he has his pain again & doesn’t really want to eat so I change his food, I have to introduce the new kibble over 1 week……I make sure the kibble doesn’t have fish oil & has limited ingredients…. I wish they could talk….. if you can cook & freeze meals give it a try cause kibble is hard to digest especially on the pancreas….

[Heather C]

Recently my dog was diagnosed with bowel disease, he is 7 or 8 year old rescue (we think border collie or Aussie shepherd mix). He had 4 pancreatic attacks, one in 2014, and 3 in 2015. At first we thought it was chorionic pancreatitis but when his last 2 episodes were a month apart (one in Oct/nov and the next in Dec) we decided something else was wrong and went to get a second opinion. We took him to an internal specaltist where they performed a colonoscopy and endoduoscopy (spelling?) and a biopsy on his digestive system – the results were Bowel Disease. During this last episode he lost 6 pounds, down from 38 to 32 pounds. We switched him to Royal Canine white fish and potato prescription diet and give him Pepcid 30 minutes before his breakfast and dinner – though we’ve spaced his meals in smaller portions 3 times a day (1 cup at a time, 3 cups total). The food seems to agree with him and his stool has never looked better and he’s been healthy since February of this year (it is now April). He has also put on some weight and is just under 35 pounds (the vet would like him to be 35-37 due to his hip dysplaysia). He was very interested in eating his food at first, but over time he’s had less of an appetite. He picks at his breakfast and lunch and I can’t even get him interested in dinner. I’m concerned because he’s still under the weight the vet wants him to be at. I’ve tried stuffing his food in Kongs and other food dispensing toys and that was working great and normally I can get him to finish his meals that way, but again, the past few days he’s really lost his appetite and seems very uninterested in even that. My husband thinks the Kong toys aren’t challenging enough for him and he’s bored of them, but my gut says it’s something else. Otherwise he seems like his normal happy self and has good energy. This is really tough, my baby has been through so much and I don’t want to sound like a crazy pet parent, my husband thinks I’m over thinking it since his stools still look good. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? If anyone has delt with bowel disease with their dog and has suggestions, advice or just kind words to share I would deeply appreciate it.

[Susan]

Hi Tamara change vets, I went thru 3 vets before I found Patches good vet, she’s into natural healing, feeding fresh foods as well….
I can’t see how boiled vegetables will kill your dog, they have no fat in them at all… have you joined the “Canine Pancreatitis” Face Book Group?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1435920120029740/
The ladies in the Canine Pancreatitis group are very helpful. Look in the files… click on “Non RX foods” all wet tin foods that you can feed your dog will come up that are feed to dogs with Pancreatitis……Your dog can’t just live on boiled chicken, he needs his vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acid etc he’ll start to get dry itchy skin & loss weight…
The Honest Kitchen Zeal is low in fat-8.5% & is for seniors & dogs with Pancreatitis, IBD……all you do is add water, don’t add too much water, some people say its a bit sloppy, so add less water then is recommended….
Dr Judy Morgan uses the Honest Kitchen “Base Mixes” you just add your lean meat, Judy makes a few meat loaves for her sick little girl… you can find Dr Judy Morgan recipes on You-Tube she also sell supplements & has a Face Book page & answers all post & msg…. The Honest Kitchen sell samples, so you can try a few Zeal samples first, your dog will probably love it & its balanced & human grade ingredients … http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/zeal

[Howard J]

Hi Tamara!

I have a similar dog as you and she also suffered with pancreatitis. For our Carine Terrier we had to do a lot of trial and error to figure out what was best for her. Firstly, she was overweight, 19lbs; 4.5lbs overweight in November of 2015. She is now 14.6 and staying steady. One reason she might of lost so much weight was because she had EPI from the pancreatitis episode in 2015. So she wasn’t absorbing as many nutrients. We also focused on exercise a lot more.

In regards to PANCREATITIS, we put her on a strict diet for about a month after her episode. Chicken boiled twice, white rice, sometimes a starchy food like Yam or sweet potatoes steamed and/or boiled. We should of supplemented with vitamins at this time but we were a little ignorant. Anyway, after this we bought HONEST KITCHEN Zeal Meal fish formula and HONEST KITCHEN veggie formula which is just a topping if you feed her protein such as fish boiled or chicken boiled. For 5 months we have been on a regime feeding her twice a day, either the zeal meal, ground up in a blender for a sec. Or the Honest Kitchen veggie topping dehydrated one. Both need hot water and let sit for 5min. The veggie one is mixed with fish, chicken or 95% lean twice boiled beef. We introduce more fat like coconut oil which doesn’t require the pancreas to work like other fats in small amounts.

NO TABLE SCRAPS PERIOD!! Supplements are what saved our dog. She has more energy than she did when she was 7. For every meal and what I think is the most important for dogs suffering with pancreatitis is an enzyme replacement. You can get them from your vet but we just use the vegan powder formula on amazon. Not too much money and lasts a year. We sprinkle 1/2 a teaspoon on her food for nutrient absorption and so her pancreas doesn’t have to work as hard. The brand is called Nusentia Enzyme Miracle.

Other supplements include pancreatrophin from standard process, which also aids in her digestion, paraplex and enteric powder all from standard process. We barely use the last two.

I hope this helps a lot, we had to go through the same thing, it’s important to stay low fat, but not too low and to add in enzymes slowly.

[M F]

This reply is to theBCnut first of all I wanted to tell you that my dog looks almost identical to the dog you have in your picture, 1/2 black 1/2 white face on the same side, but my guy has a black eyebrow on the white side, I would like to talk to you more about where you got him etc, I did a dna test on mine and found out what he is. Anyway, he just started having what the vet thinks is acid reflux, he was eating his food fine and then one day throwing up, so I put him on cooked chicken and rice at home and he did just fine, then I get him transitioned back to his regular food and he does fine for several days and then throws up again, so I took him in for tests, and blood work is perfect, so the vet told me to give him Prilosec for 14 days, quit feeding the home cooked meal and just give him his regular food, well we made through 9 meals this way (he eats twice per day) and then thowing up all over the place, so now I’m back on home cooked chicken and rice and trying to decide to try a different food, or go to a gastro specialist, he keeps the home cooked chicken and rice down and his stool is always great on his regular food, he tested negative for pancreatitis. I’ve read to try a lower fat lower protein food but I haven’t decided what to try yet. Any advice?

[Melanie B]

I feed my dogs Boka pork dog food. Never had any concerns with it. You will NOT get trichinosis from a cooked product, this parasite only comes from raw pork. Pork used in dog foods is also not treated or salted (that’s ham), it is the same thing as a pork loin. Giving dogs pork from our table could cause pancreatitis because it tends to be fatty, but if the pet food is using a pork meal the fat has been rendered out of it.

[aimee]

Hi Becca.

The only real definitive test for pancreatitis is biopsy of the pancreas. The most specific blood test is the canine specific pancreatic lipase that is run by Texas GI lab, Spec cPL. Idexx lab also has the ability to run this test. But even that test is not specific for pancreatitis. If the test is negative ( a low number) it is very likely that your dog does not have pancreatitis. If the test comes back elevated.. your dog may have pancreatitis. The higher the number the more likely the pancreas is involved. But it isn’t 100% … you can have a high number and a normal pancreas or a low number and pancreatitis. The Snap test is a test by Idexx. If the spec CPL level is low the test is “neg” and if the value is above 200 (?) the test is positive. But you can have a spec cPL above 200 and not have pancreatitis. So a “pos” Snap test is not definitive for pancreatitis Definitively diagnosing pancreatitis is one of the hardest diagnosis to make.

[anonymously]

No. It is a specific test to diagnose pancreatitis. That is why it takes a few days for the results and it costs extra, as they have to send it out.

[Becca]

my dog is not overweight, he is actually losing more weight, never lost his appetite, he has a ravenous appetite. he inhales his food. he has acid reflux that slowly got worse over time. rushed him into the vet after he threw up about 10 times. he is on carafate and pepcid, vet said he could go back to normal eating in 5 days. he did the snap test for pancreatitis. said it was positive, he said give him chicken and potatoes or squash for 5 days then go back to his normal diet. i think i need to go back to my holistic vet, theres much more feedback for treatment and options, i cant see the bland diet having enough nutrional value without the vitamins. seeing the pancreas needs certain minerals etc. to heal. are there any other gi issues that could make the test positive for pancreatitis?

[anonymously]

Did the dog even have the blood test to confirm pancreatitis? If not, there are many other conditions that could be causing the symptoms. I know people think they are doing research by going to Dr Google, but there is a lot of misinformation on the internet.
If you have a medical background you may be able to weed out some of the junk, but not always…..

What I would do, find a veterinarian I trust and try to go along with the recommended testing and treatment. It’s really the best option.

[Sarah A]

I’m really sorry you and your dog are going through that. It’s so scary and frustrating.

I second the recommendation for seeing an internal med specialist or at least getting a second opinion since your vet sounds (from your description) to not be recommending other supportive care. For example, did your vet prescribe Cerenia (an anti-nausea) or mirtazapine (an appetite stimulant)? Both of those can be extremely helpful in getting your dog to want to eat again.

It’s been almost a year since my dog (a standard poodle) had pancreatitis. It took her a long time (more than a month) to act normal. I ended up feeding her “poodle cakes” (sweet potato pancake mix (not the variety with sugar in it) made with chicken broth, non-fat cottage cheese and pumpkin with some salmon oil and a couple of freeze-dried chicken liver treats crushed and stirred in). Also “poodle noodles” (macaroni cooked in chicken broth with chicken). The pancakes were the first food she ate enthusiastically and that was after weeks of trying to tempt her with other stuff.

Best of luck with your dog!!
Sarah

[anonymously]

Did the veterinarian do an ultrasound/x-ray to rule out a blockage? That’s what I would have had done, going by the symptoms you describe.
Be careful reading stuff on those homeopathic sites……I find science based medicine more helpful. Supplements can cause harm.

PS: Yes, the blood test to rule out pancreatitis is important, that is how they diagnose or rule out pancreatitis. I would consider seeing an Internal Medicine Specialist and get the dog properly diagnosed as soon as possible.

[Gina v]

Hi – I have a 6 year old Newfie that came down with pancreatitis. Not acute, so no vomiting or runny stool, but very painful belly and got worse if he ate anything. Blood work came back normal which is apparently not uncommon so vet put him on Tremadol. No fever. That went on for two weeks. Third week he didn’t need the Tremadol anymore but he was very weak (lost a good 10-15 pounds). We are in week four now. He is eating small amounts, drinking, stool is normal, but walks incredibly slow. Very lethargic and low energy. All symptoms point to chronic pancreatitis. Have been feeding him probiotics, pancreatic enzymes, B12, chicken, rice, sweet potato, tuna – all low fat. He’s eating several times a day in small amount but remains very weak. Does anyone have a dog with pancreatitis and is it normal that after almost a month he is still not his usual self? Will this ever get better? I’m reading on http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_11/features/Canine-Pancreatitis-Symptoms-and-Treatment_16081-1.html that they can’t see chronic pancreatitis on diagnostic imaging so doing a ultrasound sounds like a waste of money. Only certain bloodwork can tell you Spec CPL test. Has anyone used this test to confirm the pancreatitis? I’m at my wits end and just want to know if anyone has any advice.

[Becca]

My dog was just diagnosed with pancreatitis, he seem too have gotten really bed acid re flux for a while. vet said to give him these two meds one is pepcid ac, and another that breaks down the acid. he prescribed 2 antibiotics at the same time and my dog was getting sicker, i stopped the antibiotics, and the pain seem to let up a little. i was feeding raw for 4 years with no problems until i added trachea to thier diet. i did not know the repercussions of doing this. he wound up with hyperthyroidism, and now the vet insisted i cook his food, well now he has pancreatitis and bad acid reflux, he never mentioned a digestive enzyme, i now have him on a very bland diet, low fat. should i give him a digestive enyme? i have a plant based one but i hear that is not as good.

[theBCnut]

I’m sure your vet has warned you that from now on you may have to always be VERY careful about the amount of fat in their diet. I’m not fond of RC foods, but I never would have thought it was possible that it could be the cause of your dog’s pancreatitis. I hope they are all recovering well and continue to be healthy.

[Donna G B]

I am new to Food Advisor, I have 3 fur kids: Seniors, Willie Bill 13 years old, full of Allergies, takes shots for the Allergies, has a leaky valve in heart, heart murmur #4-6, little growths on kidneys etc. Poor baby is such a good little boy. He has been on Science Diet for years z/d, I HATE IT. He is allergic to so many things, Food: Sweet Potatoes, white potatoes, eggs, beef, tomatoes, shellfish and borderline on so many others: Rice etc. I need to get him off this z/d but it is scary to try.
My other two are: Walley: Rescue, 8 yrs. All teeth pulled except 4. Had pancreatitis and was put on I/d Science Diet for such a long time. I HATE THAT and put him on Royal Canine for Intestinal problems (with a new dogtor) well THAT is full of grains, etc. So, I decided to put him on “Wellness” Senior Formula just getting ready to switch him and my other Yorkie (Willow) little over 5 lbs. 10 year old Yorkie that has had pancreatitis also, and I find the word CARRAGEENNE in the ingredients. Look on computer and that is NOT GOOD, so called them. They told me it was “Food Grade” and not the harmful one. I BELIEVED THEM and then looked up “Food Grade Carrageene” and it is just as bad, I guess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see much advice on this site for Senior, low fat Canned Dog Food. Not much about seniors at all. Maybe not looking in the right place. HELP!!!