Low Fat Dog Food: Can It Prevent Pancreatitis?

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Background

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a small organ tucked behind the stomach. It plays a big role in digestion, and it also secretes insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar.

When your dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed, “a lot of nasty stuff can happen,” says Dr. Jennifer Lighter of New York’s Animal Medical Center. The organ gets swollen and stops working properly — or sometimes it starts working too hard. Bacteria and digestive enzymes can leak into the body and cause serious problems including organ failure and shock. In severe cases it can lead to death.

So how do you know if your dog is at risk? Your vet may be able to tell by taking a blood test (which looks for biomarkers such as particular enzymes) or by using an ultrasound to look at the pancreas itself. But pancreatitis is often difficult to diagnose because signs in dogs are similar to many other stomach ailments like colitis or gastritis — vomiting, diarrhea or lack of appetite, for example — so there’s no one-stop test for it.

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a disease commonly found in dogs. This organ produces both hormones (such as insulin) and enzymes that help digest fat, carbohydrates and protein in your dog's diet. When it malfunctions, unabsorbed food moves into the intestine undigested, causing diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In severe cases, bits of dead pancreatic tissue enter the bloodstream and can damage the kidneys.

Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis

If your dog has pancreatitis, you may notice the following:

  • abdominal pain. This is a common symptom, especially if your dog is sitting in a hunched position with his belly tucked under himself.

  • decreased appetite

  • vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody)

  • weakness and lethargy (i.e., not wanting to move around)

  • dehydration, fever, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, weight loss, distended abdomen

Diagnosis

A veterinarian will use a variety of tests to diagnose pancreatitis. Blood tests are often the first step, looking for signs of infection and evidence that the pancreas is inflamed. The dog may need an ultrasound or x-rays to rule out other problems. These tests look for specific enzymes which are released by the pancreas during inflammation. Testing may also be done to rule out diabetes, as well as checking cholesterol and lipid levels. In some cases, the vet may need to take a biopsy of the pancreas to confirm diagnosis.

The vet will also want to rule out other diseases that have similar symptoms such as cancer or intestinal parasites, among others.

Treating pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a medical emergency, and if you suspect your dog has pancreatitis, you should seek veterinary care immediately. If the condition is severe, your dog will need to be hospitalized. In this case, aggressive treatment may be required: IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medications are often used. In some cases surgery may be needed.

If the dog is showing mild symptoms of pancreatitis, hospitalization may not be necessary; however, a veterinarian should still be consulted in order to determine the cause of the pancreatitis and provide treatment recommendations to prevent recurrence.

Prevention

The good news is, you can take preventative measures to lessen your dog's chances of ever having pancreatitis by making some lifestyle changes. So what should you know?

  • What kind of food is best for keeping your dog healthy and happy? There are specific dog foods that have been recommended by veterinarians to keep dogs who have or are prone to pancreatitis healthy. These foods are low fat and high fiber, meaning they're less likely to affect the pancreas. They can reduce the stress on the pancreas after eating a meal, which helps prevent pancreatitis from occurring in the first place.

  • How can I tell if my dog is prone to pancreatitis? While every breed of dog could be at risk of suffering from pancreatitis at some point in their lives, some breeds—such as miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels, poodles (toy, mini and standard), Yorkshire terriers and Shih Tzus—are more susceptible than others. Also, older dogs tend to suffer more frequently than younger ones. If your puppy has any signs of vomiting or inflammation following meals or snacks, it's important for them to see a veterinarian right away for a full checkup.

Low Fat Dog Food for Pancreatitis

Low fat dog food is recommended for dogs with pancreatitis. This is because the pancreas is already inflamed, and eating fatty foods will cause it to work harder. The condition of your dog can be aggravated by this, especially if it's not a mild case of acute pancreatitis.

A variety of brands offer low fat dog food. Most have less than 10% fat content, which is a good range for dogs with pancreatitis while they're recovering from an attack. While the pancreas is inflamed, you should provide your pet with as little stress on his system as possible—including food that won't create more inflammation or stress on the pancreas itself

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