Understanding and Managing Pancreatitis in Dogs

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis in dogs is a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a gland that produces enzymes to aid digestion and hormones like insulin to regulate blood sugar. When inflamed, the pancreas can release enzymes prematurely, causing damage to itself and surrounding tissues.

Why did my dog get pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis can happen in many different ways in our dogs. Some examples include high fat diets, toxin ingestion, infection, trauma, certain medications, obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, or breed disposition. The way pancreatitis can occur is when the pancreas becomes inflamed causing your dog to display one or more of the following symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain/hunched back, loss of appetite, weakness, lethargy, fever, or excessive drooling. Some breeds of dog can be predisposed to developing pancreatitis such as Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Boxers.

With all this information in mind, having your dog evaluated by your veterinarian would be wise to pinpoint the cause of pancreatitis. Unfortunately, there are going to be instances where the cause cannot be identified, making this case an idiopathic, or unknown cause, pancreatitis.

What foods cause pancreatitis? 

High fat foods such as anything containing butter or oil can cause pancreatitis. Bacon is
also high in fat so should be avoided if your dog is predisposed or has already had
pancreatitis. Heavily spiced foods should be avoided as well, especially onions and garlic as these are toxic to dogs. Certain store-bought treats can have a high fat content as well so be sure to read nutrition labels before purchasing. With our Mighty Bite pucks, the fat content is 5% so if you follow our indicated feeding instructions your dog should be safe from pancreatitis. That way they can get their own healthy burger while you eat your bacon.

How do you manage your dog's pancreatitis at home? 

After consulting with your veterinarian and finding out the cause of the pancreatitis, treatment can include diet changes, medications, and ensuring your dog remains hydrated. Preventing pancreatitis in dogs involves reducing risk factors and promoting overall health. As far as diet changes with pancreatitis your veterinarian will likely recommend sticking with a low-fat, bland, diet in order to minimize recurrence of the disease. They may also suggest smaller but more frequent meals to ensure the gastrointestinal system does not have too much to process at once. Maintaining a healthy weight minimizes stress on the pancreas, while regular veterinary check-ups ensure potential issues are caught early. For breeds predisposed to pancreatitis, such as Miniature Schnauzers or Yorkshire Terriers, extra vigilance is crucial to prevent flare-
ups. A prescription diet may be indicated and if that is the case we at Mighty Bites support what the veterinarians suggest. If your fur baby is safe to have our Mighty Bite pucks, all our proteins are 96% lean and 5% fat so that you can entice them to eat their new diet a lot easier. By implementing these measures (recommended by your veterinarian), you can significantly lower the likelihood of pancreatitis in your furry friend.

What foods are suggested for a dog with pancreatitis? 

Foods that have lean proteins such as, Rabbit or Turkey are great options. These proteins are less likely to cause an inflammatory reaction within your dog’s gastrointestinal system and will have the yummy taste they are looking for. There are a lot of prescription diets out there as well and if that is the route you take after consulting your veterinarian then Mighty Bite Pucks can be added into their kibble. We would suggest our Rabbit pucks in this scenario. Most of the low-fat diets out there lack palatability, or good taste, and adding a Rabbit puck might just entice your